What Is Uncovered During a Background Screening?
Posted on: July 20, 2019 by Gavin MuirheadIn a competitive business market, the hiring process is no longer based on personality, character, and all the frills that charming applicants once relied upon to land a job. Today, finding a job means that you’ll have to undergo a rigorous process of interviews, training, and of course, background checks.
Background checks are now a normal part of the hiring process for most jobs. As job applicants, this might be an alarming fact – particularly if there is potentially concerning history in your background. However, in preparation for applying, it’s a good idea to have a better understanding of what background checks typically screen for. In this article, we’ll go over some of the general areas that background checks illuminate in job applicants.
Background Checks Are Not All the Same
First, it’s important to know that not all background checks look for the same information. It’s helpful to imagine what different jobs might be looking for in a background check, as some employers may be more concerned about specific areas of your background. Here are some things to consider:
- Driving history
- Citizenship
- Educational background
- Employment history
- Criminal background (and specific criminal offenses)
- Financial background
- Social security verification
- Personal information (social media accounts, etc.)
This list highlights only a few of the potential areas that employers will be screening for in the background check process. It’s helpful to consider the nature of the job you’re applying for. For instance, as you might imagine, not all employers will be interested in your driving record. Jobs that require a lot of driving will certainly be interested in any history of driving-related offenses.
Some of the Basics
There are certainly general areas that most employers screen for during background checking and verification. Here are some more details about the most typical aspects of your background employers might pay attention to:
Criminal Background
This is perhaps the most common and most crucial element of one’s history to look into for employers, for several reasons. First, it protects the business from liability, and second, it aims to keep the workplace safe and effective. Not all businesses will avoid hiring individuals with a criminal background; however, it may depend on the nature of the offense, how long ago the incident occurred, and steps the individual has taken since to remedy this aspect of their past.
Educational Background
Qualifying for jobs these days requires extensive experience and education for the most part. Employers want the best of the best, which often means they’re looking for specific degrees in applicants. By verifying one’s educational background, employers can be sure they’re hiring the most qualified applicants for the job.
Confirmation of Previous Employment
Most employers require job applicants to provide a list of professional references to help verify their employment history. Another way to verify previous employment is to screen for discrepancies on applications through background verification. This can add to the level of qualification of the application and rule-out certain applicants with non-relevant employment histories.
Military Record Verification
Military personnel are entitled to certain benefits in employment with many companies, which makes it especially important to verify one’s military record. Some may take advantage of military-related benefits and falsify on application documents. Usually a background check is a good way to ensure that the applicant is indeed military personnel so that they can receive the benefits they are entitled to.
How to Prepare for a Background Check
If you’re concerned about what might come up on your own background check during the hiring process, it’s always a good idea to take precautionary steps to be one step ahead. Here are some tips:
- Perform a background check on yourself
- Be honest and forthcoming about your background on the application
- Practice how to discuss certain black marks in your background with employers, emphasizing how you’ve grown from the experience
How We Can Help
Background checks aren’t only for employers, but for the general public to access for personal matters, in preparation for job application, becoming involved in business partnerships, etc. Here at Affordable Background Checks, we provide easy-to-use, straightforward background check services to a wide range of individuals online. If you’d like to learn more about our services, please feel free to look over our website or contact one of our helpful associates today.
