Background Check

When people say background check they’re generally referring to basic information about a person’s past such as anything available in public records. This includes past addresses, criminal offenses, and personal identification like date of birth and SSN. But there’s a difference between background checks and verifications.

Verifications could mean employment verification or education verification whereas the term background check covers a broader spectrum. Depending on the requested information for a candidate, a background check could include verifications, such as highest academic degree or certification and past employers. The information included in a background check will depend on whether it’s relevant to the request. For example, an employment background check could include:

• Criminal record checks
• Driving record checks
• Drug testing
• Employment history verification
• Reference checks

These record checks and verifications will differ for tenant screening and volunteer background checks where certain information becomes more relevant than others.

Investigative Background Check

An investigative background check is more intensive than a basic screening. Instead of checking information in databases, this type of verification could include interviews with neighbors, co-workers, family, and friends. They uncover the candidate’s personal character and reputation in addition to finding and analyzing his or her public records. These reports usually don’t include credit history because the FCRA distinguishes reports on personal character from credit reports.

Credit Check

A consumer credit report will include a candidate’s debt levels and repayment history. This information already exists for most individuals and is maintained by credit bureaus. According to federal law, anyone can request this information about themselves once a year. A consumer credit report is relevant for people who want to buy a house or take out a significant loan.

In order to get the best results if you’re conducting a background check on a candidate, you need to know what you’re looking for and what information is relevant. If you have any questions regarding background checks and verifications, feel free to contact us!

The post What Are The Different Types Of Background Checks? appeared first on JDP.

Terms

• Background check – A background check or investigation involves researching the criminal records, employment history, social media presence, and financial records of an individual, usually a prospective employee. These can be extensive if you include criminal records ranging from the county level to the state level, fingerprinting,verifications, driving records, and credit reports.
• Verification – Before hiring a new employee, you want to make sure the information they provide, such as the information on their resume, was not falsified. Verification services are one of the most intensive aspects of background checks. They usually include employment and education history, professional and personal reference interviews, earned credentials and licenses, and military service. Education verification is completed on the highest level of education an applicant listed on his or her resume. Verifying employment history verification includes everything from checking dates of employment to the individual’s work habits, salary, and relationships with coworkers.
• Authorization Form– Companies need permission from the applicant before they begin conducting a background check. This is a requirement under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
• Fair Credit Reporting Act – When you outsource the background check responsibilities to a company such as JDP, you must follow the rules of guidelines of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA was established to protect the privacy of individuals and promote fairness during the hiring process. Under this act, individuals have the right to know what is uncovered in a background check and if that information prevented them from being hired.
• Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act – The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act protects the privacy of individuals by requiring institutions with access to their financial records and assets to explain their information-sharing practices.
• Office of the Inspector General (OIG) – The OIG functions to prevent fraud and mistreatment in over 100 Health and Human Services programs including Medicare and Medicaid. This is one of the most requested services at JDP because there are strict penalties for organizations that knowingly hire an individual with fraud or mistreatment violations in his or her past.
• Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) – The OFAC investigates threats to national security, foreign policy and economy of the U.S. This is also one of the most popular services at JDP.
• Fraud and Abuse Control Information Systems (FACIS) – FACIS records include individuals involved in state licensing board sanctions in all 50 states for the healthcare field. Another popular service JD Palatine offers, FACIS prevents organizations from hiring candidates who have past behavior or performance issues.

In addition to this terminology, there are several important acronyms used when discussing background check services and regulations. To ensure you send the correct information about your job candidate, you should know what these acronyms represent.

• SSN – SSN stands for Social Security Number. Every U.S. citizen and resident is issued a Social Security Number under the Social Security Act. It allows the government to keep track of taxation as well as eligibility for Social Security. SSN searches also yield results for an individual’s past names and addresses. Finding past addresses can help determine which counties to conduct a criminal records search.
• DOB – This stands for Date of Birth and is located on an individual’s birth certificate.
• PII – This stands for Personally Identifiable Information, which is information that can be used to distinguish one individual from another. A full name, home address, face, fingerprinting, and handwriting are all examples of Personally Identifiable Information.
• FTC – The FTC or Federal Trade Commission functions to ensure fair and competitive business practices while protecting consumers.
• DLN – DLN or a Driver’s License Number will provide information regarding an individual’s driving history. With a DLN, you can access a MVR.
• MVR – This is a Motor Vehicle Report with information on driving records including traffic tickets, license suspension, and driving-related crimes. While some of this information varies by state, usually an MVR will include personal identifiers, license type, and driving infractions. Normally, MVRs are only needed if a position requires the applicant to drive.
• NAPBS – The National Association of Professional Background Screeners checks up on background check companies. This is a nonprofit organization that functions to promote compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. JDP is a member of the NAPBS.
• JDP – JDP is reliable, fast, and accurate background screening check company that offers a variety of services and gives you personalized attention. That’s us! And we’re here to provide secure screening solutions for an insecure world.

This is a lot of information to absorb but we’re here to make the process of background checks easy! If you have any questions about the information above please feel free to contact us!

The post Background Check Terms To Know appeared first on JDP.

How to screen yourself for employment

Many people are curious about what information they can find about themselves online and may turn to a search engine first. However, there’s more to a background check than just searching for your name and hoping nothing bad comes up. Professional background screening companies will look online, in databases, and in a variety of different locations to find information about you. That’s why you need to do what the pros do: Get a background company to check your background for you. Here’s why:

The Facebook frenzy

Nearly everybody today has a Facebook account, and many people may have dozens of accounts on a variety of different websites. In many cases, what you’ve posted to these accounts is just fine – but for many younger job seekers, especially, Facebook and other social media sites can come back to haunt you. For example, you may not have posted an image of yourself, underage, at a party, but what about your friend? Can you really be sure that your online presence is clean?

Double-check your records

In some cases, you may have a clean record and everything checks out. But during the background screening process, you’re confused with a person who has your name and birthdate. Their offenses show up in your background check – and you might not get a job you’re perfectly qualified for. It’s critical that you know what shows up when employers do a background check. You can help mitigate risk for yourself by knowing what they do.

If you want to ensure that your background check screenings go according to plan, consider Job Seeker Insight, a JDP brand. You can rest assured knowing that you’ve got access to your own information and can take steps to rectify any problems as needed.

The post Can You Do Your Own Background Screening? appeared first on JDP.

Cut out candidates with criminal backgrounds

The first and most obvious way pre employment screening can save you cash is when it comes to fraud. Hiring somebody with a record of stealing money, defrauding customers or clients, or even violence can cost your company far more money than the cost of a background check. It’s all about risk mitigation: Background employment screenings give you more control over hiring people who don’t have a history of crime.

The real costs of hiring employees

Hiring the wrong person can prove to be very costly for employers. When you have a bad employee, morale can drop significantly as others jump in to pick up the slack. If you’ve hired the wrong person, it can result in missed business opportunities and overall decreased satisfaction from staff and clients. Using a background check lets you weed out potential bad employees from the start. That’s because a verified background check doesn’t just look at criminal records, it also explores references, education, and more. You get a 360-degree view of any potential candidates from square one, so you can rest assured that you’ve made the correct choice.

DIY background checks can be expensive

Many employers believe they can “strike out on their own” and learn about job candidates from social media, online databases, and by calling references. However, there are many regulations and laws put in place to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. When you perform your own background screening checks, you put yourself and your company at risk of being found biased, or even worse, of breaking the law. Make sure you maintain compliance by getting a verified third-party background screening company to perform your employment checks.

At the end of the day, the relatively small cost of a background screening check pales in comparison to the risk of the alternatives. Contact us today to see how we can help your business stay safe.

The post Do Background Checks Save Money? appeared first on JDP.

We want to give you the facts about employment screenings so that you can make an informed decision. After all, choosing a background screening company is more than just getting thorough information about potential employees – it’s an investment in your company.

40% of employment-seeking job candidates have misrepresented information on their application or resume.

That means up to 2 in 5 of all the candidates you’re considering may have false information on their resumes. Hiring one of these people could be a risk at best – and potentially disastrous at worst. Getting a background check helps you avoid these problems by uncovering falsified or misrepresented information from square one. Think of it as your first line of defense against hiring a dishonest candidate.

Background screening companies are bound by many different laws.

From the Fair Credit Reporting Act to the Americans with Disabilities Act, there are many different laws that we need to take into consideration to provide accurate and compliant background checks. Before you hire a background screening company, it’s important to consider whether or not they comply with laws governing background checks.

Pre employment screening requires a large variety of sources.

There’s no single “permanent record” for every person. Instead, we source our background checks from a variety of local, state, and national databases that provide information on everything from criminal backgrounds to name changes and more. This is why you should work with an expert – sorting through these databases is nearly impossible to do on your own. When it comes to background checks, expertise matters.

Before you search, know the facts.

Employee background checking is a growing field, and for good reason. More companies are looking to protect themselves from a risky hire. Understanding what goes into background checks can help you make an informed decision about who to work with. Wondering which industries we work with? Check out our list of industries, then feel free to get in touch with us for your background screening needs!

The post Facts You Should Know About Screening Checks appeared first on JDP.

Set Yourself Up for Success

When it comes to Baby Boomers (and indeed, nearly every generation today), full-time work may not be what they’re looking for. Many Baby Boomers are seeking part-time work that’s meaningful during retirement, or may want flexibility in their workplace. If you can incorporate this kind of flexibility into your work arrangements, you may find more success in recruiting talented and knowledgeable Baby Boomers.

Understand How to Screen Baby Boomer Employees

When you conduct background screening checks, you’ll want to follow common hiring protocol and screen all employees the same way. Don’t assume that just because a job candidate is older means you don’t have to conduct a background screening. Likewise, checking references and employment history remains a key component of background screening checks.

Think Social

Today’s Baby Boomers are more social than ever before. 70% of Baby Boomers are on Facebook, with large percentages on other networks like Twitter and YouTube. This is important for two reasons – first of all, it gives you a venue for reaching out and recruiting this age demographic. It also means you’ll need to conduct regular social media audits on all employees, not just younger ones. And when it comes to social media, you’ll need to make sure you’re monitoring it appropriately. That’s why we offer Social Media Screening to help you ensure compliance as you navigate today’s increasingly social world.

Baby Boomers Bring Perspective to Your Company

When it comes to hiring Baby Boomers, it’s much the same as hiring any other age demographic. However, you’ll also want to ensure that you take care to pay attention to trends within this age group, since this will give you the best chance of finding a talented, experienced Baby Boomer for your company.

The post Guide to Hiring Baby Boomers appeared first on JDP.

Social Media Screening

When hiring independent contractors, you should start by screening his or her online presence. Most freelance workers need to conduct serious social branding in order to get their names out there. Conduct a social media screening to see if your potential hires will fit well with your company and the job you have in mind.

Professional History

Part of the pre-hiring process for freelancers should include a careful check of their previous employment history. You want to make sure that they are telling the truth about work history and other freelance jobs they’ve taken. Freelancers can work for multiple companies at once, which means they should have plenty of references.

Can They Work In The U.S.?

Freelance workers usually work from home, wherever that may be. So, you should make sure they can legally work in the U.S. If you’re hiring someone abroad the rules may change a little. Depending on the country, make sure you know what the rules are and how to follow them. Other countries have various labor laws and unions that differ from the U.S.

Freelance workers are a great resource to use if you’re feeling shorthanded. Some of the top freelance industries include project development, research, and writing. So, if you never want to conduct research again, hire a freelance worker to do it for you. Just be sure to check their credentials. If you have any questions about the hiring protocol for freelance workers, please contact us.

The post How To Screen Freelance Employees appeared first on JDP.

Criminal Records

Different countries have different methods for maintaining criminal records. Criminal records could be organized based on numerous factors such as severity of crime. They could also be stored at a local, state or national level. Many places, however, don’t have the same level of transparency that the U.S. does when it comes to public access of criminal records. For example, in Germany the employer can only inquire into the criminal background of an employee if it’s directly related to the work. So, if an employer were hiring someone as a driver they could access their traffic offenses but that’s it.

Drug Testing

In the United Kingdom, employers can request that you conduct a drug test. You don’t have to consent to the drug test. Legally, employees are allowed to refuse the test. And even if you consent to the test and the results are positive, you can challenge the employer if they don’t hire you based on those results. Because of the various regulations among different nations, the International Labor Organization released a set of guidelines for employers to follow when screening their employees. Essentially, the guidelines dictate that both parties should be aware of the policy if the employer wants to drug test and that the consequences should also be made clear to the employee if they fail the test.

International work experience will look great on your resume. It’s also an effective way to acquire worldly experiences while earning money. You can make memories in amazing places while earning money and valuable job experience at the same time.

The post What You Need To Know About Background Checks Before Working Abroad appeared first on JDP.

Here are a few tips to show your potential employer that you think ahead:

Bring a resume.  This simple step will allow employer to know you came prepared.  Especially if your interviewer did not!  Don’t put the onus on your potential employer to print out your resume.  Your interview may forget, not have the time, or have a last minute printer breakdown.  By bringing your own, you make sure that this reference material is readily available.  And by bringing more than one copy, you ensure everyone at the interview table has easy access to your credentials.

Brining writing or project samples only enhances your first impression.  Even if you never get to present these materials, it can only help to have them on hand.

Prepare your own questions.  There comes a time in every interview where an employer will ask you if you have any questions.  Don’t sit in awkward silence.  This is your time to shine!

It is not rude to present your own questions.  In fact, many employers will ask if you have any questions as a way to test if you’ve done your research on the company.  This is your chance to show you have done your homework.  It is also a great opportunity to take control of the interview in order to highlight your best attributes and leadership skills.

Run your own background screening check.  Wouldn’t you love to go into the interview knowing what your employers know? JDP’s Job Seeker Insight service allows you to be in charge of your own background screening check.

By using JSI’s service or attaching its unique social media badge to your LinkedIn page, you show companies that you have nothing to hide.  You also save the interviewer or HR professional time and money on running their own background screening.  You demonstrate to your potential employers that you have anticipated their needs.  You are already well on your way to setting yourself apart from the herd!

How do you show potential employers that you are ahead of the pack?  Share your tips with us in the comments below!

The post Be Prepared: How to Outshine Others in an Interview appeared first on JDP.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no single database which houses all of your background information. No one agency, be it the FBI or local law enforcement, keeps track of everything an employer might be interested in when running a background screening check.  Even different courts (criminal court, civil court, bankruptcy) may house their documents on separate databases, even if those entities exist in the same courthouse!

Employers may also be interested in more than just your criminal history.  Often they want a fuller picture of how you conduct your business affairs which means looking at how you appear in various aspects of your life.  There is no “one size fits all” approach to conducting a background check since every company and position’s needs are different.

Your background check report is compiled from a variety of different sources which may include:

• Criminal records
• Civil records
• Public registries
• DMV records
• Bankruptcy filings
• Social media
• Media mentions
• Watch lists

Don’t believe those crime shows on television: There is no one document that can be called a “permanent record.”  Given the time it takes to investigate these myriad sources, many employers will save time and man hours by hiring a reputable screening service that will be able to better navigate the complicated waters of a potential employee’s history.

A reputable background screening service knows that it may take a fair amount of digging to create a realistic picture of a potential employee.  They will also be sure to cross-check and verify each piece of information before including it in a final report to make sure a record truly belongs to you.  Not every record is organized in the same manner (by name, Social Security number, Driver’s License number, etc.).  It is therefore essential that a screening service takes special care to make sure you are you!

Do you have a question about background screenings or the hiring process?  Let us know by leaving your questions in to comments field below!

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