The Difference Between Employee Background Check vs. a Personal Background Check

Background checks were first made available in the late 1990s. With the many advances in technology, running a background check on an individual can be done in a matter of minutes through a simple web search with a first and last name. You may wonder what the differences are between an employer running a background check on your versus someone like a potential spouse using one. Let’s discuss the differences below.

Performing a Background Check in a Professional Setting

From screening a potential employee, through the hiring process, or vetting a potential tenant as a landlord prior to accepting or declining an application, running a background check is the answer to many.

As an employer or business, it is important to understand when consent is to be obtained by the person you are vetting. Employers are required by law to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA protects the information gathered by consumer reporting agencies by regulating the way these agencies collect, use, and share the data collected.

When employers conduct background checks prior to hiring new employees the turnover rate is often lower within the company. They are able to weed out those who are less likely to commit long-term to a job as well as reduce the potential for theft, fraud, and workplace violence.

Conducting a Background Check in a Personal Setting

Employers, or potential employers, are not the only ones allowed to conduct a background check. There are many scenarios in which a private citizen would run a background check on another person including:

• Vetting a personal relationship: In recent years, online dating has become increasingly popular. One way to vet the person you have met through an online dating website or app is by conducting a background check.
• Conducting a self-check: When applying for jobs or preparing for a job interview, many people will perform a background check on themselves. In doing so, you are able to see what potential employers will see when they run a professional background check that will help in determining your future employment. You are able to prepare for any questions that may arise from your background check as well as dispute errors that you see.
• Searching for a sitter: This is one that you walk a fine line between which set of rules you should follow: personal versus professional rules. While seeking in-home childcare or after-school care for your child(ren) is less formal than a formal job, you are still considered an employer. It is recommended that you receive written consent prior to conducting the background check to cover yourself in a legal sense.

Conducting a name-based background check on a personal level does not require written or verbal consent from the person being looked into. However, if there is even the slightest chance that the scenario could be considered professional, you should receive written consent typically through a signed consent form.

What information can be found during a background check?

Much of the information received through conducting a background check on an individual is that of public records through the state, county, or city. Among these records includes:

• Marriage records
• Divorce records
• Credit report
• Criminal report
• Sex offender records
• Active warrants
• Social media accounts
• Contact information
• Demographics

Affordable Background Checks

At Affordable Background Checks, we use an extensive database with more than 2 billion entities to conduct searches including arrest records, court records, and much more.

Our name speaks for itself in assuring customers that we provide affordable background checks at the click of a button. Not only are our searches affordable to all, but they are also kept confidential to you. The person you are searching for will not be notified that a search was performed. However, we always recommend that you proceed through the proper legal channels when vetting someone.

Our background check process consists of a few simple steps:

• Step one: Create an account
• Step two: Enter the name, city, and/or state of an individual
• Step three: Allow a few moments for the database search
• Step four: View report

It is that simple! Whether you are looking to conduct professional or personal background checks, Affordable Background Checks can help you!

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