A failed background check is a concern for many job seekers, whether or not they have criminal histories. Most often, to fail a background check is to be disqualified from the hiring process. However, because there are few objective standards for a passed or failed background check, there can be some confusion about what to expect when you submit to screening.
Below, we explain some of the factors that can lead to a failed background screening and what you can do to improve your chances of passing. What does it mean to fail a background check? There is no universally accepted definition of what constitutes passing a background check. What may be acceptable in one job may be unacceptable in another. Employers are required to disqualify job candidates for certain convictions. For instance, if you have two DUI convictions on your record, you will be disqualified from any job that requires driving.
Employment screening is not a test or examination for objective criteria for "passing" or "failing" exist. A background check may reveal various details about a candidate's past, including criminal history, civil court history, educational and employment history.
Any of these categories of information could serve as a "red flag," depending on the employer and position. Employers seek convictions that are directly related to the job's responsibilities. For instance, a bank may revoke a job offer to a candidate if the bank learns of the candidate's embezzlement conviction.
The hiring manager and their team are ultimately responsible for determining whether they are comfortable hiring someone despite red flags. The most critical thing to realize regarding passing or failing a background check is that every employer has slightly different standards.
Some employers are willing to hire candidates with criminal histories. Others are more hesitant to do so. Some employers run a wide variety of checks, including criminal history, employment history, education verification, driving history, and credit history. Other employers only perform criminal history checks. Because of these factors, it can be difficult to predict the outcome of a background screening. What causes a red flag on a background check? Because of guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEOC , employers are expected to assess the relevance of the criminal activity to the job at hand before making an adverse hiring decision.
Your criminal activity does not have much relevance to the position for which you are applying. On the other hand, if you are applying for a delivery driver job and have a two-year-old DUI conviction , you are likely to fail the background check and be denied the job opportunity.
In the eyes of the employer, your DUI directly inhibits your ability to perform the job, and it flags you as a risky hire. Many employers run verification searches to check the information on your resume. The college you attended, degree s you received, GPA, job titles and responsibilities, employment dates, skills, professional licenses: all these things are fair game in a verification check. If you lied or stretched the truth on your resume, there is a good chance that your employer will uncover it.
Getting caught in a lie will almost always qualify as failing a background check. You will need to adhere to those terms carefully and equally with each candidate. Download templates and forms here. This gives the candidate the chance to review results for accuracy and respond to any of your questions regarding the information discovered from the report. This is when you give the applicant the opportunity to discuss the issues that the background screening brought to light five to 10 business days, depending on your jurisdiction.
Or the person has a valid explanation for an employment history discrepancy. In it you will explain that the findings of the background check are your reasons for the rejection. It is extremely important that you stick to the letter of the law, especially when the screening pulls up a record of criminal history, as it will help mitigate risk of potential fines and legal action against your company.
A comprehensive employee background check helps you make informed decisions. Base your decisions using accurate data and reliable information; conducting targeted screens and individualized assessments; and encouraging open and honest dialogue with your candidates.
Background checks are indeed vital to hiring high-quality candidates, but the process of getting everything in order can be difficult. This is not the time for errors, and you should take care to document the process throughout.
To help, GoodHire offers built-in tools and capabilities to help you manage employment screening easily from start to finish. GoodHire is designed to do just that, which makes your job of hiring a qualified candidate easier—and can make a hopeful job applicant who may not have a clear background check very happy.
The resources provided here are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We advise you to consult your own counsel if you have legal questions related to your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.
Sara Korolevich is the director of content marketing and managing editor at GoodHire. Looking for the best background check service? We all lose track of dates here and there, and many tweak resumes to include keywords that aren't strictly the truth. But there's a difference between getting a start date slightly wrong and claiming to have graduated from a university that doesn't know your name. Mismatched credentials at best look bad, at worst can lead to accusations of fraud.
The full details of a discharge might not even be included in your background check report, but an employer may consider this a red flag and deny you the job anyway. Employers for any job may choose not to hire you because of a dishonorable discharge, but this will be more common for jobs related to security or finance, since those jobs typically require a spotless record. If it's in the budget, you might consider hiring a third party to run a check before you even start the application process.
This way, you'll have a solid idea of what's likely to arise. If not, you can manually run a background check on yourself by pulling information from a few different sources.
Being forthright, detailed, and clear can go a long way in increasing your credibility and earning the employer's trust. There's a chance you will fail a background check if you have a criminal history.
This is particularly true if the offenses on your record are relevant to the job you're applying for i. However, if you "fail" a background check it doesn't mean you won't get the job.
Employers can't deny all job applicants with a criminal history, or else they run the risk of a discrimination lawsuit.
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