Running a Background Check on Yourself before Applying for a Job?            

When we apply for a job and prepare for the interview, we tend to focus on interview techniques, updating our resume, and customizing our cover letter. While these factors’ importance is indisputable, it’s never a good idea to overlook the information a background check can reveal. According to UnMask and similar sources job background checks could show something that doesn’t correspond to the details you provide.  

The majority of job background checks will confirm the information you plan to share. However, it still pays off to know exactly what your prospective employer will see.

Running a Background Check on Yourself, Why?

Your potential employer is likely to run a check on you. Data of the Society for Human Resources Management show that more than two-thirds of businesses do this. Typically, background checks reveal education and employment verification, the existence or absence of a criminal record, and one’s credit score and history.

Running a check on yourself will allow you to identify any mistakes and have them corrected. It’s only reasonable to expect that a review won’t reveal any damaging information if you have nothing to hide. However, you could be surprised.

You might have shared your name, address, or date of birth with an ill-meant individual and fallen victim to identity theft. A Google search will show if this is the case, but a background check will reveal additional and crucial details. If you find your record contains false information, you will have the chance to remedy this. Doing this before applying for a job will make sure a prospective employer does not find this information. You don’t want to be rejected for no good reason.  

Lying Applicants are Disqualified 

Recruiters share that they often see embellished resumes or ones that contain blatant lies. Many employers will disqualify an applicant who they believe has lied. What’s more, your resume might contain an unintentional discrepancy. For example, employment dates can be interpreted in different ways. If you worked part-time for a company before going full-time, you might list the initial contract as the start date. Your employer might list the date you began full-time.

Running a background check on yourself makes it possible to ensure that you provide 100% accurate and complete information. You can do a detailed Google search of your name, address, and other personal information as well as a photo search. If you want to be sure you’ll see exactly the same things as your potential employer, purchase a background check plan.

Don’t Let Documents Speak for You

By doing a self-check, you know exactly what infractions could surface. You can be prepared when you’re asked about any incidents and explain them in person. The employer won’t be left to draw their own conclusions based on documents. It’s even worse if they contain inaccurate information. Recruiters tend to get a better impression of candidates who explain their record before having it revealed through a check.

How to Run a Background Check on Yourself 

Using an employment screening tool is the simplest method to view your record. The first step is choosing a service provider. Look around and read reviews. Look for a good cost to service ratio and keep in mind that not all pre-employment check tools allow self-checks. 

No matter what company you ultimately opt for, it should comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which governs how background check services process personal data to ensure privacy, fairness, and accuracy.

Then, choose a check package. The price may vary depending on the scope of the check. Packages that include county, state, and national records yield the best results. If applying for a job that involves driving, select a package that includes motor vehicle records. To make sure your resume is accurate, opt for education and employment verification.

To perform the actual check, you need to provide your full name, Social Security number, current address, and education and employment details. This is the same information your prospective employer will ask for.

It’s only a matter of time before your background report is delivered to your mailbox or by email. With a bit of pre-planning, job candidates can approach every stage of the search and recruitment process confidently.

Conclusion | Job Background Checks

Resume discrepancies and application inconsistencies, even in little things like dates, are warning signs that can lead an employer to disqualify a candidate. It’s important to know what pre-employment screening can reveal: a forgotten arrest record, false records about a person online, or a conviction one would rather ignore. This is only the beginning of what a background self-check can prepare one for.