Introduction
Have you conducted your online background check recently? There are several reasons you should consider conducting an online background check.
There could be inaccurate information about you online or in your credit report. Maybe you’ll see an embarrassing photo of yourself or a comment you made years ago.
These things will come up the next time you apply for a loan or a job and will hurt your chances. You can, thankfully, take steps to correct or remove this damaging information.
In this expert guide, we’ll go over what a background check is, why they’re important, different types of background checks, and how to do an online background check.
Online Background Check Overview
A background check is a screening procedure that allows an individual or company to confirm your identity. During the job interview process, prospective employers frequently request background checks to ensure you will not be a liability to their organization. Both police departments and private companies perform background checks.
A company invests in human capital every time a new employee is hired.
Just as thorough research is necessary to vet investment decisions for the company, the same is applicable when screening potential employees.
Most background checks reveal information about a person’s education, employment history, criminal record, and other previous activities. While there are many different types of background checks, employment background checks are among the most common. Employers frequently request one before offering a position to a candidate.
Let us discuss all the things you need to know about the credibility of background checks and how to get a background check online.
When is an Online Background Check Required?
The most obvious reason for conducting a thorough background check is to reduce risk. No employer or landlord wants to go through the ordeal only to have to go through it again when they discover their new employee or tenant has a serious criminal record.
On the other hand, employers must be cautious about the screening process. There is a distinction between a candidate embellishing their professional background and outright fabricating information. While the vast majority of applicants will not lie about their educational or professional background, you do not want to hire the one who does.
While your first instinct may be learning how to get a general online background check and running a background check on someone else, you should consider scanning your own background first. The information you discover may prevent you from obtaining a good job or even purchasing a car or home. You can review your credit report and insurance information for errors. You’ll also learn what potential landlords, employers, or anyone else can learn about you if they do their own research.
Process Of an Online Background Check
Even though many businesses use paid employee background check sites, it’s worthwhile to learn how to get a background check online first. Consider whether the information is from a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) when conducting a background check on someone. Any online information and data resource channel that is subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act is committed to data protection and hosting verified information.
It’s pointless to consult a search engine or database if all of the information is false or unverified. Let us see how to get a free background check online. The following are the methods that will help:
- Internet search engines
- Social media platforms
- Websites offering free background checks
You have these options if you want to conduct a thorough background check on someone without spending a dime. If you don’t plan to do all the legwork that social media and search engines require, you can always use a background check website.
Simple steps To Order an Online Background Check
You will be required to provide basic personal information such as your name, birthdate, address, and Social Security number in order to conduct a personal background check. Although most searches produce instant results, some can take several days.
1. Narrow Down the Type Of search you Need
There are several types of background checks that are used in various situations. Here is a list of 11 of the most common types of background checks to help you understand them better:
- Confirmation of Professional License and Certificate
- Credit History Check
- Criminal History Check
- Driving Record
- Drug Screening
- Proof of Prior Employment
- Reference Check
- Sexual Offender Registry Check
- Social Media & Internet Check
- Social Security Number Trace
- Verification of Education
Based on your situation, you must select the appropriate search types. While some information will be readily available online, others will necessitate using a third-party background check service.
2. Check With Third-Party Background Check Service
Even though personal background checks claim to show all the information, the results you may get will be inconsistent and limited to what employers have access to.
A lot of background screening companies that perform personal background checks aren’t considered consumer reporting agencies under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which increases the likelihood of receiving inaccurate results. The FCRA contributes to screening results’ accuracy, privacy, and fairness. Employers frequently collaborate with an FCRA-compliant reporting agency. If at all possible, you should look for one as well.
Numerous background check companies provide bundle or pre-package plans that allow you to conduct multiple types of searches under one plan and at a single price. Many services allow you to add on additional screenings, but some only offer a la carte options.
3. Find the Right Service
These background check screening services will provide accurate results that are worth the investment. Your role is to choose which service to use based on your situation and needs. When choosing a screening service, don’t try to cut corners.
4. Direct Court Searches
Many background checks include information that is already public knowledge. Criminal records are not kept in a vault that only background check companies can access. Instead, many of those records are filed at county courthouses, where anyone with no special permission can access them. A lot of this information is also available on the internet.
Conclusion
Background checks can help you learn more about someone, whether for security or curiosity. After this guide, we hope that you now know how to do a background check online on your own. If you don’t wish to do all this on your own, you can always order an online background check service that guarantees accurate and fast results.
