When it comes to hiring employees or tenants, conducting a background check should be a necessary step in the selection process. Background checks help provide you with valuable information about an individual before deciding on whether or not to hire or trust them. However, what information should be included in a background check, and how can one obtain and decipher it?

First, it's essential to define what a background check entails. Generally, a background check is a screening process that searches, cross-references, and verifies publicly available information of an individual to assess their character, behavior, and potential risks. The information gathered in a background check is vital in making well-informed decisions when hiring employees, accepting tenants or volunteers, or making deals with partners.

What type of background checks are there?

There are several types of background checks available, and each serves a specific purpose. The most common background checks include:

1. Criminal Background Check
A criminal background check investigates whether an individual has a criminal record. This check can uncover a range of criminal activity, including felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic offenses. The information gathered can include the offense type, date, court disposition, and sentencing.

2. Credit History Check
This background check focuses on an individual's credit report and their credit activity. It can help determine the trustworthiness and financial stability of an individual. Information that may be included in a credit report includes credit score, payment histories, account balances, and credit inquiries.

3. Employment Verification Check
An employment verification check is often conducted during employment screening. This check verifies information such as work history, job titles, job description, and dates of employment. It helps ensure that the applicant's qualifications are valid and accurate.

4. Education Verification Check
Education verification checks are used to verify an individual's education history, such as their degrees, certifications, and other educational credentials. This background check aims to ensure that the individual has the qualifications they claim to possess.

How to conduct a background check?

Different methods can be used to conduct a background check, depending on the nature of the check you are doing. When conducting a background check, consider the following:

1. Legal Compliance
Ensure that the background check follows federal, state, and local regulations. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) outlines the procedures required for pre-employment background checks.

2. Consent
Before conducting a background check, obtain written consent from the individual you want to investigate.

3. Gathering Data
Once consent is obtained, begin gathering necessary data by using online directories, searching court records, running credit checks, or verifying employment and education details.

4. Assessment
Analyze the information collected to ensure it meets your organization's requirements and draws only relevant conclusions. Avoid making judgments based on any discriminatory criteria such as race, religion, or gender.

What information should you look for in a background check?

The information that should be included in a background check depends on the type of check conducted. However, some of the most critical areas to look for include:

1. Criminal record history- A criminal record check can reveal criminal activity such as convictions, acquittals, and even arrests that didn't result in convictions.

2. Driving record history - A driving record check can reveal details such as traffic violations, accidents, and license suspensions.

3. Employment verification - This can confirm whether the individual worked at a particular place or company, employment dates, and job duties.

4. Credit checks - This can give an idea of an individual's financial history, credit score, and creditworthiness.

5. Education verification - This check can verify educational degrees, certificates, and any special skills an individual may have claimed on their resume.

6. Professional Licenses- This background check can reveal whether the individual has valid licenses to practice their professions.

How can you ensure accurate information?

Background checks are not always accurate, and this is why it's essential to double-check the information obtained. Some ways to ensure the accuracy of background check information include:

1. Verification: Verify with the source of the information when collecting data.

2. Use multiple sources: Get information from various sources like public records, credit bureaus, and professional organizations.

3. Professional Background check services: Consider hiring a reputable background check company to handle the checks professionally.

Conclusion:

Conducting a background check can be the difference between hiring a trustworthy and competent employee or accepting a potentially harmful tenant. The background check process is essential, and it's imperative to know how to conduct one correctly, what to look for, and how to ensure accurate information is obtained. By following the steps above and obtaining dependable background check services, you'll easily uncover the necessary information you need to make informed decisions.