Background Check Reports

A background check is the process of looking up official and commercial records about a person. It was often done when someone applies for a job that requires high security like a school or a bank. It is traditionally done by the police but is now most often purchased as a service from a private business. Information usually includes the following: past employment, credit worthiness, and criminal history. These checks are important because they allow better informed and less-subjective evaluations to be made about a person.

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Types of Checks

There are a variety of types of investigative searches that can be used by potential employers. Many employers choose to search the most common records such as criminal records, driving records, and education verification. Other searches such as sex offender registry, credential verification, reference checks, credit reports and Patriot Act searches are becoming increasingly common. Employers should consider the position in question when determining which types of searches to include, and should always use the same searches for every applicant being considered for one position.

Possible Information That Can Be Found

Criminal and incarceration records

Birth certificate or legal status in the country

Litigation records

Employers may want to identify potential employees who routinely file discrimination lawsuits. It has also been alleged that in the U.S., employers that do work for the government do not like to hire whistleblowers who have a history of filing qui tam suits.

Driving and vehicle records

Employers in the transportation sector seek drivers with clean driving records--i.e., those without a history of accidents or traffic tickets.

Drug tests

are used for a variety of reasons--corporate ethics, measuring potential employee performance, and keeping workers' compensation premiums down.

Education records

These are used primarily to see if the potential employee had graduated from high school (or a GED) and in fact received a college degree, graduate degree, or some other accredited university degree.

Employment records

These usually range from simple verbal confirmations of past employment and timeframe to deeper, such as discussions about performance, activities and accomplishments, and relations with others.

Financial information

Credit scores, liens, civil judgments, or bankruptcy may be found too.

Licensing records

A government authority that has some oversight over professional conduct of its licensees will also maintain records regarding the licensee, such as personal information, education, complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions.

Military records

Although not as common today as it was in the past fifty years, employers frequently requested the specifics of one's military discharge.

Social Security Number

(or equivalent outside the US). A fraudulent SSN may be indicative of identity theft, insufficient citizenship, or concealment of a "past life".

Polygraph test

Also known as a psychophysiological detection of deception (PDD) examination.

Other interpersonal interviews

Employers will usually wish to speak with potential employees' references to gauge employability. More intensive checks can involve interviews with anybody that knew or previously knew the applicant--such as teachers, friends, coworkers, and family members.