How Employers Check Comprehensive Background Profiles

By Emilia Espinoza


A company will typically check comprehensive background profiles of job candidates prior to deciding on hiring one. There are many reasons as to why they do this but the main purpose is for verifying that applicants have provided accurate details about themselves and have clean records, free of criminal charges. Background checking cannot be carried out without the approval of subjects though. Oftentimes, job candidates will be asked to sign waivers authorizing such upon application.

Employers do not really do the checking on their own. They will usually hire third party companies for the task. The companies are those that primarily carry out personal investigations that fall under certain specialties as, in this case, employment. The hiring of outside companies will help protect the prospect employees from having all their information spread to those working for employers.

What background checks will consist of vary depending on how thorough inquiries are. For low-level jobs, checks may simply comprise of checking the name as well as the social security number of applicants. High-level jobs will include detailed internet searches, credit checks and contacting past employers and education institutions. Sometimes, interviewing of former coworkers and neighbors will even be included.

Subjects are expected to give out the basic details about themselves. The details should comprise their contact information, previous and current address, as well as their social security numbers. Investigators will be utilizing these information together with those they have acquired from online searches in order to find out more about the subjects in question.

Employers should typically not know everything about their applicants. It is more common for investigators to learn much more about their subjects than will be significant to employers. Investigators will only be required to report items that will be relevant to the employers. Private matters that may be uncovered accidentally should not be shared to employers. However, this will still vary between companies. This matter must be covered in waiver agreements signed by subjects.

One aspect that an employer will most likely be interested in is your employment history. You will be questioned about the previous position you held and also your past work experience. Inquiries for these might be limited but know that a screener will surely focus on finding any inaccuracy visible on your resume.

Criminal background checking is often carried out especially by employers who are serious about maintaining a safe and worry-free work environment. This will provide them details as to whether or not applicants have had crime charges filed against them. Arrests or convictions will most definitely be dug out, as well as the time period spent while in the correctional institutions.

Prepare your credit history as well since this will also be checked on. This is most probable if you will be working for a company that handles intellectual properties or cash. Other aspects which may be verified are drug test results and your educational background.

Another method for companies to check on comprehensive background profiles is requesting for references from job candidates. References will usually be able to provide information as to the experience and work ethics of the people in question. However, this may also be the least reliable as surely, candidates will only be providing references that can speak well about themselves.




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