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The Background on Background Checks
In one of my past lives I held a Top Secret clearance as a Civil Service employee working for the Air Force. So I am familiar with background checks. But many job seekers are not. Here's a little background on background checks... More companies are doing background checks on potential employees these days than ever before. Why? Here are justa few of the reasons: 1. Studies show that 30-40% of all job applicants put false information on their resumes or applications, and "exaggerate" their qualifications during interviews. Can you blame employers for wanting to verify claims made by desperate job seekers? 2. Lawsuits for "negligent hiring" are on the rise. If an employee's actions hurt someone, the employer may be liable. So when considering an applicant, it's in the company's best financial self-interest to find out if that person has done anything in the past which might indicate future problems. 3. Child abuse and abductions have resulted in new laws in almost every state that require criminal background checks for anyone who works with children. 4. The September 11th attacks have resulted in heightened security and identity-verification strategies by many employers. 5. In addition, many state and federal government jobs require a background check, and depending on the kind of job, may require an extensive investigation for a security clearance. So there are several reasons why employers perform background checks. Under federal law, the employer must obtain the applicant's written authorization before the background check is conducted. The types of background checks companies do usually depends on the job, but they typically include the following: Employment Verification Often a potential employer will contact an applicant's past employers. Many states have laws which prohibit employers from intentionally interfering with former employees' attempts to find jobs by giving out false or misleading references, but a former boss can say anything TRUTHFUL about your performance. However, most companies have a policy to only confirm dates of employment, final salary, and other limited information. Education Verification This is done to verify degrees and certifications listed on resumes or applications. Under federal law, specific records such as transcripts and discipline records are confidential and will not be released by schools without the authorization of the student. However, a school may release "directory information," which can include name, address, dates of attendance and degrees earned. Drug Screening Many large corporations have a policy to drug-screen all potential employees prior to starting. In this situation, the job offer is contingent on you successfully passing the drug screen. Credit Checks This type of check (sometimes called a "consumer report") is most often done by companies where employees have access to money, sensitive personal and financial information. Some employers also use your credit history to gauge your level of responsibility (they believe if you are not reliable in paying your bills, then you will not be a reliable employee). In addition to your payment history, a credit report typically includes information about your former addresses and previous employers. Employers can use this as one way to verify the accuracy of information you provide on an application or resume. Federal law prohibits employers from discriminating against applicants because they have filed for bankruptcy. Criminal and Motor Vehicle Records These types of background checks are not as common but some companies have a policy of checking criminal records. Although arrest information is a matter of public record, in most states employers cannot normally access the arrest record of a potential employee (there are some exceptions, such as for law enforcement positions). If the arrest resulted in a conviction, that information can be obtained. In general, civil suits, civil judgments, and records of arrest more than seven years old are not reported (the seven-year limit may not apply to criminal convictions, depending on your state). Companies check motor vehicle records when positions involve the operation of company vehicles and equipment. Some companies verify the accuracy of the information you provided on the employment application, including what you listed as your most recent salary. When you complete the application make sure all information is accurate. What Can You Do to Prepare? Take the following steps to reduce the chances that you and/or the potential employer will be "surprised" by information found during the background check: 1. Order a copy of your credit report. If there is something you do not recognize or that you disagree with, dispute the information with the creditor and/or credit bureau before you have to explain it to the interviewer. 2. Check court records. If you have an arrest record or have been involved in court cases, go to the county where this took place and inspect the files. Make sure the information is correct and up to date. 3. Check DMV records. Request a copy of your driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles, especially if you are applying for a job that involves driving. 4. Do your own background check. If you want to see what an employer's background check might uncover, hire a company that specializes in such reports to conduct one for you. That way, you can discover if the data bases ofinformation vendors contain inaccurate information. Consult the Yellow Pages under "Investigators," or use one of the many online search services to find a service. 5. Ask if your former employer has a policy about the release of personnel and/or employment information. Most companies limit the amount of information they disclose. Remember, potential employers can't conduct a background check without your written authorization. You can "just say no." Of course, doing that would give the impression that you have something to hide and almost certainly eliminate you from consideration. Just be honest about your background. Many employers will hire good candidates that fit their needs even if their backgrounds are less than perfect -- as long as they didn't lie about it. Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.
MORE RESOURCES: Meet Native American Veterans where they live with a VA career VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Careers | Career Opportunities West Virginia University Corporate Lowe's I moved to Alaska after college for a job. I lost all my friends because I put my career first. Business Insider Jobs City of Rochester (.gov) 15 Companies Offering Health Insurance to Part-Time Workers U.S News & World Report Money Careers at TWU Texas Woman's University Careers Catholic University Communications Careers at CMS CMS Recruitment St John's University News Careers at FEMA FEMA Physicians are the nation’s top earners – a slideshow Medical Economics Jobs and Training at FDA FDA.gov Jobs at Liberty University Liberty News Careers at VA VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs City of Tampa Careers City of Tampa Job Seekers University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Healthcare Jobs at Novant Health | Novant Health Novant Health Careers BASF Careers at University of Missouri Health Care | University of Missouri Health Care jobs University of Missouri Health Care Nursing jobs VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs Career Opportunities UMHB Jobs at BCA Minnesota Department of Public Safety Careers | Human Resources The Seattle U Newsroom - News, stories and more Statement by Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su on October jobs report US Department of Labor Careers at Union | Human Resources Union College Careers Washington State University Employment Services American Mathematical Society Recruiters urge candidates to use AI to apply for jobs Financial Times Working for ICE U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Newsroom US employers added just 12,000 jobs last month as hurricanes and strikes sharply reduce payrolls The Associated Press October 2024 jobs report: How two major hurricanes, labor strike might affect the numbers - NBC News UF Health Careers UF Health - University of Florida Health Work for Us (U.S. National Park Service) National Park Service Careers at Prairie View A&M University Prairie View A&M University Job Search Results UnitedHealth Group UN COMMON CAREERS VCU Health Career Opportunities Gilead Sciences Employment | Department of Corrections Governor Tom Wolf Careers S&P Global Careers Medline Reservists (On-Call) FEMA Job Opportunities Bellevue School District How to Apply FEMA Work at Syracuse University Syracuse University Careers Micron Careers at Discovery Education Discovery Education Jobs report on eve of election will be among the most muddled in years The Associated Press Join our team FHI 360 Careers KPMG Career Development PRSA Careers Boys & Girls Clubs of America Careers The Guggenheim Museums and Foundation Careers at Air Liquide Air Liquide Internship Opportunities | Careers Boston Consulting Group What Trump's election victory means for job seekers Business Insider Search & apply for jobs Boehringer Ingelheim Careers at Jacobs Jacobs Careers in A&O Shearman Students and graduates JPMorgan Chase Work At Chess.com Chess.com Careers Oregon WildBlog Green Jobs King County Highest-Paying Engineering Careers in 2024 University of North Dakota The Best Jobs in America in 2024 U.S News & World Report Money Mental health at work World Health Organization The 10 jobs that landed the biggest pay rises in financial year 2024 The Australian Financial Review 20 Careers With the Most Job Security Right Now U.S News & World Report Money Jobs and careers | Veterans Affairs Veterans Affairs Benefits for the whole you Accenture Revised figures show annual U.S. job growth was much lower than previously reported Los Angeles Times JobFeed NSW Department of Education Why Employees Quit HBR.org Daily Statement by Acting Secretary of Labor Su on January jobs report US Department of Labor Two unis walking the career path alongside graduates The Australian Financial Review |
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