Today, many companies will resort to a background check to verify the identity and the social and financial status of their trainees, employees, and employment candidates. A standard background check includes the checked person’s criminal record, education, and employment history, as well as any previous addresses and other information from their past. This is in order to confirm the validity of important data.
Whether you’re applying for a job, looking for a new apartment, or purchasing a firearm, you may have to undergo a background check. This guide will briefly describe some of the most common types of background checks and what specific information each of them provides.
Standard Employment Background Check
Most employers run quick background checks on the shortlisted candidates to avoid hiring the wrong person. This type of screening usually takes place after you’ve applied for a certain position with a company. Most employers ask for the candidate’s informed agreement before proceeding with the screening process.
The H.R. specialist enters the candidate’s full name, birth date, current address, and social security number in a people search engine and waits a few minutes for the result. They may use the paid version of the largest and most trusted people search websites.
A standard pre-employment background screening usually covers seven years of the candidate’s past. There are states in the U.S. where ten-year background checks are allowed. They usually show a person’s employment history, criminal record, and driving history. The results of a drug test might emerge. Some background screening engines also provide the option to check one’s activity on social media.
Universal Background Check
Under the U.S. Constitution, everybody is allowed to possess a firearm to defend their life and property. Whenever you purchase a firearm in the USA, the licensed retailer immediately runs this type of background check through the National Instant Background Check System to determine your eligibility.
This type of background check is also pretty standard. It reveals information related to the buyer’s criminal record. This may include any offenses committed within the state’s borders, past criminal convictions, or open arrest warrants against them. If you buy a firearm from a friend or an acquaintance, no NIBCS background check is required.
Criminal Background Check
The previous two types of background checks include criminal records. However, criminal background checks provide a more detailed insight into one’s past involvement in criminal activities. These usually reveal if one has been charged with or convicted of sex crimes, first or second-degree murder, or financial crimes like embezzlement.
Criminal background checks are usually performed on candidates to join the police, the fire service, the national guards, the U.S. Army, or the healthcare sector. There are Level 1 and Level 2 criminal background checks. The former type shows if one has committed crimes within a certain state and their employment history. Level 2 checks use the individual’s fingerprints to reveal if they have been involved in illegal activities outside the state. This is a federal-level check.
OIG Background Check
This is a specialized background screening performed on medical professionals (doctors, nurses, paramedics) who apply for positions with federally-funded public healthcare establishments. They show if the applicant has committed any crimes in healthcare. These might include false medical claims or patient overbilling. An OIG check will also show if they have been involved in any social security or insurance frauds. Interestingly, OIG background checks can be run on natural persons and legal entities alike. If a medical professional or a legal entity fails the OIG check, their name is entered in the so-called Sanctions List. Employers who bypass the mandatory OIG check risk hefty fines.
E-Verify Background Checks
These background checks are run by employers to verify if a candidate is eligible to work in the USA as well as the candidate’s identity. They are run on immigrations, such as adults who’ve entered the country as participants in the CIEE Work & Travel USA program.
This type of background check can be run only after the candidate has accepted the job offer, but no later than the third day of their employment. Also, the candidate must be informed that the employer runs E-Verify checks in their organization. The Reverify participation notice and the Right to Work notice are available in 19 different languages.
