Identification

Once a potential applicant agrees to a background check, also known as an "investigative consumer report," the employer can find out just about anything, according to BankRate.com. Sometimes the employer hires a separate investigator just for background checks.

Typical Areas of Interest

A typical background check will look for standard records such as credit rating, driving record and criminal history, according to BankRate.com. However, the investigator may also question neighbors and any references.

Exceptions

The Fair Credit Reporting Act prevents background checks from intruding itno civil cases, tax liens, debt collections and other negative, noncriminal information after seven years. Bankruptcies can appear on a consumer report for 10 years, according to Privacy Rights.

Fun Fact

An estimated 30 to 40 percent of job applications contain false or exaggerated information, reports BankRate.

Considerations

According to Privacy Rights, some states, notably California, have laws that go beyond the FCRA in restricting the information employers can look for. Arrest records in California, for example, are not public records until there is a conviction.

Source:

BankRate; The ABCs of pre-employment background checks; Crane, Amy; 2005

Privacy Rights; Fact Sheet 16: Employment Background Checks: A Jobseeker's Guide