What Will Show Up On a Background Check?

When assembling an overall picture of a job applicant, a pre-employment background check is a valuable piece of the puzzle.

For a procedure so integral to the hiring process, you might expect more clarity as to what it entails. The reality is that hiring managers and job seekers alike are often unsure about what a background check includes.

That’s probably because different types of background checks will cover different information.

Here’s our breakdown as to what might show up on a background check.

What Pre-Employment Background Checks Can Show

A pre-employment background check is a catch-all phrase for a variety of checks and verifications. They almost always include a check of criminal history. Depending on the position, they may include additional checks on things like education and past employment.

Criminal History

This type of search is by far the most common form of background check, using criminal history databases and county court searches to pull up information about any convictions. Employers generally start with a search of the county that the applicant lives in, since records of any court proceedings or convictions usually originate at the county level.

Identity Verification

Employers can use databases containing records from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security in order to verify that an applicant really is who they say they are.

Credit Report

Credit bureaus use information from banks and credit card companies to reveal any accounts that an applicant has with lenders, in addition to any past credit inquiries. In some cases, it may also show previous bankruptcies.

What About Arrests?

Background checks may show any arrests within the last seven years whether or not they resulted in a conviction. However, some reporting agencies choose not to include that information in order to avoid violating guidelines from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Expunged/Sealed Records?

If a record has been sealed or expunged, then the applicant is not obligated to disclose that record during the hiring process when asked about criminal history. These records must be excluded from any pre-employment background check.

Traffic Tickets?

Traffic tickets typically do not show up on background checks. The only way to find out about these records is to run a motor vehicle records check.

It’s important to be clear about what information you need to discover in a pre-employment background check, and what you don’t need. Reach out to an expert at Veriswift if you need help fine-tuning the information that appears on pre-employment background checks.