Pre-employment background checks are becoming a more frequent occurrence. For some, this may add extra anxiety to the process of finding a new job. Understanding why more employers are double checking on those they wish to hire can help point out just exactly what skeletons a boss might be examining one’s closet for. With 30 to 40 percent of all resumes containing false or inflated information, employers are often worried at the idea of taking someone’s word at face value.
As the cost for running a background check lessens, many employers hope to making a mistake during the hiring process. Making sure that the individual they are considering for a position was never accused by a previous employer of stealing all seven of the company’s high-tech fax machines, often helps to ease an employer’s fear they maybe hiring a thief.
Many employers are also on the lookout for individuals who have committed crimes of a sexual nature. These individuals are easily seen as a potential liability, as they may sexually harass other employees.
For many positions, federal laws require that a potential employee submits to a background check. These jobs include those that bring the worker in close contact with children, the elderly, or disabled individuals. The National Child Protection Act allows state officials to access the FBI’s National Crime Information Center database for the pre-employment screening for many of these positions. In these circumstances the employer is most likely trying to make sure that one does not have a felony and has not committed any crime that victimized the same type of individuals they would be expected to look after were they to be hired. This is done in hopes of avoiding incidents of physical and sexual abuse, child abduction, or neglect.
Another reason that the number of employers requiring background checks has increased are the tragic events of September 2001. Post 9/11 America is increasingly suspicious of those who will be working with any type of machinery that could possibly be utilized in a terrorist attack. In hopes of avoiding another similar incident, employers have added to their identity verification strategies.
As the world continues to become smaller through the use of technology, the use of computer databases for background checks will continue to grow. Just remember, employers aren’t checking to see if the people they interview did something small like broke into their high school gym at sixteen. Companies are simply trying to weed out individuals who might cost the business either publicity or money through overly reckless or anti-social behavior.
