Do Background Checks Terrify You?
Making it to the final round of the hiring process is really exciting… until they mention that they’ll be running a background check on you. Of course, for many people, this is no cause for concern. But, if you have a few skeletons in your closet, this might be a time of extreme anxiety. What will the background check show and will anything in your past disqualify you from getting hired?
In this blog post, we are going to uncover the mystery surrounding background checks so you know exactly what to expect. We’ll also give you some tips to address anything that they might uncover in your past so you can put yourself in the driver’s seat… which is a really good place to be during a job search.
Background Checks, Explained
Close to 95% of employers require some kind of background check so there’s a good chance this will be a part of your next job search. It’s important to understand what they’re looking for, how they get the information, and what that means as far as qualifying or disqualifying you for the role.
Background checks are usually done by an outside company that the hiring company contracts with. They’re basically looking for any major red flags (like criminal convictions), but the main reason for the background check is to make sure you are who you say you are.
Unfortunately, job seekers will often lie and say they have certain qualifications or degrees, or they’ll fib about their employment history. Hiring managers need to check for this because they need to make sure you can actually perform the role you’re being hired for in a competent and safe manner. They’re making a big investment in you and they want to make sure it pays off.
For example, if you say you have a degree in computer programming but you only took one class, you probably won’t be able to perform the job duties they require. If your job needs you to be able to operate heavy machinery but you don’t have a commercial driver's license or your license has been suspended, they need to know that before hiring you.
Sometimes, a background check will also include a credit check, but this isn’t as common. Either way, the company is legally required to tell you that they’re doing a background and/or credit check and you have to give them written permission to do so.
What Could Disqualify You?
There are a few things that could come up on your background check that might disqualify you from receiving a job offer. Some examples are:
Employment History: According to HR Dive, more than one third of people admit to lying on their resume. We don’t need to tell you that we think this is a bad idea. The truth will come out, and you’re much better off being honest up front. The background check will likely show a list of the companies you worked for and the positions you held, so just tell the truth and talk about your strengths and experience honestly (but positively) during the interview.
Criminal Convictions: Notice we said “convictions” and not “charges.” This is important. Many employers will check to see if a person was actually convicted of the crime they were charged with. But, even still, a conviction might not automatically disqualify you. According to a survey done by Sterling Talent Solutions, “67% of employers said they would proceed with a candidate evaluation after finding a conviction not divulged initially on an employment application.”
Bankruptcies and Credit History: Not all background checks will include this information, but if you’re applying for a job in the financial industry, there's a good chance they’ll look for any red flags in your financial past. If you have declared bankruptcy, it’s important to be upfront and explain why because they’re not going to see that information in the background check. It will only list it as a bankruptcy, and they may assume the worst.
Driving Record: This is another one that won’t be a factor for all jobs, but if you’re going to be doing a lot of driving, they’re going to want to check to make sure you have a valid license, that you hold the types of licenses they require for the role, and that you don’t have serious or excessive traffic violations on your record, especially DUIs.
Note: it is important to understand that employers cannot discriminate against you on the basis of race, origin, gender identity, religion, disability, or age. If you feel you are being discriminated against, you can file a discrimination claim with an attorney, but this is usually very rare.
How To Address Issues Preemptively
Since the background check is usually one of the last steps in the hiring process, you have an opportunity to address any issues that will come up preemptively in the job interview. This is a good idea, because you have a chance to own the narrative and explain yourself before they form a judgement on their own.
The best thing you can do is be honest and upfront. We actually published a blog post all about addressing the skeletons on your resume and it has some great tips for talking about employment gaps, brief periods of employment, and lack of experience or education. Click here to read it and get some talking points that you can use in the interview, rather than lying or fudging your work history, education, or experience.
If you have a criminal history, DUIs, or a bankruptcy on your record that you think might be an issue, don’t wait for it to come up on the background check. Bring it up in the interview. Talk about what you learned from the experience and illustrate what you’ve done in your life to prevent it from happening again. Talk about the reasons you know it’s not going to impact your job performance. Own the problem and show how you’ve already implemented the solution.
We understand it can be tough to talk about these things, but we’re all human and hiring managers understand that. They don’t expect you to be perfect but they do want to know that they’re making a smart choice in hiring you. If you have any questions, feel free to send us a message or leave a comment below!