What Does an Employment Background Check Look Like? 17 May 2018

To use any tool effectively it’s important that you know what it does and how to use it. While you might feel comfortable using a screwdriver, I’m sure you’d want some training before using a jackhammer.

Consider this your user guide to reading your employee background report, aka background screening. We’ll go through some of the most common sections of an FCRA-compliant background check. After each section, you’ll see a screenshot of what that section might look like on your report. This post will read more like FAQ than a blog post. But that’s good, the point is to help you understand your background check report.

Employee & Employer Inputed Data

The first two sections of your report show the information the employer conducting the background check and the job applicant entered. These sections show whose application you’re looking at and the position they applied for. It also helps you compare the original information with any potential errors or inconsistencies.

Applicant Information & Additional Information

This section covers the basic identification information that the job seeker entered when they applied. This includes their name, mailing address, email address, and partial social security number.

The additional information section gives the applicant a chance to add any other information they want to include before the background check is completed.

Employer Information

The employer information section contains the information related to your request. This includes your order information, account number, and order date. It will also list details like the position applied for, the date the report was completed, and the staff member who reviewed the report.

Background Report Sections

Next, we’ll look at the most common employment screening background report sections, these include fraud protection, criminal records, and employment verification. These sections of the employment screening will show you any red flags that came up during the search.

Note: The red flags in our reports are actually red, which helps quickly identify them.

Fraud Protection

Fraud protection verifies the applicant’s SSN to ensure it’s valid. Your report will show the SSN status, may tip you off to an error in entering the information or perhaps even fraud. In the case of an invalid SSN, you’ll see the steps you can take to further verify the applicant’s information.

Criminal Records & Sex Offender Search

In the criminal records section, you’ll see records found at the county, state, and federal level. We’ll also run a nationwide search that covers multiple states. If any records are found, then you’ll see the conviction severity (misdemeanor vs. felony). You’ll also see the type of offense and the conviction date.

The nationwide sex offender search will show if the applicant is registered as a sex offender. This data is gathered for every single state.

Most Wanted Search

You might wonder why this section is here if there’s already a section for criminal records. But, some registries aren’t covered in a typical criminal record search. These might include criminals that are on a watch list for the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals, Secret Service, and other federal agencies. This search will make sure you’re completely covered.

Employment Verification

The employment verification section shows you an applicant’s past job history. It will also show you employment history data like how long they worked there, their position, and the reason for termination/quitting. If you’re looking to hire someone who is reliable this data could help you determine if they’re a good fit. In the example below, you see an employment check for a job applicant who doesn’t keep a job for long and doesn’t leave jobs on good terms. Probably not a good fit when hiring someone for the long-haul.

Education Verification

The education verification can be very important to you if the position requires a degree. Here you’ll find the schools the applicant attended, the dates they attended, and degrees earned. Some people may attend a school and never get a degree, but on their application, they may make it appear as if they had. This report will help you quickly verify that they are telling the truth.

OFAC / Global Terrorist Search

This search will make sure the applicant is not on any terrorist watch lists in the U.S. or in another country.

Address History

Address history will show current and previous history. This allows you to compare the report with their application and further verify an applicant’s identity.

What Now?

If you’re reading this post you probably just got a employment background check or are looking to get one. That’s great. It shows that you want to do your due diligence to keep your employees and your company safe. But your needs may be different than what you saw in this article.

Our representatives can walk you through the needs of your industry and help you come up with a solution that fits your needs. Get started today.