How to deal with an employment background check when you get a job

Getting a new job can be quite stressful. You need to get used to a lot of new things, and the pressure can be quite high. On top of all that, the employers will be watching you. While this is normal, some of them can do even more than that and they will run background checks on you.

A background check will reveal all sorts of information about you, including your job history or criminal record. Many jobseekers are afraid of background checks because they might destroy their chances at getting the job. If you want to protect yourself, there are a few things that you should know.

Prepare yourself

You need to be prepared for a background check. That is because around 70% of the employers run checks for new hires. Additionally, in a study about one-third of the companies revealed that they run a screening for each potential employer. Drug tests are also quite common for candidates.

If you are aware that you might be subjected to a background check, it will be easier for you to prepare. Try to see what kind of personal information can be found online and clean it up a little.

Privacy is important

Background check is something that can only access the public information. No one will hack your computer and access your private files. This means that you have to be careful with the information you make public.

When it comes to social media try to make your accounts as private as possible. Only share things with your friends and your close ones. This way your employers won’t be able to access them and judge your posts.

Accurate information

Job histories are quite important for most employers, but they are also something that can be quite neglected by job seekers. For example, many candidates tend to estimate the time they spend at a job when they include this information in their resume. This could make your resume be flagged as inaccurate.

Therefore, when you create your resume you need to make sure that all the details there are completely accurate. You don’t want them to consider you a liar just because of some mistakes. The same thing goes for your education. Don’t try to include false details about your major for example, as they will be checked out.

References

References can really improve your resume. However, before you include a reference you need to make sure that you ask for permission first. That is because all the persons there will be contacted by your employers.

Check your credit

Your credit might be also checked during such a screening which means that you should make sure that it looks good. Your credit might be lowered because of some normal mistakes so you can try to improve it. If you can do that, it is recommended that you come with an explanation for it. This way, your employer will understand your situation and you will be deemed as trustworthy.