Employer Background Check Process

Congrats on getting the job, now you need to worry about the employer background check process.

Don’t worry, it’s a very easy hurdle to get through.

Companies will integrate the employer background check process to verify whether or not individuals are who they say they are. This is why you should not lie on your resume.

Lies on a resume will come up on a background check.

March 2, 2024 by Kazu Fujimoto

Employers will use a background check tool such as Sterling to verify employee information. During the onboarding process, you will be required to fill out information regarding the following:

• Previous employer information
• Education information such as universities
• Specific information such as certificates if applicable
• Credit check
• Criminal background check (felonies and misdemeanors)
• Fingerprinting
• Drug Screening

It’s very expensive to hire and onboard employees, so as a result, companies will take into account the following.

Verification of previous employers

Companies will make sure to verify your previous employment during your background check.

This is to ensure both that you have the skills needed for the job and the background that they are looking for.

Often times, recruiters will take into account which companies employers have worked at.

Sometimes, it’s one of the only filters they will hugely take into consideration.

This is why it is attractive to work at big name companies, solely for the brand name on your resume.

Verification of education

Along with the verification of employers on your resume, companies will make sure to verify education.

They will verify the college or university you went to along with the degree that you have.

Just like employers, where an employee went to school has a large influence on the hiring decision of that candidate.

Some firms will require more prestigious universities from their candidates. Some companies will establish “target schools” that they want their employees to come from.

In any case, during the employer background check process, you will be expected to verify both your university and your degree.

It is becoming the norm for entry level positions to require a bachelor’s degree. Although there are cases where degrees aren’t needed for high paying positions, most corporate roles will require a college degree.

Verification of Certifications

Some technical positions will require certifications.

Example of some specific certifications include:

• Professional Engineering License
• Certified Public Accountant
• Project Management Professional
• Lean 6S Black Belt
• Scrum/Agile/Coursera type certifications

Some certifications will verify that you have the background and skillset capable to doing the job.

Along with any type of testing or technical interview questions, this will be a means of the employer verifying your background.

This can be done either through the employer level or at the background check level (think Sterling again).

Credit Check

It’s important for employees of companies to ensure their credit is in good standing.

Are their employers in any sort of crazy debt or have been bankrupt? This is the type of information companies need to ensure their trust and compliance in their employees.

For example, why would a company hire anyone dealing with money, if they themselves can’t deal with money? It makes no sense for companies to have people in charge of large accounts, who can’t even keep their own finances in check.

It does not take much to be in good standing with your credit.

A few practices we recommend to keep your credit in check is:

• Don’t have aggressive outstanding debt
• Pay your credit card in full each month
• Avoid getting into situations that will result in you filing for bankruptcy

Criminal

A criminal portion of the background check will be whether or not the candidate has any felonies or misdemeanors.

If you have a felony or misdemeanor, this will come up in a thorough background check of you.

This will be case-by-case and needed to be handled with an employment lawyer.

For example, if your job requires a clearance or deals with national security, your employer will give you a hard time and use this to question you as much as they can.

On-site Testing

There will be a portion of the employer background check process in which you’ll have to physically go onsite.

You will need to go onsite to a facility such as Quest or Labcorp.

You will then need to go through background check processes such as fingerprinting and drug screening.

Fingerprinting

Very standard, just have your finger prints taken to verify that you are actually you coming in for these tests.

Drug Screen

Along with verification of finger prints, a drug screening will be required.

Most likely lab facilities will be taking a urine sample for the employer background drug screening test.

Closing Thoughts

It’s expensive for companies to hire employees. Companies need to go through long and arduous processes such as submitting requisitions to open positions, recruiting, interviewing, and on-boarding.

This is a huge investment for the company to make, so as a result, companies need to make the best precautions they can.

To get through an employer background check process is not difficult. All it takes it to ensure that you rely on ethical job hunting practices and are in good standing as a citizen.

Have your credit in check, do not become engaged in criminal behavior, and make sure that you are who you say you are.

If you have everything in check, then getting past the employer background check process should be a walk in the park.

Check out our career services to 10X chances of you getting to the point where you need an employer background check.

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