A background check is a way to find information about someone that may not be readily available. Individuals and institutions choose to conduct background checks for a whole host of reasons. Background checks are conducted through third party institutions and are meant to provide a picture of an individual's character based on past actions and records. Background checks reveal information about an individual's professional, financial, criminal, and public history. They include everything from speeding tickets to time spent in jail, bankruptcy to employment history.

When you apply for a job, there is a good chance that your prospective employer will perform a background check in order to look into your professional and criminal record. If you had seven different jobs within the last tax year, your employer may wonder if you are a good candidate who will stick with the job. Furthermore, a background check will reveal your criminal record. Many employers are wary of hiring individuals with any kind of a criminal record. Job applications have a section to discuss your criminal record. It is important to be honest here as your employer will likely find out about your record anyway. When applying for a job that will allow you to work with children, a background check is necessary to prove that you have never committed a crime against a minor.

Some landlords also use back ground checks before allowing individuals to rent apartments and houses. If a tenant with a criminal record were to create problems with neighbors (who may also be the landlord's tenants in other units), the landlord could have a serious mess to deal with.

Individuals some times also conduct background check for personal reasons. Some dating safety sites advise women to consider conducting a background check at the beginning of a relationship, or even before the first date. While some people feel that doing a background check for this reason may stem more from paranoia than practicality, others argue that it is better to know everything up front and protect yourself.

There are many companies and services that offer background check services to the public. The price and comprehensiveness of the background check varies from service to service. A quick online background check can immediately provide basic information about a person in question. However, a comprehensive background check can take longer to compile and can cost hundreds of dollars.

Discuss this Article

anon318546 Post 39	Do background checks ask about mental health history?



martin4050 Post 38	My ex-employer stated that I abandoned the workplace and never returned, which is totally inaccurate. He also stated that I never made the amount I was claiming to make and ultimately gave details that I am a poor employee.



anon255716 Post 37	I joined a company with UG qualification. Even with having PG qualification, will this create any problem in my career?



Dan Webguy Post 36	there is a company called Social Intelligence which helps recruiters screen candidates based on what they say on social media platforms. they claim to only use publicly available information, but overall it's just not pleasant sounding! I think it's unethical. I'm researching background checks right now.



anon186407 Post 35	i just want to ask what is the qualification needed for a post of police officer and what else in physical and medical? I'm sure about it because my height is 6'6 but I just want to know what qualifications are needed.



edwardk Post 34	A background check is necessary in life. We often meet strangers at our home or in our office. Sometimes, we cannot avoid a relationship with them. And without knowing the background of that person, it would be quite dangerous for us to have any kind of relationship with them. In this respect, a background check is the one and only way to solve this problem.



anon142310 Post 33	if you get arrested in canada and you are a U.S citizen, does it show up on your background check?



anon124503 Post 32	Question #31: Most likely not even if you had gotten a charge a year ago, that won't hold you back. Only if you have a felony charge, then there might be some problems. With a Misdemeanor, don't worry about it at all.



anon124215 Post 31	Can a misdemeanor over seven years old cost you a state job or a state license? Please help!



anon89094 Post 30	will your family history show up or just yours?



anon79112 Post 29	Do companies background check you if you're a minor?



anon78640 Post 28	Can a background check reveal your immigration status?



anon70960 Post 26	i was arrested when i was in school for being in possession of cannabis with intentions to supply. i did not get sentenced. i pleaded not guilty and i want to work in the police force. will i be able to?



rixter6742 Post 25	If you got a job that does a "criminal background" check (not a security clearance), can you fail that check by having a bankruptcy in your background?



anon67131 Post 23	Our brother-in-law was arrested and is serving jail time in Canada. He is a US citizen. Will this show up in a criminal check done in the US (when he returns and looks for a job?) and secondly, we don't know exactly what he was convicted of, can we find out?



anon60039 Post 22	A background check is used to make sure those of us who have made mistakes in our past are never allowed to be part of legitimate society. Because of the mistakes i have made in the past, i have several DWI felonies (there was never a collision or accident involved) and I am unable to get a decent job, and nobody cares. I am 40 years old and forced to live with my parents because of this. Society does not give a crap about you once you have committed a felony, and I wonder why they even let you out of prison when nobody will give you a job, nobody will rent you an apartment, you can't get credit, the list of licenses you are no longer eligible for is too long to list here - it's all a bunch of crap. I am considering suicide because I am so sick of all the doors getting slammed in my face. If society doesn't want me around, fine - I'll off myself and I hope all of you feel better for it.



anon58707 Post 21	A police check is the start of australian fascism which, when linked with the current social climate of stickbeaks, gigs, whistleblowers and police pimps is being manipulated to employ applicants approved by members of the freemasons. Can someone please explain why the commissioner of police and George Brouwer managed to obtain positions for which they had no merit.



anon55334 Post 20	I am 27 years old. I got a DUI when I was 19, one when I was 21, and 1 when I was 25. I was thinking of becoming a cop in my 30's. there are no other convictions. will this dui business hurt me because it is a repeat offense?



anon52045 Post 19	if someone in your family has been in prison three times does that prevent me from becoming a police woman?



anon50570 Post 18	If the application asks if you've had any convictions in the last 10 years, can they hold older convictions against you? My conviction is 14 years old, the application asks for the prior 10 years.



anon46545 Post 17	Can you become a police officer if you have been in a psychiatric hospital and diagnosed with bipolar disorder?



anon45613 Post 16	i got a dwi when i was 19 now i have remained clean and out of trouble and really want to serve my community.



anon35790 Post 15	what does background dismissed mean



diane54321 Post 14	When an prospective employer checks your background is it a state check or a national check?



gerardbba Post 13	I want to become a cop, but because the state of Idaho will not let any one in with a felony charge. My career might be ify. But, I committed this felony when I was a minor. My question is: will they still check my background records when I was a minor?



Undecided Post 12	If applying to the police force, after completing a criminal justice program (but I had a criminal record a a young offender - for mischief, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer, and 2 counts of breach of probation, which now does not show if I get a record check) do I have a chance of getting hired or will I be dismissed as not suitable for the job?



zackattack Post 11	If in high school i smoked marijuana, but have been clean over a year, how much time is needed before i should apply and will that determine my career in law enforcement ??



anon20434 Post 10	can a background check show if you were fired from a job?



vasuki Post 9	how much importance is given to a DUI misdemeanor during a back ground job check and interview?



alx336699 Post 7	How specific can an employer get during a background check? Basically, an ex employer of mine revealed untrue information to a possible employer. The ex employer stated that I abandoned the workplace and never returned which is totally inaccurate, also stated that I never made the amount I was claiming to make and ultimately gave details that I am a poor employee. She has a notorious background for acting this way after employees leaves the the company. Is this labor infringement and defamation of character? I also signed a contract which stipulated that upon my college graduation a raise and full benefits of a full time employee will be instituted which was never put into action hence the reason for my resignation. I have the CFO as witness that this was never applied even though a signed contract was put into place. Is there any way that I can have her retract the inaccurate information or threaten my ex employer with a lawsuit for labor infringement and defamation of character, this is causing me a possible job. The possible employer's HR department is negating to hire me due to these reasons and I need to get this fixed. Please help. Thank you



Momz Post 6	Can they reject you if you were in an altercation with an individual 2 yrs. prior out of self defense?



aslaughter Post 5	Can a background check reveal if you have received a summons?



anon4194 Post 4	Can background checks reveal if you have been laid off or fired from a job?



anon3887 Post 3	Can a background check find out if one has a Post Tramatic Stress Disorder condition at a Veterans Administration hospital?

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