How do background check services use publicly available data and other sources to conduct their searches?

Background check services have become an integral part of the hiring process and are crucial to ensuring a safe workplace. Employers use background checks to learn about a candidate’s criminal history, credit and driving records, education, and employment history. They can also be used to verify a person’s identity, as well as check their references.

But where do background check services get this information? And how do they ensure the accuracy of the data they provide to employers?

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the methods used by background check services to gather information and conduct their searches.

Publicly available data sources

One of the most common sources of information used in background checks is publicly available data. These are records that are accessible to anyone and can be found online or in various government agencies.

Here are some examples of publicly available data sources that may be used in a background check:

Criminal records: This is information about a person’s previous convictions and may include arrests, misdemeanors, felonies, and other offenses. Criminal records can be obtained by conducting searches in local and federal courts, as well as other agencies that maintain criminal records.

Driving records: These records contain information about a person’s driving history, including accidents, tickets, and any license suspensions or revocations. Driving records can typically be obtained from the DMV.

Credit reports: A credit report shows a person’s credit history, including their open and closed accounts, payment history, and any outstanding debts or liens. Credit reports can be obtained from credit bureaus such as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Property records: These are records that show information about a person’s real estate properties, such as ownership history, assessed value, and any liens or mortgages.

Education records: Education records contain information about a person’s educational background, including degrees earned and transcripts. These records may be obtained from the educational institution itself or other agencies that maintain education records.

Employment records: Employment records contain information about a person’s employment history, including job titles, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving a job. These records may be obtained from previous employers or other agencies that maintain employment records.

Other sources of information

In addition to publicly available data sources, background check services may also use other methods to gather information. Here are some examples:

Social media: Social media platforms are a rich source of information about a person’s life. Background check services may search social media profiles to learn about a person’s interests, contacts, and public posts.

Professional networking sites: Websites like LinkedIn can be a good resource for learning about a person’s professional experience, qualifications, and contacts.

Personal references: Background check services may contact people listed as references on a job application to learn more about a candidate’s character, work ethic, and qualifications.

Personal interviews: A background check service may conduct a personal interview with a candidate to learn more about their background and qualifications.

How do background check services ensure the accuracy of the information they provide?

Accuracy is crucial when it comes to conducting background checks. Employers rely on this information to make hiring decisions, and inaccurate or incomplete information can lead to costly mistakes.

To ensure the accuracy of the information they provide, background check services use several methods:

Verification: Background check services often use third-party verification services to confirm the accuracy of the information they’ve gathered. For example, they may verify a candidate’s identity by checking their social security number against a public database.

Compliance: Background check services must comply with various laws and regulations, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which governs how background checks are conducted. To ensure compliance, background check services must follow strict guidelines and procedures.

Quality assurance: Many background check services have quality assurance programs in place to ensure that the information they provide is accurate, complete, and up to date. This may include conducting regular audits of their processes and using technology to automate and streamline their searches.

Conclusion

Background check services play an important role in the hiring process, helping employers make informed decisions about job candidates. To conduct their searches, they use a combination of publicly available data sources, such as criminal, driving, and credit records, as well as other methods like social media searches and personal interviews.

To ensure the accuracy of the information they provide, background check services use various methods, including verification, compliance, and quality assurance. By doing so, they help ensure that employers have the information they need to create a safe and productive workplace.