It is growing increasingly common for employers to conduct background checks on potential candidates.
This happens for a variety of different reasons, but if you are a candidate applying for a job, it is understandable if you feel nervous about this process.
Gathering more knowledge about employment background checks beforehand can help you achieve a better understanding of this procedure.
Why Are Background Checks Performed?
One of the main purposes for performing a background check is a verification of the information provided by the candidate to the employer. Rather than take a risk by blindly trusting a candidate, employers often use services such as CheckPeople to run a few reports. These reports will tell them about the candidate’s criminal history, work experiences, education history, etc.
Another reason for the check is to save the employer time in the long run. The hiring process is very time-consuming for them, so it is more efficient to reduce the number of times it occurs. Moreover, taking the time to hire one good-quality employee who will stay with the company is a good way to reduce turnover.
Some professions require that an employer conducts a background check, especially if the position involves working with vulnerable individuals. This includes, but is not limited to, jobs in schools, nursing homes, and legal offices.
How the Process Works
Typically, a background check process is simple. During the interview, the employer will inform you that they will be doing the check. First, they will need to get your written authorization to proceed. After this, many employers use third-party background check services to gather the information, but some will do the task themselves.
The information gets collected by contacting the applicant’s past contacts, searching state databases, and checking their social media accounts.
If the employer finds something that makes them decide not to hire you, they will legally need to inform you of what it was. The entire process should only take a few days, but it will go quicker if using a third-party service.
What Information is Included?
- Work history
The employer will be cross-referencing the dates that you worked at companies in the past and titles that you held. Moreover, they will also verify the tasks you were responsible for. This will have the purpose of determining whether you have the relevant experience required for the new job.
- Credit history
Working with the financial information of clients requires certain qualifications to be upheld. If you are unable to manage bill payments or your credit card debt, the employer may decide that you are not a good fit for the job. In addition, they may also worry that you will try to commit embezzlement at the new company to cover your debts.
- Driving records
Certain positions, such as truck drivers, require a thorough review to determine the candidates’ capabilities. The check will show past traffic citations and the outcomes of those cases.
- Criminal background
People who committed violent or sexual crimes will automatically get disqualified from certain positions. Employers are looking to ensure that the new employee will not be a threat to the company or their clients. In addition, most criminal background checks look through the past seven years of records, but this could differ depending on the severity of the crime.
- Aliases
It is important to find out a candidate’s aliases because they could have potentially committed a crime under a different name. This search happens using identifiers such as SSN or birth date.
- Reference checks
Reference checks include calling the people that you have listed on your resume. The references will answer questions relating to your reliability, teamwork skills, and work ethic. The employer will be trying to determine whether you will fit in with the employees at the new company.
