If you’ve ever had a job, then you’ve probably had a criminal background check performed on you. There’s a lot of misinformation on the internet when it comes to background checks. Despite the fact that background checks are performed every day across America, most of us believe some ridiculous myths about them.
Today, we’re getting to the bottom of things by explaining 6 things you probably believe about background checks – and why you’re probably wrong.
Employers Are Looking For Any Reason Not To Hire Me
Some people get weirdly defensive when employers notify you that they’re performing a criminal background check. In reality, background checks are an investment for employers. One bad employee can cost them a huge amount of money. They’re not trying to avoid hiring you: they’re doing their due diligence as smart business owners.
I’ll Never Get A Job With A Criminal Record
The United States has laws that prevent employers from discriminating against you based on your criminal record. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ensures that employers can’t deny you employment because of a criminal record (unless the crime you committed is directly related to the job to which you’re applying).
For example, if you have a DUI, then you’ll have a hard time getting a job as a driving instructor. But if you have a DUI, then it’s unlikely (in fact, it’s illegal) to prevent you from getting an office job.
Criminal Record Checks Affect My Credit History
Employment credit cards are handled differently from credit checks submitted by lenders. It’s true: when a lender checks your credit history to determine your lending status, that has a small effect on your credit history. But when an employer checks your credit for work, it doesn’t affect your credit.
In some jobs, your credit history is irrelevant. In other jobs, however, employers check your credit history to determine how well you manage your money. If your new job requires you to manage a lot of money, for example, then your poor lending status may reduce your chances of getting a job.
My Information Could Leak Out During A Criminal Background Check
Check Criminal Record has a strict privacy policy that protects all of your personally identifiable information. To our knowledge, nobody’s information has been leaked after our criminal record checks.
All Background Checks Are The Same Regardless Of The Job
When someone says they’re doing a “background check” on you, they could be referring to all sorts of different things.
Some background checks are literally just a Google Search of your name. Other background checks are deep searches into everything you’ve ever done in your life. Most are somewhere in between.
In any case, just because you’ve applied for one job and got denied due to a criminal background check, don’t assume that all criminal background checks will reveal the same information.
I Don’t Have A Criminal Record Because I’ve Never Been Convicted Of A Crime
This is one of the most tragic misconceptions about criminal record checks: many people have gone their whole lives believing they have no criminal record, only to discover that’s not the case.
Things can appear on your criminal record for all sorts of different reasons. Charges that were dropped, for example, can appear on your criminal record in some counties. Traffic charges, parking violations, misdemeanors, and other minor charges can also pop up.
The best way to dispel your misconceptions about criminal record checks is to check your own criminal record – or someone else’s criminal record.