Background Screening – Get To Know Potential Employees

Most positions require some form of background screening. When companies work with the public there are regulations that often require background screening of employees prior to employment. When a person receives a background screening they may not get a job if the screening reflects negative information.

In most cases the screening that is conducted may include a credit history, education background, reference check, driving history, and criminal record. This in depth screening is not necessary for many types of positions and it is important that the screening you agree to matches the position for which you are applying.

Some of the screening will be completed from the application that you fill out for the position. When you sign the application, you agree the information on the application is true and that the company can check it. If any of the information turns out to be false, the company can fire you. It is important that the information you put on an application is accurate and complete. If you cannot remember a date or other information, don't guess.

When information is unknown, a person can leave a box blank. When completing an on-line application you may have to put zeros in boxes for dates for the application to move through the system. When you are interviewed you can tell the interviewer that you are not sure about the dates and let them decide to use the information. Unless you are asked to sign a waiver, a resume may not be used as a part of the background check. This becomes a privacy issue and you must give specific permission for a check of your resume to occur.

It is important to read the screening waiver you are signing. When a box indicates a screening that is not related to the job you are applying for, cross it out. Write on the line above this area that you are not allowing the screening in this area. This is very important with credit histories. When a company is checking your credit history for no reason related to the job, they are going to impact your credit score.

When a request for a credit history is made it can affect your credit score. If the company is going to commit to providing you with a loan at some point then you may want them to check your credit now. However, in most cases, the credit check is just a standard part of the process and the companies doing this do not consider that it is not relevant to the position and can impact your credit score.

If something is going to come back on the background check that has not been discussed with the interviewer, you will want to talk about it before the screening is sent. For instance, if there is a felony criminal record, it will show up on the background screening. By preparing the company for this ahead of time they will not feel that you have been deceitful. It is important that any negative information that may come back be discussed prior to the screening process.

There is a lot of debate about Background Checks among a diverse group. Many individuals see this as a direct violation of a person's right to privacy. When a screening is done that is not related to a position and is not going to protect a company, then it is an invasion of your rights. It is important to know your rights regarding Employee Background Checks before you consent to the process with a potential employer.