Do Personal Details Affect Employment Prospects?

Finding employment these days requires an exceptional resume with a long list of skills and qualifications that make you stand out from others applying for the same position. Unfortunately, even if applicants have all the right qualifications and background, personal details found in in the pre-employment screening process can have the potential to hinder one’s opportunities for employment.

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the factors that employers look for during the hiring process that could make applicants more or less attractive, and help applicants prepare for the employment process.

Financial Information

Many job applicants are surprised to find that employers often check individual credit statuses before offering a position. Of course, depending on the nature of the occupation the employer may have no interest in applicants’ credit history or financial information. Occupations that deal with handling cash or large sums of money frequently may be at a greater likelihood to have their financial status evaluated by employers.

Past Jobs

Of course, one of the most important elements of any background check is employment verification. Beyond a simple background check, employers may also ask for a list of references of past employers or supervisors to vouch for the applicant. Many job applicants embellish or make up their employment history to make their application stand out, but this tactic usually backfires.

Criminal Records

Besides verifying individuals’ employment background, the other primary area of interest for employers is one’s criminal background. Past criminal conduct tends to make employers nervous due to liability issues. For instance, if an individual has a history of substance-related infractions, they may pose a safety risk to the job site and other employees there. This is the major reason why many employers conduct drug testing prior to employment.

Other Personal Information

Criminal background and employment history are huge points of interest to employers; however, since the dawn of the technology era, other personal details are relevant to employment. Here are just a few more areas of interest to employers:

Social media accounts and profiles

Many employers are concerned with employee social media accounts, as they are often publicly accessible and may contain personal information about employees that don’t reflect favorably on the business or company. For this reason, social media accounts and personal details associated with such accounts are important for employers to evaluate.

Educational background verification

Most employers require a specific set of skills in applicants, or certain degrees that qualify them for the position. Falsifying educational backgrounds, such as degrees earned, is never recommended to applicants; it not only puts their employment in jeopardy, but it could take an opportunity away from someone who is truly more qualified.

What You Can Do to Prepare Yourself

If you are going to be attending a job interview sometime soon, it’s important to help yourself prepare for the application process, which includes the background check process. It’s important to take steps to help better your chances of employment – here are a few tips that can help give you a good chance at snagging the position:

• Conduct a background check yourself
• Be honest during your interview
• Don’t embellish on your resume or application
• Come up with a good list of references
• Research and prepare for the interview process

Remember, being honest is always the best idea when it comes to job interviews and seeking employment. By following the aforementioned suggestions, you will have a better chance of finding a job. The best tip is to let your own personality shine during an interview.

How We Can Help You

Here at Affordable Background Checks, we know that the application process is stressful for those seeking employment, especially since the job market these days has become so competitive. That is why we make the background check process simple, affordable, and quick – it can offer great peace of mind and information to help applicants prepare. It is a good idea to perform a background check on yourself prior to job interviews or the application process to get an idea of what employers might find. To learn more about the services we provide and the information available to prospective job applicants, please take time to look through our website or contact us directly with any other questions you have.

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