Will I Pass an Employment Background Check?

If you’re job hunting, there’s a good chance you’ll be background checked as part of the hiring process.

The PBSA found that 93% of employers conduct some form of pre-employment screening, so you’ll almost certainly undergo one.

Understanding what employers are looking for and what might raise red flags can help you prepare and avoid surprises that could cost you the job.

In this guide, we outline what background checks involve, the common issues that could cause you to fail one, and how to perform a background check on yourself.

What Do Employers Look for in a Background Check?

What employers look for in background checks depends on the job you’re applying for and its duties.

Some common checks and what they show include the following:

Identity Verification

Identity verification is a preliminary check that background check companies conduct and provides the following information:

• Date of birth
• Full legal name
• Known aliases, including maiden names
• Address history

These details help background check companies confirm your identity and ensure the records they find belong to you instead of someone else.

They can also use this information to identify other areas to check for additional information.

What can cause you to fail:

Providing inaccurate information about your identity on an application or resume can cause you to fail an identity verification check.

For example, listing the wrong date of birth or using someone else’s Social Security number can result in failing identity verification.

Tip: Always list your correct identity information on your application and resume. Submit copies of valid, government-issued identification, including a driver’s license, Social Security Card, or work authorization documents, when requested for a background check.

Criminal History

Most employers request criminal history searches.

If you have a conviction or pending charge, a criminal records check shows the following details:

• Court jurisdiction
• Criminal case number
• Charge nature
• Charge severity (petty offense, misdemeanor, or felony)
• Case disposition
• Disposition date
• Sentence information (when available)

Not all criminal convictions will cause you to fail a background check.

Employers assess convictions based on the job you’re being considered for and whether the offense indicates an increased workplace safety risk.

What can cause you to fail:

If you’re applying for a job as a cashier and have a misdemeanor theft conviction, the employer might turn you down based on risk.

Similarly, having a fraud conviction might prevent you from being hired for a job handling sensitive information.

Assaults, domestic violence crimes, or sex offenses could preclude you from positions in law enforcement, healthcare, or positions working with vulnerable populations.

However, if you have a minor criminal record, an old conviction, or a conviction that’s not substantially related to your job, it might not prevent you from being hired.

For example, a DUI may prevent you from being hired for a delivery job, but it might not interfere with getting a retail job.

Tip: Get a copy of your background check before applying, and be ready to explain any convictions honestly. Highlight steps you’ve taken since, like steady work or rehabilitation, and ask about expungement if eligible.

Employment History

Employment verification is another commonly requested search, regardless of industry.

An employment history check reveals the following details:

• Employer names and addresses
• Employment dates
• Job titles and duties

What can cause you to fail:

If there are any inaccuracies in what you reported on your application or resume, the employer might decide not to hire you.

Some employers check your references by contacting your previous employers to learn more about your performance and work ethic.

If your references and former employers give negative information about you, it can hurt your chances of being hired.

Also, many employers look for unexplained gaps in employment when evaluating candidates.

If you have these, an employer might be concerned about your work ethic or whether you’ll stick around.

Tip: Double-check that your job titles and dates are accurate by reviewing old records or contacting former employers.

Be careful when you choose references, and ask their permission before you list them.

Choose former supervisors who had positive relationships with you and tell you that they will provide a positive reference on your behalf.

Explain any employment gaps in your cover letter, and accurately reflect your employment dates on your resume.

Education History

Many employers also ask for education verification, which reports the following information about your education:

• Names and addresses of institutions attended
• Enrollment dates
• Whether you earned a diploma or degree

What can cause you to fail:

Claiming to have attended a college or university you never attended can cause you to fail the education verification.

Similarly, obtaining a fake degree from a diploma mill can also result in a failed check.

Other issues that can cause problems include claiming to hold a degree you don’t have or listing the wrong attendance dates.

Tip: Make sure everything on your application or resume is correct, including employment dates, job titles and duties, schools attended, earned diplomas or degrees, and information about certifications or licenses.

Driving Records

If you apply for a job that requires you to drive, the company will likely perform a motor vehicle records (MVR) check.

This includes applying for a job as a CDL driver, which is regulated by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) and subject to DOT background checks.

An MVR check shows the following details about your driver’s license and driving record:

• Legal name
• Driver’s license class
• Issuance date
• Expiration date
• Driver’s license number
• Traffic violations
• Major traffic offenses (DUIs, reckless or careless driving, no proof of insurance, etc.)
• Revocations or suspensions

What can cause you to fail:

You might be turned down for a job involving driving if you have a poor driving record.

This is because employers who hire drivers must ensure their employees are safe and responsible to minimize risks to others.

They also must confirm that you meet minimum insurability standards.

Tip: Review your driving record before applying and address any issues upfront.

A clean record helps your chances, but if you have past violations, be honest and explain what you’ve done to improve.

If you have a bad driving record with multiple traffic violations or major traffic offenses, you might consider applying for jobs that don’t involve driving.

Credit Checks

Many states restrict pre-employment credit checks other than for positions involving access to the company’s or customers’ money and sensitive financial information.

If you apply for a job in finance or banking, you’ll likely be asked to consent to a pre-employment credit check.

This is not a hard pull on your credit and won’t affect your credit score.

It shows the following information:

• Payment history
• Debt-to-income (DTI) ratio
• Available credit
• Collection accounts within the last seven years
• Bankruptcies (if applicable)
• Current and previous employer names and addresses
• Other credit inquiries
• Indicators of financial mismanagement

Employers perform credit checks because they believe a good credit record shows that you’re responsible.

What can cause you to fail:

If you have poor credit, employers might feel you would present a risk of financial mismanagement if hired.

For example, having a high debt-to-income ratio, multiple accounts sent to collections, a history of late payments, or a recent bankruptcy might cause you to fail a pre-employment credit check.

Tip: Work on improving your credit score by paying your bills on time and using credit responsibly.

Professional License Checks

If you apply for a credentialed position, your employer will likely request professional license verification to confirm you have the professional license needed to perform the job.

This check reports the following information:

• License number and type
• Issuing body
• Issuance date
• Expiration date
• Public sanctions/disciplinary actions
• Revocations or suspensions

What can cause you to fail:

Having a suspended, revoked, or expired license can cause you to fail the professional license verification.

Tip: Make sure your license is active, up to date, and free of sanctions before applying.

Check with the issuing body to confirm everything is in good standing and renew or resolve any issues if needed.

Drug Tests

In regulated industries, drug tests might be mandatory for employment.

For example, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) requires companies it regulates to perform pre-employment DOT drug tests as a condition of employment.

These tests screen for recent use of alcohol or illicit drugs, including:

• Marijuana/THC
• Cocaine
• Phencyclidine (PCP)
• Amphetamines/methamphetamines
• Opiates and opioids (heroin, fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, etc.)

What can cause you to fail:

If you fail a drug test, the employer will see the substance or substances you tested positive for and their concentration in your blood.

Tip: If you’re applying for jobs in a regulated industry, one that involves heavy equipment, or healthcare, you should avoid using drugs or alcohol.

If you’re prescribed a scheduled drug that could cause a false positive, bring your prescription information with you to the testing center and inform them.

Additional Searches

The following additional searches might be requested based on the job you apply for and its industry:

• Global terrorist watchlist search – This search checks for whether you’ve been involved in terrorism, drug trafficking, serious financial crimes, and other illicit activities in the US and across the world. You might be subject to this search if you apply for employment with a government agency, K-12 school, university, or in the financial sector. You might also be subject to this search if you’ve ever lived or worked overseas.
• Sex offender registry check – This search checks the sex offender registry in every state and shows whether an applicant is registered as a sex offender, the offense requiring registration, their registered address, and other details. It is commonly requested for applicants working with children, the elderly, or disabled people, and in healthcare For these jobs, being a registered sex offender can be an automatic disqualifier.
• SAM Check – Healthcare employers and federal contractors often request SAM checks, which look for whether you’ve been barred from federal contracts. If you have been excluded or barred from federal contracts, you won’t be hired by a company holding federal contracts (including healthcare providers with Medicare and Medicaid contracts).
• OIG Check – OIG background checks are requested by healthcare employers to see whether you have been barred from Medicare or Medicaid. You won’t be hired if you appear on the list of excluded individuals and entities (LEIE).
• FACIS Search – This search is an in-depth investigation of numerous federal and state databases to check for sanctions and debarments and is requested by healthcare employers.

How to Know If You’ll Pass an Employment Background Check

1. Perform a Background Check on Yourself

Before you apply for jobs, it’s smart to perform a background check on yourself.

Reputable background check companies like iprospectcheck offer personal background checks to allow you to see what prospective employers might find.

This can help you prepare to answer questions an employer might have and address potential issues proactively.

2. Check Your Credit

If you’re applying for financial jobs or positions handling sensitive information, you might expect to have a pre-employment credit check.

To prepare, check your credit report.

You’re entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian), which you can obtain by going to annualcreditreport.com.

Look over each report carefully. Credit reports frequently include inaccuracies, so it’s important to check all three reports.

If you see anything that’s wrong, dispute it. The credit reporting bureaus must remove information they can’t verify within 30 days.

3. Contact Former Employers

Contact your former employers to make sure you have your correct employment dates and job titles.

It can be easy to forget this information as time passes, but you want your resume to be accurate.

You can also request your employment records to see if anything is in there that might be concerning to a potential employer.

4. Request Your Driving Record

You can request your driving record from your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

If you’re applying for jobs involving driving, pulling your driving record lets you see what will show up.

An old driving violation won’t necessarily make you fail a background check.

Employers consider the violation’s recency, relevance, and severity.

Be honest and explain any violations upfront to increase your chances of being hired.

Trust iprospectcheck for Accurate Personal Background Checks

When you’re looking for a job and worried about whether you’ll pass a background check, you should take action before you apply.

Running a background check on yourself can help you understand what employers might question.

At iprospectcheck, we perform thousands of employment background checks for companies in every U.S. state and offer personal background checks to individuals who want to know what employers will see when they conduct pre-employment screenings.

For more information or a free quote, call us today: 888-509-1979.

DISCLAIMER: The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Consult your counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.