Background screening has become very common in most industries. When a person applies for a position, they are often told they will need to undergo a background screening as part of the hiring process. If the background screening does not come back with the information that is expected, the person does not get the job.
The background screening will usually include a check of a person’s driving history, their criminal record, their credit history, education background, and reference check. Many people feel that this type of in depth screening for a job is against the basic rights of a person to privacy. They are right, to an extent.
Some of the screening will be completed from the application that you fill out for the position. When you sign the application, you agree the information on the application is true and that the company can check it. If any of the information turns out to be false, the company can fire you. It is important that the information you put on an application is accurate and complete. If you cannot remember a date or other information, don’t guess.
When information that is requested on an application is unknown, it is okay to put that on the form. Many individuals and businesses think that signing the application form gives the company permission to do the same type of thorough examination of a resume. This is not true. Unless you are asked to sign a waiver giving permission for the resume to be researched, a company may not check the information on the resume to see if it is true. When a resume is treated like an application without the permission of the applicant, it is an unauthorized invasion of privacy.
It is important to read the screening waiver you are signing. When a box indicates a screening that is not related to the job you are applying for, cross it out. Write on the line above this area that you are not allowing the screening in this area. This is very important with credit histories. When a company is checking your credit history for no reason related to the job, they are going to impact your credit score.
A credit report that is requested by a company can affect your credit score. Unless there is a reason for this check, a company does not need to run a credit report arbitrarily. When you do not want a certain screening to be conducted, cross it out and do not approve that screening. There are many types of screenings that are vital to the position for which you are applying. Those screenings are relevant, important, and should be conducted.
When you know an uncomfortable item may be revealed in the background screening, talk to the interviewer about it. Letting the company know what to expect will be to your advantage. In many cases people who alert an interviewer to a possible problem can deal with it before the background check is submitted.
The amount of information you want to allow a company to collect on you is a personal decision. You need to be aware that this information is kept in some files for up to seven years on average. You should always be aware of your rights when a Employee Background Checks is going to be conducted. There are serious rights issues involved in many of the Background Employment Screening processes that can have a negative impact on you in the future.