We’re here to help you out! Exactly what’s included in an employment background check is up to the employer. However, depending on industry and job position there are different things that an employer might want to include. Employment background checks can range from a simple verification of your social security number to more complex searches that include your work history, credit, driving records, criminal records, bankruptcy information, education history, and reference checks.

Let’s go over some of the things that are most commonly found in employment background checks and then show you additional add-ons that can be included.

1. Social Security Validation

This is almost guaranteed to be included in every employment background check. A social security validation is run to ensure that an applicant’s social security number is legitimate. This check will also help find all names, aliases, dates of birth, and address histories associated with that social security number. This may also help employers find locations that an applicant has lived under other aliases that can reveal criminal records that wouldn’t have been found otherwise.

2. Criminal Records Check

Criminal records checks are also very commonly included in employment background checks (including our National Baseline Search). These checks will search both national and county records for any criminal history. What does that mean? Any felonies or misdemeanors that are on your record will show up here.

However, just because you have a felony or misdemeanor doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be discounted from a potential job. In fact, ban-the-box laws are in place in many different states and counties to help prevent discrimination based on criminal history. This law prevents employers from asking an applicant about their criminal history before making a hiring decision.

Criminal record checks can be very important! Depending on the records found and job position, certain positions of trust and security can strongly benefit from knowing and discussing an applicant’s criminal history.

3. Address History & Identity Checks

Address history and identity checks are included in our National Baseline Search and generally performed to ensure that all of an applicant’s information is correct. These searches help find any addresses, DOBs, or birth/death indexes that match with the applicant. One important aspect of these checks is they help verify findings from other searches or uncover hidden aliases/addresses that an applicant may try to hide.

4. U.S. Terrorist Watch List & International Most Wanted List

Searches of these two lists are included in our National Baseline Search and most basic employment background checks. These searches help weed out candidates who could potentially be threatening to your organization and are especially important for security and high-profile positions.

5. Sex Offender Registry Search

A sex offender registry search will check both national and specific state’s live sex offender registries against an applicant’s information. This search is included in our National Baseline Search and very common in most employment background checks. A Sex Offender Registry Search is especially crucial for positions of trust or those that deal with young children. Running this search is pertinent for employers to protect themselves from negligent liability suits.

(This search is also crucial for volunteer screening! Sports, nonprofit, and religious groups should be performing screening as well to protect their organizations and volunteers.)

6. Employment & Education Verifications

Employment and education verifications aren’t always included in employment background checks, but are very useful to employers. These verifications often include a phone call to verify previous employment and education history is correct and/or searches of databases that house this information.

7. Social Media Check

This is a search that has becoming increasingly common to find on employment background checks. Social media checks go through a potential candidate’s social media accounts to look for any potential red flags. These red flags could include finding hate symbols or images of violence, frequent posts complaining about their current or past jobs, or images of themselves partying really hard.

The main idea behind social media checks is that it helps employers find details that are often missed in a traditional hiring process. Social media checks can help employers get a better understanding of an applicant’s true persona. Please make sure that your social media checks are being performed by screening professionals that can perform FCRA-certified and legally compliant searches.

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Have more questions about employment background checks? Or are you looking to start background screening soon? Please don’t hesitate to reach out, we’d be happy to help!

The post What’s Included In An Employment Background Check? appeared first on Blueline.

So we thought we’d briefly touch on some of the great services and options we offer here at Blueline Services to make sure you’re aware of all the awesome things we offer.

We want to make sure you’re getting the best value for your business! If you have any questions about your account or any of the services listed below, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our amazing customer services representatives at 888-919-8378 or email us at backgrounds@blueline-services.com.

Background Screening & Drug Testing:

Blueline Services is a full service screening provider—meaning we provide both background screening and drug testing services.

Both background screening and drug testing add serious benefits and protections to employers, landlords, sports/volunteer organizations, and anyone who is looking for high quality team members to help advance their business. Please reach out if you’d like to understand how these services could best benefit your specific needs.

SOME SERVICE OPTIONS YOU MAY NOT BE USING:

Social Media Checks

Finding a quality candidate is not as easy as it used to be. Social media checks have been becoming increasingly common as employers attempt to do a better job at weeding out bad hires. These checks are designed to help confirm personal qualities about a potential applicant including: dependability, integrity, and character. Our screening professionals perform FCRA-certified and legally compliant social media checks. (No “friending” or overriding privacy settings)

Education Verifications

Our education verification services can help you confirm an applicant’s resume credentials. Total Reporting conducts education verifications worldwide! We only collect information directly from the requested institutions or their authorized agents and can verify degrees, diplomas, attendance, GPAs or certificates.

Employment Verifications

Similar to education verifications, many employers verify employees’ employment histories prior to hiring or promoting them. This helps ensure that an employee is trustworthy and has the requisite experience for a position. Employment verifications can confirm dates of employment, job position, and reason for leaving a previous employer.

Instant Driving Records

Driving records or motor vehicle reports (MVRs) detail a person’s history of driving violations, suspensions, and other related information. These records can be for 3 or 5 years, depending on the state.

Baseline National Search

Our Baseline National Search is dynamic, virtually instant, and powerful. This search is a standard for all of our screening packages because it is an extremely effective tool for discovering jurisdictions and other areas where criminal offenses may have occurred outside of an applicant’s indicated address history. It draws on national and international sources, including: the Department of Corrections, International Most Wanted, federal sex offender registries, terrorist watch lists and numerous others.

Credit Report

A credit report can pull a full credit history (credit score is only available for tenant searches). Our credit information reflects what is kept on file by TransUnion. The use of credit report information for employment purposes is restricted in some states. Contact us if you have questions regarding your specific state’s laws.

County Criminal Record Search

A county criminal records search finds criminal records within a specific county’s court records. This search can provide felony, misdemeanor, or infraction information. These searches are often recommended after a Baseline National Search has found potential records for an applicant within a specific county. County criminal records are searched by name and the results are then verified with other identifiers, such as date of birth, social security number, or driver’s license number. Reports usually include the jurisdiction searched, the individual’s personal identifiers as they appear in the case file, the file date, charges, disposition, disposition dates, and sentencing information.

Federal Criminal Records Search

Federal criminal record searches report information from federal district courts and only contain specific high-level white-collar crimes or crimes that cross state lines. This search only covers crimes that are prosecuted at a federal level, which include infractions such as tax evasion, bank robbery, kidnapping, and counterfeiting.

DRUG TESTING OPTIONS:

Random Drug Testing

We offer complete random program management tailored to your needs for both DOT and non-DOT clients including random selection and testing. Random drug testing is one of the most effective ways to encourage a safe work environment, prevent accidents, and deter employee drug-use.

POCT (Point of Care or Instant Testing):

We offer a variety of POCT or instant drug tests that can be performed right on-site. Results are delivered in minutes and there is no time lost going to a collection site.

Drug Testing Online – Use Our Electronic Chain of Custody (paperless!)

We offer completely paperless options for drug testing! You can use our electronic Chain of Custody for non-DOT tests.

For any questions regarding our different drug testing options or to add additional services to your account, you can contact our drug testing customer service representatives at 888-919-8378 or email them at mail@blueline-services.com.

The post How Can You Get More Out Of Blueline Services? appeared first on Blueline.