Two common elements of the background check process where problems can arise.
Today I want to talk about the different types of background checks you might run into and how to avoid any issues with them. The two most important ones are criminal background checks and employment verification.
The biggest challenge I’ve seen with criminal background checks is incomplete forms. They might have you fill out a form listing any previous convictions, but the background check will find something that wasn’t listed. The conviction itself is usually not what prevents people from getting hired. Employers usually pull the offer because the conviction wasn’t listed on the form. That’s why providing that information is critical.
“Make sure you put accurate information on these forms.”
The second type of background check is employment verification. Some companies will go through the last few years, call your previous companies, and see if you actually worked there when you said you did. Again, I’ve never seen companies withdraw an offer over the time frames themselves. Companies take back offers when the dates they find during verification turn out to be very different from what you listed on the form or on your resume.
These don’t have to be nefarious reasons. You might have inaccurate dates because your LinkedIn was designed as more of a professional profile than a resume. If that applies to you, make sure that the dates on the employment history form are accurate, even if they differ from what’s on your resume or LinkedIn profile. That’s not the end of the world. It’s more important to put accurate information on the form itself.
If you have any questions about this, call or email me. I would love to talk. Happy hunting.