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Monday, July 07, 2008

No Background Check is Flawless

Most potential employers today require background check reviews. This was a practice prior to 9/11, but it has become even more widely accepted since then. As the need for conducting background checks has increased, there have been many agencies established for the sole purpose of conducting these background investigations.

Companies which specialize in employment background checks are governed by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. This organization defines what can be investigated and what cannot be investigated in an individual’s background. Some companies choose to use private investigators for background checks.

However, technology changes the way we do business every day and it is changing the way some businesses conduct background checks. Companies have more information available to them via the Internet today than ever before. They are able to collect information without going through agencies or private investigators. Employers can actually access public records and commercial databases to gather information. The concern with accessing an online service is that it may not be carefully regulated by the federal laws.

Regardless of the method used for employment background checks, it is your responsibility to make sure that your background information is accurate. You can actually conduct your own self-evaluation on your background annually to determine if there is any erroneous information. If there is, make sure to take steps to correct it as expeditiously as possible.

Remember, when it comes to conducting background checks, no system is flawless. Computers don’t make mistakes, but people who enter data do! Make sure your information is accurate.

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