Processes Involve During a Background Check

Many employers conduct background checks on candidates and employees. These searches can include verifying your work history, credit, motor vehicle records, compensation, sex offender records, and more. A comprehensive background check also looks at your educational history to confirm degrees and certifications you may claim to have. These can even include a review of your social media profiles, as long as it adheres to all laws and respects your privacy.

Social Security Number Verification

A social security number background check examines an individual’s SSN to verify their identity. It includes identifying previous names and aliases, address history, and more. It is a crucial step in any thorough background check because it allows the company to look for criminal records associated with an applicant’s former name or alias. The background screening company also examines education history, often verifying degrees and professional licenses an applicant claims to have. It may also include information about the educational institutions an applicant attended, the dates of attendance, their academic performance, and disciplinary actions taken while they were enrolled in school. The check can also include verifying the person’s credit report and searching public records. It may include bankruptcy filings, debts, liens, judgments, and other financial records. The company doing the check must adhere to the laws regarding accessing this information and respect the subject’s privacy. In addition, the company should provide clear instructions about accessing and interpreting the report.

Criminal Record Verification

A criminal record background check uncovers a candidate’s past felony and misdemeanor convictions, if any, and any pending cases. It also shows arrests that didn’t result in convictions or a finding of guilt. The candidate’s status on the sex offenders register is also confirmed, and both local and foreign terrorism watchlists are searched as part of this background investigation. A state criminal search is an additional service employer can request and will show convictions from courts in the candidate’s previous home states. All background-checking companies don’t offer this search. Some state searches require a more complex process, like the submission of fingerprints, and may take longer to complete. These services can be helpful for employers in assessing their candidates and protecting them from negligent hiring lawsuits. They can also assist with verifying educational credentials.

Identity Verification

Usually, the first step in a background check involves identity verification. Examining identification papers like a driver’s license, birth certificate, and Social Security number verifies that a potential hire is who they claim to be. Criminal record searches reveal any past misdemeanor and felony convictions as well as any current cases that may be pending. It is necessary for any background check, especially for positions that handle sensitive information or financial accounts. Employers want to ensure that anyone they hire has no history of theft or embezzlement. Education and professional license verifications are also standard parts of a background check. These checks confirm that candidates earned the degrees they report on their resumes or applications but don’t go as far back as high school records.

Credit Report Verification

A credit report background check is a search of a person’s borrowing and payment history that an employer can request from the company that provides employment background checks. A consumer credit check does not include a person’s credit score, but it can show whether or not an individual pays their bills on time and what accounts have been in collections. Employers typically conduct a credit check only when hiring for roles that involve substantial financial responsibility or where an employee may have unsupervised access to money or valuables. A clean credit report can be a sign of fiscal integrity that can help an employer trust that you’ll treat their company’s funds with care and respect. A background check can reveal a person’s identifying information, credit report contents, employment history, university degrees, driving record, public records like bankruptcy filings, and civil court records. Some laws determine how extensive a background check can be and what type of information can be included in a background check to prevent discrimination.