Does a background check only search criminal or employment? (license, employment verification, credit report)

[Adrian4488]

I did one for an employment agency and requested a copy. All that it said was no felonies of misdemeanors found. I once told a job I was still employed. Nothing came back on the background check to say I wasn't. Again was just criminal background. I don't need a lecture about lying I just wonder what most background checks are for?

[RVD90277]

usually they check for criminal records (country, state, local county, etc.) and will also check your most recent workplaces to ensure that you worked there. if you have college degrees they will also verify those. i believe that sometimes they will also verify your start/end dates at your last few companies and colleges.

if you have slight discrepancies, it's usually ok (e.g., you say that you started school in august but you really started in september), etc.

[Adrian4488]

Do the background checks say when you started and left? It just seems like background checks I've come across only check criminal.

[rlrl]

im not sure where they get employment verification from, either from direct contact with the former employer or a Consumer Reporting Agency contacts the former employer and reports the results to the employer. sometimes employer info shows up on FICO/credit reports but not always the dates. no idea how they check to see if someone isn't employed

types of background checks vary. for criminal checks that are mandated(like banking, securities, etc), they usually go thru state fingerprint repositories. for criminal checks that are not mandated they are considered discretionary meaning the employer is not mandated do them but they do it for employment screening purposes, risk management. for this the employers usually use reporting agencies to pull criminal records from the courts

other public records like bankruptcies and lawsuits judgments can be reported tho its less common

driving records can be reported with the applicant's signature

[wellshii]

They do them to verify. Employment checks are done through a service with the SS administration. Alot of companies dont bother,because of money. Alot of companies use third party,which in turn,get all the records from city,state,fed. If your asking what the background checks are for,they are to verify.

[Fiona13]

If you are driving as part of the job duties, they will check your DMV records. If you have a license like nursing they check to see if it is valid. If you work with children you will have a fingerprint check for sex offense. If you work with money, they may run a credit check. Other than those I think it is just former jobs, degrees, and criminal record.

Whether they get start and end dates depends on what that company will provide. Some former employers provide this information, some don't. I just got a new job last July and they went through a background check company. That company's computer went down so they couldn't verify one of my former employers. I emailed my W2 to the HR department so that satisfied the requirement. In that case, they were verifying my past employment.

[Hemlock140]

It totally depends on the employer and the job. What you are doing, where you have to go, and level of responsibility determines how much has to be done. For me it included an FBI background check, but for some of my people it's only been employment history and degree, others also a credit check.

[joe from dayton]

They can be as minimal or as comprehensive as the potential employer wants them to be.

[DavidHutchings]

In theory they can check for a variety of information. Commonly they check employment history and education. If you are working in a field with security sensitive materials/information, your future employer might also want to check your criminal and financial background. They can also uncover anything that was not disclosed during the application process. Generally, it pays of to be honest. I hope it worked out for you.
David