What do employers see on a background check

This strategy provides an opportunity for a candidate to see their record and get a preview of what their hiring manager will see. Running a self-check can be a valuable way to make sure that an expungement has gone through or simply to achieve peace of mind. Like a self-check for criminal history, a self-check for credit can give a sense of what employers might see and what conclusions they could draw from that information.

Job seekers will sometimes use these self-assessments to determine if they need to provide any explanations about their history that may help provide context for less-than-flattering results. Note that every consumer is entitled to a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion each year.

The answer to this question will vary from one employer to the next. Factors such as the industry where the employer operates, industry regulations, state and local laws, the job in question, specific company policies, and even the leniency of individual hiring managers can affect the answer.

The most common disqualifiers in the vetting process tend to be either severe felony convictions violent crimes, sex offenses, etc. However, as previously discussed, other factors can be disqualifiers as well, depending on the job—such as a history of dangerous driving, for jobs that involve driving, or bad credit, for financial-related positions.

He is the lead author and editor for Dallas-based backgroundchecks. Search Results for:. Read on to learn more about what shows up on an employment background check.

The Employment Background Check Employers run history checks on their candidates for various reasons. What Employers Can and Will Look At Below, we have recapped the most common types of employee background verification, as well as the kind of information each of those checks will typically return. Work history Work history is one of the top items that hiring managers consider when assessing candidates for a vacancy.

Criminal records Criminal searches are the cornerstone of most verification processes. Driving record When hiring for jobs that involve operating vehicles, employers will often include driving record checks as part of their candidate vetting process. References Though sometimes confused with employment verification checks, reference checks serve a different purpose.

What Employers Cannot look At While different types of employment background checks can reveal much information about a candidate, there are certain types of information that employers are not allowed to access—even as part of checks that might seem to reveal that information. Medical records Much of the information gleaned through an employee or candidate investigation is technically part of the public record.

Here are a few steps that candidates can keep in mind to avoid any surprises: Understand what previous employers might say about you Contrary to widespread assumption, most employers will stick to answering only simple point-of-fact questions when called for an employment verification check.

Obtain your records Job seekers concerned about the verification process are often encouraged to run investigations on themselves. Check your credit Like a self-check for criminal history, a self-check for credit can give a sense of what employers might see and what conclusions they could draw from that information.

Employer background checks can occur at any time. In many industries, it is common to request a background report once a conditional job offer is made. Knowing that many employers will likely look into your history before formally offering you a job, there are several steps you may want to take:. Today, it is common for hiring managers and recruiters to look at the social media profiles of job candidates.

If there is information you do not want potential employers to access, make your accounts private and curate your content by deleting or hiding to manage what they will be able to see. Have the contact information of past employers and references at hand so you can accurately fill out employment applications. It may be helpful for you to know what a potential employer can learn from your records. To do this, you may request information from various sources yourself.

For example, many financial services companies can provide you with your credit score free of charge. If you like, before you begin a job search, you can run a complete background check on yourself. This gives you the chance to spot and correct errors if there are any. Advice Workplace Starting a Job. Ways to Fail a Background Check for Employment A background check for a job is more than likely in your future. Learn the common deal breakers for employers. Daniel Bortz, Monster contributor. A background check for employment is customary for many jobs.

Related Articles. Browse articles by Find The Right Career Path. Professional Development. Most Recent Jobs. See More Jobs. Close Looking for the right fit? Sign up to get job alerts relevant to your skills and experience. Enter Your Email Address Warning goes here. This includes a copy of the consumer report and an explanation of your rights. This will also include information on your right to dispute the report. A background check can range from a simple verification of your social security number to a much more thorough check into your history.

An employer might check on information such as your work history , credit , driving records, criminal records , vehicle registration, court records, compensation, bankruptcy, medical records, references , property ownership, drug test results , military records, and sex offender information.

Employers can also conduct a character check, which might involve speaking with your personal acquaintances, including friends and neighbors. Generally, the information they check will be related to the job. For example, if you are hired to work in a bank, it would be reasonable for the employer to check whether you have a history of embezzlement or theft.

The extensiveness of a background check depends on the employer, company, and the job involved. For example, if you are applying for a government job with a high security clearance , you will likely undergo a very thorough background check. What can't be included in a background check? There is some information that cannot be disclosed under any circumstances. This information includes bankruptcies after 10 years, civil suits and civil judgments and records of arrest after 7 years, paid tax liens after 7 years, and accounts placed for collection after 7 years.

Employers can only look into certain records with your consent. For example, school records are confidential and cannot be released without the consent of the student. You cannot be discriminated against because you filed for bankruptcy; however, bankruptcies are a public record, so it is easy for employers to obtain the information. Laws also vary from state to state regarding some background checks. For example, some states don't allow questions about arrests or convictions beyond a certain point in the past.

Others only allow consideration of criminal history for certain positions. In many states, medical records are also confidential. But employers may not make hiring decisions based on an applicant's disability.