#BackgroundCheck #JobSearch #PrivacyConcerns
Wow, this is eye-opening! 🤯 Have you ever thought about running a background check on yourself? Because, guess what, it seems like potential employers might be doing it before even considering you for a job interview. 😱 Here are some thoughts on this topic:
– Employers and realtors are using apps to do background checks on potential candidates/customers.
– Sometimes, these checks can show inaccurate information, which might affect your chances of getting a job.
– It’s essential to be aware of what information is out there about you.
So, what can we do about this situation? Here are a few possible solutions:
– Consider running a background check on yourself to see what information is being shared.
– Be proactive about correcting any inaccuracies you find.
– Discuss your concerns with potential employers to clarify any misleading information.
Let’s spark a conversation! Have you ever faced a similar situation? How did you handle it? Let’s help each other navigate through these privacy concerns. #BackgroundCheck #JobSearch #PrivacyConcerns 🕵️♂️✨
A background check on me comes up with nothing as I’m practically a ghost.
Every company I worked for we submitted background checks using social, birth certificates, drivers license or ids….. not phone numbers. I seriously doubt any company you are interviewing for would search based on such limited information.
Employers need to adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act in the US.
Meaning, if they run a background check on you and it flags that you have a felony or something else and they decide to pass on your application because of that, then they must legally inform you that that item in your credit report / background check led them to not move forwards.
Employers are also legally required to get your consent to run a background check.
FCRA lawsuits and their penalty payments can be massive!
HR here.
>I have read online that some employers don’t do a background check until after they make an offer. Others may do a background check before they interview you.
Most employers make a conditional offer prior to running a background check. They can’t legitimately run a background check without your written authorization, so unless you authorize it before your interview it’s probably not happening (or it’s not a good employer).
>If ATS systems are seeing this crap, my application may be being tossed for a felony arrest that never happened before anyone even sees my experience or skills.
ATS systems don’t run background checks. Some are integrated with background checking companies. Those companies – not the ATS – run the check. The ATS might be the “bin” where the results are placed. But again, usually the employer makes a conditional offer first and doesn’t run the check on all candidates.
There’s a legal process in the US that employers must follow when running background checks using a third party. First, they must (depending on the state) or should (as a best practice) give you an opportunity to talk about the results and explain things. This is called the individualized assessment. Second, they must give you an opportunity to dispute the results of your report. These are called the pre-adverse and adverse action processes.
Finally, the background check your realtor is seeing could be very different from what an employer can see. There are regulations – some federal and some state – that limit what can be reported for employment purposes (particularly around credit reports).
Wow. Also, time to get a new phonenumber.
I will say this – my best friend has both an extremely common first and last name in the US. She has been given grief and was denied jobs initially offered to her because when they do a background check, her name pulls up someone else in our state with a felony or two. Socials are close but don’t match. Doesn’t matter that it wasn’t her, the company that did the check couldn’t for sure say it wasn’t my friend who had the felony so she lost a job. This has been an issue for her for over a decade. Every new job she has to warn them specifically this might happen and to please look into it enough to see it isn’t HER.
I use various background checks as a senior financial crimes investigator.
I suppose it’s possible for this to be happening, but it’s probably very unlikely.
The reason for that is it costs a lot of money. A lot of the systems that are used f9r background checks have a designated cost per search, depending on the reason for the inquiry.
One search I came across in a prior role was $36. We had to get department head approval in order to use it, and it was almost never approved.
So to just implement that into a casual application process to deny people a job even before meeting them just doesn’t make sense financially.
Also, anyone who uses these systems knows that they’re not the most accurate. Especially phone numbers. They’re not social security numbers.
I just want to add this is why you shouldn’t name your children after their relatives. My ex husband is a JR to a felon. It’s often a mess for him.
Yep, I do it every 3~5 months and also make sure unwanted attention won’t reach out to me as well.
Get a Google voice phone number for your job applications
Been hiring for a awhile both independently and corporately. Never once have I or any of my colleagues even thought about doing my own background check on someone. Never would I even consider doing a background check on anyone BEFORE an interview. That’s just a waste of time and money right there. I highly doubt this is happening to you or anyone unless it’s a very serious high level job
That’s what I’ve been asking for when companies that I interview for do my background check, they ask if I want a copy and I been saying yes but no one gives me it. I wonder if I have a some sort of criminal record I’m not aware of.
Things that I would never trust. A background check based on a phone number. I’ve had the same number for over 20 years and have found it to be registered in other places in different names. Short of a background being run from a SSN, Name/DOB or license. I’d tell that realtor she’s wasting her money.
Hey OP, I use to work for multiple background checking companies like Sterling & Hireright.
A legit company would conduct more research with information like your SSN, full legal name, birth date, address, etc. Using a phone number would be dumb because that is easily transferable. So whatever app that realtor is using I wouldn’t really consider legitimately.
Some companies conduct background checks prior to extending an offer, some after, however I can tell you most companies will only request a background check if they’re serious about hiring you. Background checks cost money. If they conducted a background check on every single applicant whether or not they qualified, it would be a waste of time and money.
Also, most of the information conducted in a background check can be easily found yourself. These are most often public records with local courts. It depends on how extensive the company wants to do their background check, but for the most part they just want the general 7 year public background check for any felonies / misdemeanors.
TLDR: Unless you’ve committed a major crime that your googling your name pops up an immediate record, I do not believe this is hurting your chances of an interview.
Well lucky for you, a felon can run for president and can be president.
Background checks should just be thrown out the window because this country has set a precedent.
Report the realtor to relevant regulatory body. It’s illegal for a background check conducted without your express approval, with clear guidelines on how to seek corrections if needed.
Cell phone numbers change hands way too often. Assuming realtor is somehow using LexisNexis (usage of which is strictly monitored and regulated), the ‘app’ is simply scraping any phone number owners and running a public records check.
Get a new cell phone number…
No, because one random person found a random useless app, you don’t need to worry about it. No company (except for a few random cases) would use such a “service”.