When A Candidate with Minuscule Black Spot Denied Employment

Background checks are frequently used by employers who pre-screen employees to eliminate risk from their company. Unfortunately, this process eliminates many applicants who may be fully qualified, but have miniscule black spots in their background or history. There are many reasons why an individual may be denied employment based on background check results. However, because background checks have proven to be so helpful in eliminating risks from the workplace such as substance use and aggression, sometimes employers must do further investigatory work to supplement the information they receive from such reports. Subsequent interviewing after background checks are performed can help to clear up any discrepancies that came up on the background check report and can give the applicant a fair chance to explain their past behavior or mistakes and how they have changed since.

Again, applicants may be perfectly qualified for a job; however, background checks can also verify employment histories and educational backgrounds which can bring up other reasons for denial of employment. There are legalities and standards associated with background checks and how employers are designated to use them for employee pre-screening. Whether an applicant or an employer, it is critical that you do adequate research on your state’s laws and regulations when it comes to background checks. Here are some of the reasons why a candidate with a miniscule black spot on their background check report may be denied employment.

Driving Infractions

You might be surprised to hear it, but background checks can reveal information about your driving record and previous driving infractions. Depending on the nature of the position, one’s driving record may be relevant to the job in question, therefore requiring that the employer screen for any driving-related issues in the applicant’s past. Applicants commonly wonder if minor traffic infractions like speeding tickets will affect their ability to be hired, and the general answer is “no;” most driving-related positions take more serious offenses such as DUIs into consideration. However, with that being said, some positions such as that of a school bus driver might be especially cautious when considering hiring someone with multiple speeding tickets on their record.

Embellished Educational or Employment History

Resumes and official job applications are easy to embellish on—one walks a fine line between selling themselves with fancy language and outwardly lying about their previous experience. One of the purposes of background checks is to verify an individual’s past job-related experiences. This typically includes educational history and previous places of employment. Therefore, when filling out an application it pays to be honest. One can rightfully be denied employment if one doesn’t meet the criteria or qualifications for the position in question, and that can be devastating to an applicant; however, it is further devastating to be caught in a lie on an application or resume. It can be far more detrimental to your career in the long run to lie on your resume, so lead with the qualifications you do possess and let your unique personality shine.

Minor Criminal Histories

Some jobs have zero tolerance for criminal histories—especially ones dealing with mental health or in the capacity of working with children, and sometimes rightfully so. When used properly, background checks can be helpful to eliminate great risk to society. Unfortunately, many applicants are passed over due to miniscule marks on their background checks, and the employers really are missing out on highly qualified and well-adjusted potential employees that have more to offer. Employers would do well to take into consideration the nature of an offense in relation to the nature of the job position and weigh the potential benefit the person’s experience and rehabilitation could lend to the workplace.

Our Philosophy on Background Checks

Background checks should be used simply to make more informed decisions about others, not eliminate entire populations of individuals based on their past experiences. At Affordable Background Checks, we make it our mission to ensure that every background check report we conduct is thorough, accurate, and executed in a timely fashion before we present in to our clients so that decisions that follow are based on current and factual information. If an applicant is denied employment based on a miniscule black spot, it may help to give the applicant feedback about their background check and their application so that they can learn from the experience, not be shunned from the workplace entirely. Nonetheless, background checks are extremely beneficial to society with the maintenance of safer working environments.

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