Now is a great time to find a job. The world is revving
its engine, and employers are hiring in preparation for better things to come.
If it’s been a while since you applied for a job, it’s important to remember
that a background screening is very likely to be part of the process. Background
checks for employment help employers
keep their environments secured against less-than-trustworthy hires and costly
workplace violence. The following is a brief refresher course on the basics of
background checks and what you can do to be ready.
Background Checks 101
A background check for employment is a report summarizing
data about you collected from private and public records. Information in your
background report could include any of the following depending on the employer
and the requirements of the position:
● Criminal activity
● Credit history
● Employment history
● Education history
● Social media information
● Motor vehicle record
● Medical records
● Legal work authorization
Employers can request different reports based on their
needs and the nature of the job. For example, if you’re applying for a
transportation job, you are likely to have your motor vehicle report checked,
and if you’re applying for a position with daily unsupervised contact with
vulnerable populations, checking your criminal record will be part of the
application process. Aside from employer preference, individual cities and
states have different laws governing background checks, and some types of jobs
have federal mandates.
How to Prepare
Since it’s not unreasonable to expect a background check,
you might consider taking the following steps prior to applying for a job to be
ready:
Clean Up Your Social
Media Accounts
It’s not uncommon for potential employers to take a look
through your social media accounts for obvious red flags. If you’ve got
information out there you don’t want a potential employer to see, delete it, or
manage what can be seen and not seen by changing your privacy settings.
Check Your Own Records
Filling out a job application requires access to
employers, addresses, dates, and places. Having this information readily at
hand will make the process smoother. The following list will get you started:
● Official copy of your education transcripts and diplomas
● Information about past employers, including a good phone number and address as well as the dates you were employed and your titles
● Contact information for personal references
● Addresses of former residences with dates of when you lived there
● Personal identification information such as driver’s license, passport, and social security number
Run Your Own Checks
Background checks contain your information, so it’s
totally appropriate and often a really good idea to request copies of your own
records. Consumer reporting agencies are required to provide individuals with a
free copy of personal reports annually, so request one. Ask your DMV for a copy
of your driving record, run your credit report, and reach out to your state for
a copy of your criminal history.
Running your own check is a proactive approach. It allows
you to address and correct any errors before they surprise you during the job
application process, and it will remind you of issues you might like to get in
front of before an employer sees them.
Be Honest
Padding a resume is never a good idea, and not just
because the truth might come out in a background check. If you aren’t qualified
for the job with the right skills and training, it won’t be a good fit for
anyone. And, if there’s something in your background that employers will ask
about, be prepared to be honest.
Now you’re ready. Go get that new job.
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