How Does a Background Check Work?
Have you got a background check coming up and want to know how it works? Or are you curious to know the process, just in case you need to do a background check in the future? In this guide, we’ll cover how a background check works and what you can do to make sure you’re prepared.
What Is a Background Check?
A background check is a review of a person’s records to validate their identity and history. A background check is usually done by employers before selecting a new employee, landlords before taking on a new tenant, and organizations to verify the identity of a person and to assess the suitability of a person for the job, rental property, or opportunity.
Depending on the type of background check, it may include:
- Identity verification, such as the person’s name and Social Security number
- Criminal record
- Employment history
- Education verification, such as a check on your qualifications
- Credit history
This list is not exhaustive; if you are about to undergo a background check, it’s important to know what kind of background check it is, as this will determine what is included.
The Process: How Does a Background Check Work?
If you’re about to have a background check, this section will break down what happens during the process.
Consent and Disclosure
An employer must gain your written consent before doing a background check on you. Similarly, a landlord must also have your consent to do a background check, however they may access public records. It is important to note that a background check may be a standard part of their procedure, and so you may lose out on the employment opportunity if you refuse to undergo a background check. From there, you will have to submit your identifiable information, such as your name, Social Security number, address history, and date of birth.
Information Search
From the information provided, it is often a third-party service that will scan your records. This search will flag information like a criminal history and credit record. It will also bring up your education history.
Report Creation and Delivery
Often, it takes around 1-5 business days for a background check report to be created, but it can take longer if the check is more complex. This will then be sent to the person who requested the report, such as your employer or landlord.
Adverse Action Notice
If the result of the report is that the employer or landlord will have to take unfavourable action, then they will have to issue a pre-adverse action notice. This will inform the subject of the report of the outcome of the report, and offer them a copy of it if they would like to dispute what was found. In order to do this, the person will be given a reasonable amount of time to respond.
If there is nothing that comes up in the report that would cause an issue for a landlord or employer, then they have passed the background check.
How Can You Prepare for a Background Check?
If you have an upcoming background check, it can ease your mind to have a sense of what might come up so you can be prepared. To do this, you can use a people search website. From there, you can see what information about yourself is available, such as any criminal records or your education history. You can also find out what additional data may come up, such as any court records, social media accounts, and traffic violations, which can be useful if you are applying for a job that requires driving. Through doing this, you can be ready for any questions that may come up as a result of your background check.
Our Final Thoughts: How Does a Background Check Work?
In this guide, we have covered what a background check is, what it includes, how it works, and what you can do to prepare yourself for one.
It is important to remember that background checks are often part of standard procedures, and do not necessarily mean that your employer or landlord suspects you of anything malicious. If you do have a background check, keep in mind that you do have your own protections in place, such as your ability to dispute and the requirement of your consent in many cases.
