subject: Background Checks Are Standard Hiring Procedures [print this page] Background Checks Are Standard Hiring Procedures
Do you know that 90 percent of all hiring companies conduct background checks? Although not all screenings are the same, part of being a job applicant is preparing for this step. Don't hold your breath and hope for the best. Rather, have your background investigated ahead of time to find and discrepancies and dispute any inaccuracies. All companies, however, will look for your basic information name and addresses and use this to investigate work, education, and criminal history. Additional information, such as references, credit checks, and driving history may also be included.
Background checks are typically one of the final steps of the application process, and for some positions, you may need to go through two screenings. Once a pool of candidates has been reduced down to a few individuals, background checks may be the deciding factor between candidates. Some employers, particularly small businesses, may just run one investigation once a candidate is hired, but this is not always in the company's best interest. What happens if this "most qualified" individual is not honest?
A basic criminal background check searches for all names and addresses you have used over the past seven to 10 years. While this verifies your identity, it assists with finding more about your criminal, educational, and employment background. A baseline criminal investigation looks at records from all towns and states where you have lived over a certain period usually 10 years or less. Additionally, your name and social security number can be used to find out more about your educational and work histories.
An employer, however, may want to know more about you, and for more thorough background checks, your fingerprints are likely taken and your credit history is pulled. The fingerprints are compared with a national criminal records database, which can find any crime you have committed regardless of state.
Credit history, while only used by about 60 percent of hiring companies, is often a disputed practice, and some states have laws against an employer requesting this information. Credit history is more relevant to financial or executive jobs or positions that involve handling money, but some employers still use the information as a measure of character. Although no employer can see your credit score, he or she will see any outstanding balances, unpaid bills, collections, foreclosure, or bankruptcies.
Identity theft is a growing crime, and online criminals can easily obtain an individual's credit card or social security numbers to open an account, take out a loan, or get a job. In order to determine your background is 100-percent accurate, check your background and credit history before getting to the final step of the application process.
