Why do employers do pre-employment screenings and what to expect from yours.
When you are looking for a new job, especially if you are going to be working with children or seniors, you can pretty much count on having to go through a pre-employment background check before your first day on the job. In fact, almost any type of employer will at least do a basic background check on new employees, just as standard business practice and some even go a step further and do a credit check as well.
So why are these types of pre-employment screenings becoming so common. For one, many employers want to find out more about an applicant in order to get an idea of who they really are. A background check would alert them to any past issues and also provide them with some protection. For example, if a school system were to hire a teacher and then later find out that the teacher has a past record of abuse and a drug problem, they could possibly be sued for negligence. If a new employee has a criminal record of shoplifting, most employers would be hesitant to allow them access to their equipment.
Another reason for the background check is to verify employment and educational history. Let's face it, some people lie on resumes and many of them do it well. Employers don't like taking peoples' word on these matters and a simple check will tell them if the information they received from the applicant is true or not. For example, if someone were applying for a position working as a medical professional and didn't actually have the necessary training, it would be disastrous for the employer.
Because we are living in such a technological age, it is easier than ever for even a small business to do pre-employement screenings at a relatively low cost. Don't fall into the trap of telling a few lies on your resume thinking that no one will bother to check. They almost always will, and if you have something in your history that would reflect poorly on you, you're better off to be upfront about it. Having a flawed past isn't always a deal breaker for an employer. If you have a minor blemish on your record, you can explain the situation and what you learned from it, and many employers would still take a chance on you. However, if you are caught in a lie, the odds that you'll get the job become much slimmer.
So, what kinds of pre-employment screenings can you expect?
- Criminal Background Checks - These are very common and check any criminal history. For any charge that you weren't found guilty of, the records can only go back seven years.
- Social Security Number Confirmation - By verifying your social security number, employers can make sure that you aren't using someone else's identity or their social security number. It is just another way to verify your identity.
- Your Previous Work History - This type of screening is used to confirm your work history and previous salary information. Believe it or not, many people inflate their past salary information in order to bargain for more at a new job.
- Educational History - This checks to see if you actually attended the schools you claim and if you, in fact received a degree.
- Driving Record - If you will be using a company vehicle or even driving your own for business reasons, employers will most likely check your driving record. If you have had many previous tickets or moving violations, they may not be willing to take the risk on you.
- Credit History - Although this sort of screening is receiving a lot of negative attention and there are efforts to make it illegal, it is still done when an employee would be responsible for large sums of money or sensitive personal information.
There really isn't any way to prepare for these types of screenings, but knowing that they might be coming is important. Don't think that you won't be subject to one or all of these background checks before you are hired on at a new company. The main thing is to be as honest as possible on your resume and during the interview. If there is something you think might pose a problem, be upfront about it rather than waiting to see if it turns up on your background check.
Have you had to undergo any of these screenings? Did you feel that your privacy was being invaded? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for EducationJobsiteBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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