What Shows Up on a Background Check: Everything You Need to Know
When you’re applying for a job, there’s a good chance that you’ll have to pass a background check. While you’ve probably been through a background check in the past, have you ever been curious about what shows up on a background check? If so, you’re in the right place.
Even if you pass or don’t have anything incriminating on your record, knowing the intricacies of the background check process can help you get hired or make the appropriate hiring decision. Read on to learn more about what shows up on background checks.
What Is a Background Check
A background check is the process of going through someone’s public records to look for information. Most background checks verify someone’s identity at the most basic level, while other background checks may look for niche information like someone’s driving record.
Ultimately, anything that’s a public record is fair game during the background check process. What’s more, consenting to certain parameters of a background check can also result in additional information being revealed.
Common Information That Shows Up on a Background Check
Background checks reveal a lot of information. While they reveal someone’s identity at the most basic level, most companies and government agencies don’t stop there. Instead, you’ll likely have to consent to criminal records searches, driving records searches for specific jobs, and sometimes even a drug test. Learn more about the information that shows up on a background check below.
Identity Verification
The first part of any background check is identity verification. Companies will request access to your Social Security information and use that information to look into your education and work history. They can also use this to verify your credit history, past bankruptcy, and much more. Most companies use an SSN database to pull this information.
Criminal Records
One of the most common bits of information that appears on a background check is someone’s criminal record. This is one of the first things that most companies will look for, especially if they have policies in place that prevent them from working with felons. When a company checks your criminal records, they’re usually looking for:
- Felonies
- Jail sentences
- Probation
- Community service details
- Misdemeanors
- Sex offender status
Depending on the background check, some information might no longer be available, especially if crimes are more than seven years old.
Social Media and Online Presence
Believe it or not, companies can view your online presence or request access to social media profiles. This can result in social media accounts being looked at by government agencies and companies that want to hire you. They can view your followers, images, friends, and anything you post. Having your accounts set to private can help, but they can always request access.
Driving Records
This depends on the background check, but driving records are a big one if you plan on operating a vehicle or heavy machinery. Getting specific licenses, like a commercial driver’s license (CDL), may also require a driving records check. Driving records tend to include violations, moving violations, and sometimes even parking tickets. In fact, something as simple as an unpaid parking ticket prevents you from getting hired.
Credit History
Your credit report is a public record if you give someone permission to check it. Most jobs won’t look into your credit history, but if you plan on acting as a fiduciary, companies will check your credit. This can be required by law, especially in places like banks or in financial advisor positions. When a background check looks into your credit history, they’ll look for your credit score, any negative marks on your credit, and bankruptcies.
Check Your Records Today
A lot of information shows up on a background check, so it’s important to have an understanding of what your public records look like. Even if you don’t have any criminal convictions or past crimes, other things can appear on a background check and prevent you from getting the job. For example, you may not get hired due to a credit check or driving records search.
The good news is that you can be prepared by running a background check on yourself with tools like Information.com. Information.com is a public records search tool that can help you verify your personal information. Whether you’re looking to fight discrepancies on your record or you want to know if a crime is past the lookback period, it’s always a good idea to go into a background check, knowing what will show up.
