When Shyly Pillay joined Qualitas, a leading ASX-listed alternative real estate investment manager, she brought nearly 15 years of recruitment experience across global financial hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong. Having led major recruitment transformation projects in previous roles, she knew how important it was to get onboarding right—from the very first step.

One of her first moves? Rethinking the background screening process.

“I’d used Checkmate briefly in a previous contract role and was impressed by how smooth the process was. When I joined Qualitas and saw the clunky manual forms we were using, I knew there was a better way.”
— Shyly Pillay, Talent Lead at Qualitas

The Challenge: An underwhelming solution pushing paperwork that’s clunky and slow 

Before Checkmate, background checks at Qualitas were handled through a leading global background screening firm that relied heavily on manual forms. It slowed things down, created hiring risks, and made for a frustrating experience—not just for the recruitment team, but for new hires too. When Shyly experienced it all first hand during her own onboarding, she set out to overhaul the prickly experience.

The Solution: Online, streamlined, on time checks

With Checkmate, background and reference checks are now fast, easy and fully online. In just a matter of clicks, the team can move quickly and confidently, knowing they’ve ticked the right boxes without wasting weeks on paperwork that can sometimes turn up after the hiring decision’s been made.

“It’s reduced our background check timelines by two to three weeks. That’s a massive win. It means we can complete checks before someone starts, which wasn’t possible before.”

The Results: A better candidate experience, from day one

As one of the very first touchpoints for new hires, background screening plays a big role in shaping a company’s brand. With Checkmate, that experience is modern, efficient and professional, reflecting the high standards Qualitas sets for the rest of the onboarding journey.

“Candidates regularly tell us how simple and efficient the process is, even when we’re not asking. That feedback really reinforces the kind of experience we want to deliver.”

Supporting smarter, safer hiring

Today, Checkmate is an essential part of the recruitment process at Qualitas—supporting a best-in-class experience for both candidates and the internal team. And while it’s currently used as a standalone tool, integration is on the horizon as Shyly continues to evolve and streamline the broader hiring process.

“Checkmate is an excellent partner for any organisation looking to build a best-in-class onboarding experience. It’s user-friendly, efficient, and adds value from day one.”

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