What Your Employer Is Looking For When They Do A Background Check. (Article Sample)

What Your Employer Is Looking For When They Do A Background Check.  When your prospective employer wants to take things to the next level you find yourself torn between two distinct emotions happy and scared? Two words. High five. Prospective employers don’t do background check unless they are 80% sure they want to hire. Since background check incurs costs companies scan only the finalists. However, if your memory flashes contain speeding tickets, drunk driving, chapter 13 bankruptcy or its likes, then you have plausible reasons to fret a little maybe and to be prepared with explanations. Legally, they have to get your consent first, but they would do it anyways. Why do employers do a background check? Employer do these forensic for a number of reasons. Some jobs require them to do so, some laws require them to do so and sometimes just like old fashion folks they want to ensure they marry the right person to the right job. In short, employers are looking to avoid trouble down the road and will act like your in-laws (the awful ones). For example jobs that require taking care of children, disabled and old people legally bind employers to check criminal history records. Similarly jobs in finance will require a credit rating and employee’s own financial situation. What are they looking for really? Now you know why employers come in the interrogation room with a shovel bent on digging 50 feet or more, it is time to know what are they really looking for before time (so you have time to hide it)? Here is a sneak peek at what prospective employers dig for when running a background scan and how you can improve your results. Digital footprint The first and easiest is your digital prints. Of course your soon-to-be boss is going to reach out to the social networking at the first go. Mainly because that screening is very easy, effective and free. Plus, your Facebook page, twitter account and LinkedIn profile do give an idea of your personality, inclinations and interactions. Plus they also let you employer in on how tech savvy are you. This type of check becomes even more important if the job you have applied for has a creative aspect to it. So if you are looking to build a career path in advertising, content writing or modeling for example then use these platforms to showcase your craft. In fact you can use blogs to showcase your writing abilities and ability to influence people and help them form opinions. Many HR consultant advice job seekers to have two Facebook accounts; one professional and one personal. Keep your personal account on personal setting and allow only the selected few access to it. The Professional profile can be all public and all polished, in fact it can be used as a tool to put your best virtual foot forward. Same goes for other platforms as well. However, keep in mind that social media is only a contact point as employers are aware that things on FB are usually doctored. So don’t rush to hire a consultant for your FB profile. While they are at it, your employers are going to get a good idea of your social life, your friends circle, your religious and political views and likes. But again the anatomy of the check is heavily a function of the nature of the job. Authenticity Once the prospective employer is satisfied with your initial screen he or she will proceed to more targeted and probably sensitive information, like references, employment history, drunk driving tickets, and credit reports A good place to start for them is your resume. They will cross check all the important claims you have put in your CV and please be informed that employers don’t have a great sense of humor. So any kind of exaggeration will be termed as lying. If all you did during your summer internship is to bring coffee and donuts, the polished version should not read as ‘involved with the supply chain and procurement”. When it comes to resume writing honesty is the only policy. Records and background A third party screening will go well beyond first base. Of course your soon to be boss is going to want to rule out that you are not an ex Al Qaida or whether you ran off to Mexico when 16. They will look for legal prints (especially for law enforcement and the army ), credits reports and they ...