Before You Apply, Run a Background Check

by Tom Ahearn 3/30/2009 1:44:00 PM

This post was contributed by Courtney Phillips, who writes about top rated online colleges and universities. She welcomes your feedback at CourtneyPhillips80@gmail.com.

With the economy in utter turmoil, many people are out there pounding the pavement hoping to find a newer or better job these days.  Recent statistics have shown that applicants for positions have risen in some industries by more than 500% from last year.  With this staggering amount of people actively seeking employment, many employers are turning to background checks than before.

If you are in the process of securing employment, there are a few reasons why you might want to do your own background check.  These reasons are expanded upon in the following brief article.

Why Run a Background Check on Yourself?

There are many reasons that you may want to run a background check, but the most important reason is to ensure that things are accurate concerning the public record.  Checking with various departments and institutions will ensure that you are not misrepresented on paper.  Often, human error has a lot to do with blemishes on your records and remedying these problems will ultimately save you time and trouble down the line.

Get a Copy of Your Driving Records

Contact your state’s DMV headquarters and request a driving record.  If you have been ticketed or issued warnings, these items may be present on your driving record.  Make sure that any tickets that have been settled are properly annotated and take care of any discrepancies by following the guidelines set by the DMV in your state.

Even Credit Can Harm You

Although it may seem unfair, a lot of companies run a full credit report on you when you apply for a job.  You can either get your credit reports from all three major reporting bureaus or write in for physical copies of your credit report by mail.  Once you have examined the reports, look for discrepancies or anything that may impede your ability to obtain employment.  Try your best to dispute or remedy problems as necessary to improve your name on paper.

Be Proactive

This is a proactive step to know what you’re up against when it comes to background requirements for a job.  Knowledge is power, so even if you are unable to change anything on your record you will at least know what your potential employer is looking at.  This may be useful come interview time if you have any explaining to do and shows that you are proactive enough to know exactly where you stand.  This could mean the difference between getting the job and being passed over.  

MyBackgroundCheck.com – one of the first web-based personal background check companies – helps individuals view and manage their personal information, check credit scores, correct inaccuracies, and prevent identity theft and fraud.  For more information about our multiple services, please visit http://www.MyBackgroundCheck.com, email info@mybackgroundcheck.com, or call 1-800-503-2364.

 

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