Sunday, January 13, 2013

The Main Hurdle Many Job Seekers Forget



What’s one of the main hurdles many job seekers forget?  Background checks.

There are a number of reasons employers run background checks. For instance, if they see you have many late payments or are otherwise irresponsible with money, they may see that as a liability. Additionally, criminal records can indicate a candidate may be prone to violence. Most employers run these checks to protect themselves from negligent hiring lawsuits if anything should happen.

What kind of information can an employer obtain during a background check?
Employers can look into a number of facts about you, including your credit history, employment history, driving records, and criminal records. If an employer uses a third party to conduct a background check, The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) ensures it’s lawful. A potential employer must notify you in writing if they intend to obtain a report, and they must get your written consent as well. If anything in your report causes an employer not to hire you, they must give you a copy of the report and a copy of your rights.

Employment Verification
Potential employers may want to verify your employment history to ensure all the information on your resume is accurate, including where you’ve worked, when you worked there, job title, and salary. Provide contact information for a previous employer to comply, and remember—never lie on your resume!

Credit Checks
Credit checks are reports that include personal information like your address, previous addresses, social security number, and finances, including credit card and student loan debt, mortgages, car payments, defaulted loans, and late payments. You can obtain a free copy of your report once every 12 months. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are the three major bureaus that provide employers with credit reports.

Criminal Record
Exactly what information an employer can obtain about your criminal history varies from state to state. Some states don’t allow questions to be asked about incidents that happened at a certain point in the past. Check with your State Department of Labor to review what an employer can check. Know that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) says you can’t be denied employment only based on your criminal record. The employer must take into consideration the nature of the offense, when it occurred, and how it relates to the job you’re seeking.



What can I do to Prepare and Protect myself?
There are a number of steps you can take if you think a potential employer may run a background check on you:

Get copies of your records prior to interviewing. Order a free report from a national consumer reporting company by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. Request a copy of your driving record from your state Department of Motor Vehicles, particularly if the job you’re applying for involves driving.

Last but not least, run a background check on yourself.  This is the only way you will know for sure what any potential employer might see.  There are countless services that will offer complete background checks.  E-verify, one of the most trusted and extensive web services is currently offering an unrestricted trial for $1.  Much like running a yearly credit report on yourself, this is the best way to discover any potential false information that may be ruining your reputation.

Get your $1 Unrestricted Background Check Trial

If you’re a job seeker, it’s important to educate yourself about your rights involving background checks, and to properly prepare yourself to answer questions about the information that may turn up. Remember, background checks are as much a part of the hiring process as resumes and cover letters—it’s best to prepare yourself before a problem arises. Good luck!


Heather Huhman is a major contributor to this article.  She is the founder & president of Come Recommended, has nearly a decade of public relations and marketing experience, specializing in media relations, content marketing, and social media. 
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