According to a recent story on CNN.com, jobseekers are resorting to unconventional methods to stand out, which isn’t surprising with unemployment at its highest rate in 25 years and more than five candidates battling for each job opening in the United States.

A survey compiled by online jobs site CareerBuilder.com that quizzed 2,500 hiring managers and human resources professionals showed that almost a fifth (20 percent) report seeing more unusual tactics from jobseekers this year, compared with 12 percent last year. These "tactics" are as varied as they are amusing:

• A wife created a Web site to draw employers' attention to her jobless husband.
• One candidate sent a hiring manager a shoe with a resume to "get my foot in the door."
• Another wrapped his resume like a present to show that his skills were a "gift to the company."
• A laid-off worker rented a billboard featuring his photo and the words: "Hire Me."

However, jobseekers need to realize that while unusual job search antics may attract the attention of hiring managers initially, the search for actual employment is taking longer and is more competitive than ever.

Jobseekers need to take proactive steps that also show their professionalism. One way jobseekers can increase their ability to get hired is with a "Self Background Check." Many jobseekers are proactively conducting background checks on themselves to verify information, correct mistakes, and market the results on their resumes to stand out from other candidates.

In today’s recruitment world, pre-employment background checks are a favorite tool used by hiring managers, regardless of the position or industry, and more often than not decide who is offered a job. Below are three major benefits of becoming a prescreened candidate with a self background check.

It’s Easier…

Many job seekers get an uneasy feeling when they hear the words "background check." While the thought of employers learning all about their past can be uncomfortable, if jobseekers perform the background check on themselves they can ease their mind about what a potential employer may discover. More important, any mistake jobseekers find on their records may be corrected before someone reviews and misinterprets the error, thus avoid the tragedy of a potential employer running a background check, seeing incorrect information, and a jobseeker missing out on a great job opportunity.

It’s Faster…

The process of finding the perfect candidate for a job can be time-consuming. Hiring managers typically advertise open positions, collect resumes, conduct interviews, and perform background checks before making their hiring decision. If an employer sees that a jobseeker already has a thorough background check completed, that jobseeker stands a better chance at landing an interview by eliminating a step in their recruitment process and saving the employer time and money.

It’s Better…

By conducting a self background check, a jobseeker can stand out from other jobseekers by marketing the background check directly on a resume. Since employers and recruiters receive and review thousands of resumes, a jobseeker can demonstrate a serious commitment to a job search by indicating that he or she has performed a self background check.

While most background check companies only service employers, MyBackgroundCheck.com is a leading provider of personal background checks for individuals to use as jobseekers among other reasons. For more information about our most popular jobseeker background check package, please visit us at www.mybackgroundcheck.com, email info@mybackgroundcheck.com, or call 1-800-503-2364.

Contact Us @ MybackgroundCheck.com

tahearn@mybackgroundcheck.com

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