What is Checked During a Background Screening?

The background screening  is an important part of the hiring process – it helps potential employers find out information about the potential employee that they may not find out during the job interview.  There are many things that may be included in a background screening – this blog post will cover some of the things that are commonly included in a background screening, as well as a few other things that companies may include in a background screening.

Things most companies look at in a

background screening

:

• Driving records:

  If the applicant is going to have to do a lot of driving, or if a company vehicle is going to be issued, driving records may be checked as part of the background screening.  Checking driving records will let potential employers know if the applicant is a safe driver.

• Credit History:

  If the applicant is going to be handling large amounts of money or sensitive credit card information, the employer may want to conduct a credit check to find out how responsible the potential employee is with money – if they have had money problems in the past, that may be a deciding factor as to whether they will be hired.

• Criminal Records:

  Most background screenings include a criminal  history check  – previous criminal history could indicate to the potential employer that the job applicant may not last long with the employer.  One important thing to note however when it comes to criminal records is that arrest records and civil suits or civil judgments that are more than seven years old cannot be included in a background check report.

• Education records:

  This is something else that is included in many background screenings – most employers will want to verify that the applicant has degrees from the colleges they say they have degrees from.  In the event that the school no longer has records for the potential applicant, however, applicants should be prepared to provide proof of education, such as copies of diplomas or transcripts.

• Medical records:

  If the potential hire will be hired for a position that requires a lot of physical labor that could potentially be dangerous, the potential employee may want to make sure they haven’t had any major health problems that could limit their ability to perform the duties that the position they’re being hired for requires.

• Military service:

  If the potential hire has listed any military service, the company will  definitely want to check military records to make sure that the information is accurate.  If it’s been a while since the applicant was discharged from the military, however, the potential employer may have a hard time verifying the information – therefore, potential hires should also be prepared to provide proof of military service if the potential employee requests it.

• State licensing records:

  If the potential hire is applying for a position that requires a license to practice, such as a position as a doctor or lawyer, the potential employer will definitely want to check to make sure that the potential hire is licensed.

• Previous employers:

  Most employers will want to contact previous employers to confirm that the employment information the applicant provided is close, if not 100% accurate.  The potential employer may also want to go a little deeper than just checking dates and actually speak to previous supervisors or co-workers to find out what kind of employee the applicant is.

• Sex offender lists:

  If the potential employee is being hired for a position where they will be working with children, the company may want to make sure that they are not on any sex offender lists.

Some other things that potential employers may choose to look at during a

background screening

:

• Character references:

  In addition to checking education and employment references, potential employers may also contact character references so they can find out more about a person’s character.

• Bankruptcies

  – Some companies may check to see if you’ve filed bankruptcy – if the company is using an outside background checking company, however, bankruptcies that are 10 years old or older cannot be considered.

These are things that are included in many background screenings. If the company will be checking your credit as part of the background check process, you may also want to request a copy of your credit report before you apply, so you can check it for inaccuracies.  If you have more questions about the background screening process, contact us.