EmployeeScreenIQ

If you're searching for a job, chances are you'll have to undergo a background check at some point. Visit http://employeescreen.com to learn more.

It has become commonplace for most employers to complete a background check on any potential employee. Background checks help employers validate the information a candidate gives them on a resume or during an interview.

If you're in the market for a job, according to Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, there are some steps you can take to make sure your background check will come out clean.

• Order a copy of your credit report. Many employers take your credit check as a serious indicator of responsibility. If there's something on it you don't recognize or you disagree with, dispute the information with the creditor or credit bureau. This also is a good way to make sure you haven't been the victim of identity theft.
• Check court records. If you have an arrest record or have been involved in court cases, inspect those files to make sure the information is correct and up-to-date.
• Check DMV records. Request a copy of your driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles, especially if you are applying for a job that involves driving.
• Complete your own background check. If you want to see what an employer's background check will reveal, hire a company that specializes in such reports to conduct one for you.
• Ask to see a copy of your personnel file from your old jobs. Even if you do not work there anymore, state law might enable you to see your file.
• Read the fine print carefully. When you sign a job application, you will be asked to sign a consent form if a background check is conducted. Read this statement carefully and ask questions if the authorization statement is not clear.
• Tell neighbors and work colleagues they might be asked to provide information about you. This helps avoid suspicion and alerts you to possible problems.
• Clean up your "digital dirt." This includes conducting a search of your name on major Web browsers, such as Google and Yahoo. If you find unflattering references, contact the Web site to see if and how you can remove them. You also should review your MySpace and Facebook profiles.
• Request previous background check reports. If you have been the subject of a background check covered by the FCRA, you may be entitled to receive a copy of your "file" from the employment screening company.

Labels: Background check