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  • Looking for a new job? Be prepared for a background check, which is standard procedure for most companies. Once you give written consent for a background check, your potential employer will be free to probe deeply into your personal business, including an examination of your credit history, driving record, criminal background (if any) and even claims you may have made for workers' compensation. The good news is that this process cannot begin until you give consent and that gives you a chance to personally review your files before deciding to proceed.

    Consent Form

    Companies do not perform background checks on everyone they interview. There is a cost for every check, so generally only the finalist is asked to sign a consent form. Usually that means the company is offering you a position contingent on your passing the background check.

    Credit Checks

    There is no guarantee that your credit will be be checked as part of a background examination. The signed consent form gives employers broad latitude, but some stick to the basics and look primarily for criminal background history. Other companies, such as banks and financial services firms, are more likely to seek credit checks for employees who would be handling money. Those firms may be interested in seeing how well you've managed your own finances before entrusting you with managing the financial affairs of others.

    Past Financial Problems

    Bruises on your credit report won't automatically disqualify you from a job. Employers realize that in tough economic times some people may have problems paying their bills on time. That's especially true during periods of high unemployment.

    Your Rights

    Interested in seeing what a previous employment background check said about you? Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT), you have the right to obtain a free copy of an employment background check file once a year. A good place to start is http://www.choicetrust.com. ChoiceTrust is one of the leading providers of employee background checks, and in compliance with the FACT Act, will provide you a free copy of any information it has on file about you.

    Your Own Check

    For a fee, you can also have ChoiceTrust or another company conduct an up-to-date background check on you. Pulling a past employment background check or seeking an updated report can be a good idea before interviewing for jobs.

    Source:

    Bankrate: Pre-employment Background Checks

    ChoiceTrust

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