Job Applicant Questions › Category: Interview › What do they look for on a background check?
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Travon Powell Staff asked 7 years ago

I went in for a job interview the other day and I was asked to sign a paper giving them permission to do a background check on me? what is it they’re looking for? Will I get the job even if I’ve been arrested before? doesn’t really seem fair…

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Ben Staff answered 7 years ago

Many employers conduct background checks on prospective employees. They need your approval to do this, and depending on the job you’re applying to, they might be looking for different things. The most typical searches look at criminal background, credit history, and education. Filling out the information on your application honestly is important for this reason. Having an arrest in the past doesn’t automatically disqualify you from a job in most cases, but employers need to do this to get a feel for who you are and how responsible you are. If the arrest was several years ago and doesn’t directly pertain to the job you’re applying for, it shouldn’t be a problem.