25 Jul 10 How to Survive a Background Check
Sooner or later the time will probably come that you have to undergo a background check. To most people, the prospect of subjecting yourself to scrutiny by an unknown organization is little cause for concern. For others, however it can be an agonizing ordeal that could affect their livelihood and the future course of their lives. So if you’re one of those people who is anxious about the fact that you will have to undergo a background check as a prerequisite to being hired at the job of your choice; what do you do? How should you approach the subject?
RULE # 1: PLAN AHEAD. If you have a criminal record that you think may prevent you from getting the job you want look into having the record expunged. When a local court expunges a record it is just like it never happened. It should not show up again on your criminal record. HOWEVER, it is possible that it will show up in a statewide or NCIC (FBI) check because the records are already in that system and it may be a while before they are purged. Do a Google search on ‘criminal records expungement’ and you will find a wealth of information including firms that will do it for you and ones that will provide all the paperwork so that you can do it yourself and save money. Note that this is not a quick fix. The process could take a while. Do a preemptive background check on yourself if needed. Go down to the court clerk’s office and ask to get a copy of your criminal record in that county. This is something that you should address before you start sending out r?m?
If your problem is a poor performance record at a previous job try to make it right with the previous employer. Just about everyone has had a boss that they did not get along with for whatever reason. You know that if this person is contacted by a prospective employer that he/she will paint a picture of you as an inept idiot. One suggestion is to swallow your pride and admit your problems and try to convince them that you have changed so that if he is called on for a reference you at least have a shot at a positive response. Have a friend call your previous employer and find out what they are saying about you when asked about your competency, character or performance. Be preemptive in your r?m?Address the problem where you can describe it on your own terms.
Try volunteering to help charities with your particular skill. A positive reference goes a long way to balancing out a negative one.
RULE # 2: TELL THE TRUTH. Let’s say that you had a “minor indiscretion” on your record such as shoplifting. If your job application asks if you’ve ever been convicted of a crime you should tell the truth and answer correctly. If you don’t, and you are found out, in the mind of the Human Resources person you are not only a thief, but a liar as well. It is much better for you to tell them than for them to find out about your record later. You may want to rehearse this with someone before you are interviewed. Be prepared to tell them why the ‘incident’ happened and how you learned from that experience and how you are a changed person now.
Also, you should know that background checkers are people too. When a person at a background checking company is working on your file and they find out that you did not tell the truth about your criminal or job history, they are going to approach the rest of your report with a higher degree of skepticism. That’s just human nature. Your report then tends gets reexamined with a fine tooth comb.
RULE # 3: ANSWER QUESTIONS AS THEY ARE ASKED. Don’t volunteer any information that is not asked for. Example: if the questionnaire asks you if you have been convicted of a crime in the last 7 years and your conviction was 7 years and one week ago, you answer “No.” If the question asks you if you have ever been convicted of a felony, don’t volunteer any information about a misdemeanor. Be prepared for these questions in an interview and on an application. If at all possible have an application e-mailed to you so that you can fill it out at your leisure.
RULE # 4: LEARN WHAT YOUR RIGHTS AND OPTIONS ARE. Law books are full of the rights of individuals and nowhere is this more true than in the employment arena. Again, do your homework. Learn what recourse you have if a potential employer denies you employment based on a negative background check finding. For instance, did you know that you have the right to actually see the background check report and to challenge its findings if they are incorrect? Nothing in that report should come as a surprise to you. You know your history better than anyone.
Conversely, you need to be aware of the rights of the employer to know about your past. For example most people believe that there are certain questions that an employer cannot ask of a previous employer. THAT IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. It’s one of those urban legends that people think is true. A previous employer may refuse to answer the question, but a prospective employer can ask anything they want to.
I could write a whole article just on this question of what can be asked. Let me explain it simply. And employer can ask any question about your competency, character, work habits, attitude, etc. Most employers stopped answering those kinds of questions years ago, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be asked. In fact, a smart background checker will get those questions answered in some form even though a person has been instructed not to answer those type of questions. I always say that those ‘rules’ were started by lazy attorneys (you know, the ones who get paid the same if they work or not). They tell people at their company not to answer those questions because they don’t want a potential lawsuit from an ex-employee. Well, what has happened is that more aggressive attorneys on the other side of the issue started suing companies that refused to give negative (but true) information on a previous employee, believing that by not answering a direct question they have, in fact, shifted liability to themselves. Another myth that virtually everyone believes is that an employer cannot ask your date of birth. NOT TRUE. They cannot discriminate based on your age (for that reason many don’t ask) but it is usually required for a criminal history report. Any employer that believes that date of birth cannot be asked probably also believes that their interviewer needs to be blindfolded so that, God forbid, he can’t tell a person’s sex or race.
We recommend that employers tell the TRUTH THAT CAN BE DOCUMENTED. Example: If I ask a previous employer if there is anything that they can tell me about an applicant’s competency or character and they answer by saying, “He was a real bum. He was always late for work and didn’t care about his job.” That could get them sued, but if they answer with documentable truth such as, “We have a policy here that if you are late three times you are written-up. He was written-up three times in two years.” That can be documented.
What do you do if you have a major negative on your record such as a felony conviction for embezzlement and you are looking for work as an accountant? One suggestion is that you look into having yourself bonded at your own expense. That takes away the risk from the employer. The extra expense may be worth it to get the job you want.
In summary, if you plan ahead, do your homework, know and understand your rights and the rights of your employer you have a much better chance of surviving a background check.
Kit Fremin is the owner and founder of Background Check International. Since 1994 BCI has served clients a varied as: the LA Times, Department of Defense, Mars, Inc., the UN, the NTSB and Calvary Chapels nationwide. His website is: www.bcint.com and he can be e-mailed at kit@bcint.com.
Tags: Background, Check, Survive
23 Jul 10 What are Background Checks?
A background check is an important part of living in this day and age. Many people will be subject to these types of checks for safety reasons, for employment reasons, and for the value that they can provide, based on their past. Good or bad, these checks are used frequently to determine if you meet the necessary requirements to be employed or obtain what you are seeking. There are actually several types of reports that come back in a background check. Each offers its own look at who you are and what you are likely to provide to those that you work, live and share some part of your life with.
Some reports are as simple as just a Social Security check which determines if your number is authentic. Others provide for your employment history. The range is really quite up to what the seeker pays for. In reality, they could learn quite a bit about who you are. Most of the information that is used to form these reports is provided by government agencies based on public records that are filed.
Here are a few of the various types of background checks that you could be facing.
• Driving records help to determine if you are a safe, responsible driver. Vehicle registration may also be a report pulled on you to determine what type of vehicle you are driving or what belongs to you.
• Criminal records are a big part of employment background checks. With these, along with incarceration records and sex offender lists help to show that you are a person that stays out of trouble. Court records can often be used.
• To learn more about your past, other reports can be filed. This can include your education records, character references that can be followed up on, medical records, personal references, past employment records and military records.
• Even your credit can be pulled. Bankruptcy filings, property ownership, and credit records in general help to show responsibility as well as your ability to meet your responsibilities.
Any and all of these background checks can be filed on you, at any time. If you are determined to protect yourself and these records, you need to be sure you know what’s in them to start with. In addition, determine ways to improve them. You may find more doors opening up to you when you truly understand these reports.
Everyone needs to know what is in their background check.
What you don’t know may hurt you, get yours instantly.
http://www.publicrecordsnow.info
Tags: Background, Checks
23 Jul 10 Tracklist: John Mayer, Katy Perry, Klaxons, Nicki Minaj, Weezer, Murder Mystery, Shakira, Rogue Wave, Girl Talk, EELS, Deerhunter
EELS, “Spectacular Girl,” off Tomorrow Morning, out 8.24.10. (via audioperv)
>> John Mayer thinks he’s the new King of Pops or something.
>> Untitled Deerhunter Concert Film: How gorgeous does that look?
>> Rogue Wave on Daytrotter! Remember Rogue Wave?! Yes!
>> Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” is not totally insufferable.
>> Klaxons cat mystery solved. Zero LOL.
>> Follow Nicki Minaj on twitter (or not), says Spin.
>> New behind the scenes vlog form The Weezers.
>> New Murder Mystery is “likable and catchy,” sez weallwantsome.
>> Girl Talk Fans Are Douchebags, says Oldie McOlderson.
>> A scene from Dance With Shakiras.
[ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]
View full post on Creative Loafing Atlanta
Tags: Deerhunter, EELS, Girl, John, Katy, Klaxons, Mayer, Minaj, Murder, Mystery, Nicki, Perry, Rogue, Shakira, Talk, Tracklist, Wave, Weezer
22 Jul 10 Do You Need to Get an Instant Background Check?
Each of us wants to have an appealing home, so we need to maintain it and keep it clean. But most of us are busy working so we do not have the time to do all the maintaining by ourselves. Most people are hiring persons to do the work for them. If you want to have an attractive garden, you will get a gardener to do the work for you. But of course, you can’t just get one and let him be in your home. You have a family and home to protect.
Nowadays, the crimes that are happening are increasing, so as much as possible you want to know the persons around you better. Of course, if you have to hire a gardener, you want to now more about this person before you let him/her be around you and your family. You have to think about your protection and the security of your family especially your kids. Child abuses and sex offenders are increasing in numbers these days that is why more and more parents are very much worried about their children, so they do things to protect them. One good way to protect your kids and yourself is to know more about the person who will be around you by conducting background check.
Yes, you can conduct background check to the gardener before you hire him/her and let the person be in your home. Way back, doing background checking is quite pricey and time consuming, since you have to hire a private investigator to do it. You are not even that sure that you will be getting reliable and accurate results.
Today, there are easy ways for you to search and gain information about the person that you want to know more about such as the character of the person or if he/she has a criminal history and the likes. The internet is the best source for gaining information about a person. Yes, you may use the general search engines in finding information, but you can’t have what you are exactly looking for. The best way for you to do is use personal search services. There are lots of websites that provide such services. These websites can give you great results with the person you are conducting background check with. They can provide you with all the information you need, the person’s character, if the person has criminal records, prison records and so on.
Conducting background check is very useful since it is very important for you to protect your family especially your kids from people who will be working with you. You have to assure yourself that you know if the person has a dark past or not. You can determine if the person is the right one for the position or he/she is the person who will just ruin your happy and peaceful life. So doing background checking is necessary, especially with the growing numbers of wrong doings these days.
Denver Cage Author of Do You Need to Get an Instant Background Check?Do You Need to Get an Instant Background Check?
Tags: Background, Check, Instant, Need
21 Jul 10 Hear another new Versus song
Back in May, we heralded the indie rock revivial of 2010, with the news that erstwhile Merge Records hotshots Superchunk and Versus would be reforming and releasing brand new records this year. We also alerted y’all to the presence of a song from Versus’ new LP On the Ones and Threes called “Invincible Hero”. It was good.
Equally good is this new Versus song the Merge folks have released, “Gone to Earth”. Check it:
Hot damn, if that ain’t some prime ’90s indie rock come to roost in dang ol’ 2010, I don’t know what is. Versus have announced a few more tour dates in August and September (with Polvo and Superchunk, like it’s 1997 all up in this mahfucka), but still no Atlanta show. Patience, my friends. It will come.
(Photo via Merge)
[ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]
View full post on Creative Loafing Atlanta
21 Jul 10 Background Check Services 101
Nowadays, background checks are considered as a normal step during employment processes. One of the most popular types of searches is the free police background check. This check can be done in county, state, and nationwide levels. A check at the national level can give you the most comprehensive report, and it is normally more recommended than the other two.
Normally, free police background checks are done on people who apply for a job in law enforcement agencies. Any kind of criminal records will most likely disqualify you for the job. But nowadays, they are being utilized by different kinds of establishments and institutions such as small and large businesses, youth organizations, and even private citizens. Although free police background checks are available, they are usually time consuming and tedious to obtain. Most of the time, they are even outdated and inaccurate. Because of this, the use of paid services is more recommended.
Today, with the use of the Internet, police records are now available online. This has given anyone access to police records at anytime of the day. But in spite of this, computerized records still have their own set of disadvantages. As personal information become more accessible to anyone, concerns over privacy are starting to emerge. However, the benefits brought about by free police background checks are still undeniable.
So whenever you want to do a background investigation but you do not have the time to do it by visiting offices personally, you can always turn to online services and be assured of reliable and comprehensive results in a short period of time.
Cecile Artates is a technophile who is interested in anything and everything new in the world of gadgets, communications, and the Internet. Visit my site – free background checks
Tags: Background, Check, Services
20 Jul 10 Overview of the California Background Check Law
The united confederation of the United Stated of America agrees to abide by a single Constitution that will determine what they will uphold as a confederation, a country, and one nation. However, apart from the primary and supreme Constitution of the USA, states being part of the confederation are also to have their own secondary constitution or the state constitution which will determine how will they will be able to run the states in view and with respect to other states and in accordance with the Supreme Constitution of the federation. Now having this being implemented in all states of the USA, every state has their own constitution with particularity in social issues and aspects of governance such as Education, Peace and Order, Domestic Policies, State Security, Employment, and many more. In California alone, there is a particular state constitution whereby all laws and regulations of the states adhere to. One example here is the civil code of the state and the employment law.
Californian employment law embodies several branches, disciplines, and issues and one of those is the conducting of employment background check to applicants or employees. Background checking has been a hot issue in the country because of the alleged infringement on the part of government records or on personal private records. However, there had been disputes that government records unless it has nothing to do with the national security and same confidential records are public and is free of distribution or archiving of any person for any purpose other than using the same records for criminal acts. But because background checks is being pointed out by other civil society groups to be more of privacy invasion, many States including California act upon the underlying factors affecting the said employment issue.
In 2001, the employment law in California pertaining to background check specifically was renewed or amended. The law has been made stricter and concise in order to avoid any form of abuse or privacy invasion on the part of the employee or applicant being checked. This law abides by the FCRA or the Fair Credit Reporting Act but has wider scope in terms of the implementation of the said employment process. Though in California it is a mandate and right of the employer to check on the backgrounds of the employees or the prospect employees, the former is bound by laws that prohibits him to use the records in any way that may result to discrimination.
There is a particular general process being used and followed in California before one through an independent investigator known in the place as ICR or Investigative Consumer Report agencies. In California, an employer can conduct a personal background check but only on the purpose of personally acquiring it for personal viewing and use. However, if the employer intends to use it and attached the report to the employment record, the report must be done by an ICRA. The process then begins with the employer sending a notice to the employee or applicant of the intention of conducting background check and its specific purpose. The employer also discloses to the applicant the name, address, and other pertinent information of the ICR Agency. The rights of the applicant is also disclosed as a reminder of the limits of the report and employee/ applicant is given chance to be given a copy of the report.
The laws in California are not that strict especially when it comes to employment. But the government makes sure that the rights of every citizen, employee, employer, and applicant is being addressed fairly.
Tags: Background, California, Check, Overview
19 Jul 10 New York Times food writer Kim Severson to become NYT Atlanta bureau chief
Kim Severson, the celebrated New York Times food writer, announced minutes ago on her Twitter feed and Facebook page that she is moving South this fall to become the Times’ Atlanta bureau chief. It’s a huge change for Severson, who has focused on food writing for most of her career. In a follow up on Twitter, Severson promises to continue to write about food, saying “I’ll still be writing about food. I’m just adding murder, natural disasters and politics to the mix.”
We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available.
[ Subscribe to the comments on this story ]
View full post on Creative Loafing Atlanta
Tags: Atlanta, become, bureau, chief, food, Severson, Times, writer, York
19 Jul 10 What Businesses Think About Free Background Check
The popularity of free background check methods made every concerned individual perform their own searches and investigations online. Another thing that encourages people to perform paid or free background check investigations is the worrying news about crimes and other acts of wickedness happening anywhere. Even businessmen are alarmed for the growing threats of terrorism and business crimes including theft and fraudulent activities.
Business owners want to ensure the safety and security of their businesses through hiring dependable and trustworthy workers. Paid or free background check investigations are required as part of the hiring screening process in order to know the person’s history even if the person has to be the most eligible candidate for the job slot. Any trace of crimes or major misconducts in the person’s records may disqualify him or her from being accepted in the job, disregarding all the credentials and experiences.
Free background check methods are done on the Internet by gathering different information related to the person being investigated. Different sources and articles are needed to be found and studied in order to complete an investigation. Most companies don’t prefer free background check methods because of the tedious work needed and the incompleteness of possible data gathered. With a fast-paced world, businesses prefer fast and effective way of conducting numerous checks and they can only get this kind of service from premium background check services. Premium services on background check are searchable on the Internet where public records are organized and provided through a computer system database.
Auster Wright
an article writer of
background check, people search, background records, public records, criminal records
Tags: About, Background, Businesses, Check, Free, Think
18 Jul 10 Background Checks and Your Privacy
If you are faced with the possibility of having to undergo a background check as a prerequisite for obtaining a new job you may be wondering how your right to privacy conflicts with your employer’s right to know more about you; especially with regard to any possible criminal history and past job performance. As a person whose company has performed tens of thousands of background checks I would like to present some facts of which you may not be aware.
Fact #1: Virtually all criminal records are public. If you commit a crime or even if you don’t and you are charged with a crime or indicted for a crime, the record of that is available to the public. Courts have records of all crimes or suspected crimes that made it to court. Some police departments make their arrest logs available.
“What about the presumption of innocence?” you may ask. That is still in effect, but nevertheless the charges brought against you are public record. In fact anyone can go down to the local courthouse and request to see your record, and they don’t even have to be a citizen. About half of the country’s criminal records are available online in some form or another, often on fee or subscription sites.
Juvenile records are the exception to this rule and are generally sealed unless the person was tried as an adult for a major crime.
If you have a minor crime in your past try to get it expunged from the record. Technically an employer can’t deny you employment if you had a minor criminal record in your past where you were found not guilty. Like the old saying, “You can’t un-ring a bell.” Once they see a criminal record it tends to stick in their minds. Getting a record expunged is relatively simple and usually doesn’t require an attorney. There are internet companies that specialize in expungement.
Fact # 2: There is no magic government database that lists all of your previous employment and education. A surprising amount of otherwise smart people ask me, “Can you get a list of someone’s previous employment and verify it?” The simple answer is No. There is no database with your employment listed. Remember, background checkers are verifiers. You have to give us the info, we then verify it.
Fact # 3: Employers can get credit info on you. Employers can order a Credit Report which is a specially designed credit report specifically for employment purposes. It is exactly the same as a regular credit report with two important exceptions; It doesn’t show your credit account numbers and it doesn’t tell your age or date of birth. The good news for you is that you are notified whenever one of these reports is ordered on you.
Most credit bureaus require a separate consent form signed by you to enable the employer to order a credit report. This is to prevent having the consent text buried in the fine print of and employee background check consent form and having the report ordered without your express permission.
Fact #4: Employers can ask your date of birth for the purpose of obtaining your criminal history, because criminal records are searched by name and date of birth. What they may not do is discriminate based on your age. There are still people out there that think that if a potential employer asks for their date of birth that they can automatically sue for age discrimination. No, you have to be discriminated against first. Most recent legislation has set the bar much higher for age discrimination lawsuits. You have to show a pattern of age discrimination by the employer, which is vastly more difficult to prove.
Throughout the 14+ years that I have been doing background checks I have had many, many arguments with people and attorneys (a little joke here) who say that an employer may not ask for age or date of birth. They are wrong, Period. Saying, “Show me the law.” usually works against their argument, but for the really hard cases I always ask them if, at their business, the human resource people are blindfolded when they conduct an interview. “Why would they be?” they ask. To which I reply, “God forbid that they could tell the applicant’s sex, race, religion, national origin, etc, all things that an employer may not discriminate against.
Another word about discrimination: While the above is true, some legal discrimination does occur. (How many old, fat lifeguards have you seen at the beach, for example?) The acronym is BFOQ which stands for Bona Fide Occupational Qualification which basically means that if a church wants to hire a pastor, they can require that he be of that faith or if a clothing designer wants to hire a model to model women’s clothes he/she can hire a woman. Likewise there can be physical ability requirements.
Remember that an employer can legally not hire you because you smell bad or your mommy dresses you funny. My point is; don’t give someone an excuse not to hire you. Be at your best and be well prepared.
Fact # 5: Employers have a right to see your SS#. Technically they are allowed to see it at the time of hiring, not necessarily when you are applying. It’s a fine distinction, but an important one.
Fact # 6: You have the right to see the background check report especially if you were denied the job based on the results of the background check. If my company, BCI, did your report and an error was made, we would want to know about the errors and so should your employer. FYI; federal law requires background check companies like ours, to reinvestigate any claim (in writing) by you, the applicant, within five days of the report being issued. My company, BCI has extended that guarantee to 30 days.
Fact # 7: Employers can ask previous employers anything they want. When verifying your previous employment the new employer can ask anything they want about your work habits, character, initiative, conduct or anything else thy want to know. The previous employer doesn’t have to answer any of those questions of course, and in fact, most don’t.
Mom and Pop employers most often ask these kinds of questions. When asking the questions they are not doing anything illegal, in fact, they are probably smart to try to get as much into on the applicant as they can.
Most human resource people have become unnecessarily paranoid about law suits and as a result they don’t ask anything controversial. They have been threatened into submission by the legal department. I have a personal theory about this. This nonsense was all started by lazy lawyers who get paid the same if they work or not. Therefore they tell the HR department not to do anything that might even hint of a threatened lawsuit. They are actually doing their employer a disservice by not allowing the HR staff to ask common sense questions that could shed some light on the character and quality of job applicants.
Conversely, when answering the questions, we recommend that previous employers stick to documentable facts and not express their opinion. Here is an example that really happened: We asked the previous employer what they could tell us about applicant’s competency and character. The previous employer responded that the applicant was slothful and was always late for work and didn’t care about his job. A better answer would have been, “We have a company rule that if you are late three times that you are written up. He was written up three times in one year.” That can be documented and does not contain the respondent’s opinion. You can’t sue someone for telling the truth. Well, you can, but you won’t win.
Kit Fremin is the owner and founder of Background Check International. Since 1994 BCI has served clients from the LA Times to Mars, Inc. the Department of Defense and the NTSB.
Tags: Background, Checks, Privacy
