The number of background checks conducted in the United States has exploded over the past decade. WIth over 50% of applicants lying on applications, HR and business leaders are double checking the facts. Use our guide to discover the trends and common features of standard background checks.

1. BUSINESS.COM GUIDE TO BACKGROUND CHECKS

2. CONTENTS
OVERVIEW OF BACKGROUND CHECKS 3
TRENDS 6
FEATURES 8
KNOW THE LAW 11
STEP BY STEP 13
CALCULATING COSTS 14
PURCHASING TIPS 15
COMPARISON CHECKLIST 16
GLOSSARY OF TERMS 18

3. 3
WHY
The number of background checks conducted in the
United States has exploded over the past decade.
Background checks are most often used for pre-
employment screening of job candidates; but they’re
increasingly being used for a variety of purposes,
including verifying creditworthiness for a car or home
loan, or other significant purchases. But is checking
into people’s backgrounds really necessary?
The short answer is yes! Studies show that more than
half of job applicants lie on their resumes. And, more
than 50% of employers report that attracting qualified
employees is the most significant challenge their
organizations face. Pre-employment screening helps
pinpoint those who are untrustworthy, while boosting
the employment opportunities of those who screen well.
OVERVIEW OF BACKGROUND CHECKS
“MORE THAN 50% OF EMPLOYERS REPORT THAT
ATTRACTING QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES IS THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE THEIR ORGANIZATIONS FACE.”

4. 4
WHY
Background checks have become a routine part
of the employment process, and in many cases,
these checks are required by law. Such checks
are performed on members of the Armed Forces;
people who need security clearances; and those
in positions of significant responsibility within
federal, state, and local governments. Also, many
jobs that involve caretaking in even the broadest
sense commonly involve background checks-for
example, teachers, home- and child-care providers,
counselors, babysitters, dog walkers, and more.
Background checks have not only become more
common, but they’re also less expensive than they’ve
ever been. The computerization of data has made
it possible to learn far more in a credit check these
days, with far less effort, than was the case just a
few years ago. Databases of criminal convictions
are much easier to access and search, and ease
of using the Internet has resulted in tremendous
competition for a business’s background screening
needs. Prices have plummeted for credit and other
simple background checks, and even elaborate
checks now take a fraction of the time they used to.
“THE COMPUTERIZATION OF DATA HAS MADE IT
POSSIBLE TO LEARN FAR MORE IN A CREDIT
CHECK THESE DAYS, WITH FAR LESS EFFORT,
THAN WAS THE CASE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.”

5. 5
HOW
There are many laws covering background checks,
including the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and
anti-discrimination statutes. Your state might also have its
own laws governing background screening. For example,
Oregon doesn’t allow employers to use credit reports
as a basis for hiring decisions, but most states allow
reasonable background checks as long as two simple
rules are followed:
1. Make sure the candidate for screening has given
consent for the background check; and knows that
information disclosed in the check may be used to
deny employment, credit, or other services.
2. Provide the candidate with the results of any reports
that were the cause for rejection, along with information
on how this individual can contact the screening
agency to contest or correct negative information.
As long as you follow these guidelines for disclosure
before and after an adverse decision, you’ll be on the
right side of most federal and state laws concerning
background screening.
“THERE ARE MANY LAWS COVERING
BACKGROUND CHECKS, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL
FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT (FCRA) AND ANTI-
DISCRIMINATION STATUTES.”

6. 6
Background checks have changed a lot in just the past
couple years, thanks to the increasing computerization
of vital records, as well as to challenges associated
with a difficult economy. Let’s take a look at some of
these trends.
Dishonesty in Applications and Resumes
The recession of 2008 resulted in many more unemployed
people taking longer and longer to secure jobs. As the
challenge to find work increased, so did the temptation
to stretch the truth on job applications and resumes.
Over the past five years, employers in all industries have
reported a marked increase in the number of cases where
job applicants were less than truthful.
Increased Relocation Across State Lines
People don’t stay in one place as much as they used to.
Between traveling for work, school, and employment,
people are moving across state lines more than ever
before. Background checks become more challenging
to perform as more applicants change locations.
More International Employees
The labor force isn’t just fluid within the United States.
Many people are working both domestically and
abroad. As such, collecting information from outside the
U.S. can be difficult and time-consuming.
TRENDS

7. 7
Stricter Privacy Laws
In the United States, Europe, and elsewhere, new laws
have been enacted restricting the amount of data that
can be maintained on someone; as well as legislating
who has access to that data and what it can be used
for. Three states prohibit using credit-report information
for making hiring decisions. Similarly, the federal
government prohibits credit-reporting agencies from
going back more than seven years to obtain a credit
history on an individual.
Checking Social Networking Sites
It has become a common practice for employers to
review Facebook pages and other social networking
sites to prescreen candidates for employment. However,
some states are curbing this practice. In Maryland,
Illinois, and California, for example, it’s illegal to ask job
candidates for passwords to their online accounts.
Integrating Background Checks
with Other HR Systems
Many background check providers use the service as
one element of a larger human resources (HR) system.
For example, many trucking companies purchase not
only an initial background screening on drivers, but
also one that checks every month for traffic violations-
whether these infractions occurred on the job or off.
Some HR systems automatically flag data in a report
that is beyond a threshold set by the company, thereby
eliminating the need to scrutinize screening reports on
candidates who fail to meet minimum qualifications.
E-Verification of Employment Eligibility
Perhaps the simplest type of background check is
to determine whether an applicant is qualified for
employment in a particular state. Many states have
set up electronic verification (e-verify) systems so
that employers can quickly check the accuracy of a
Social Security number, as well as whether or not the
candidate can be legally employed.
Better Data, Lower Prices
No trend is more obvious in background checks than
that of higher-quality information at a lower cost.
The availability of computerized records has made
background screening services ultra-competitive. More
of the process is automated than ever before, and
prices for basic checks have plummeted. The security
of the entire process is better than ever, and turnaround
times have dropped from a few days to a few minutes
for basic checks. For these reasons, it costs less than
ever-and takes less time-for a business to protect itself
from fraud and misrepresentation. The question is no
longer: “Do I really need a background check,” but
“Why wouldn’t I use this simple, low-cost method to
avoid problems down the road?”

8. 8
The following services may be included in a
background check-from simply verification of an
address, to conducting detailed interviews with
relatives and former co-workers-as well as information
on how long it typically takes to get results.
People Search (instant)
Using readily available records to verify home
addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and other
basic information.
Credit Report (instant)
There are three major credit-reporting agencies in the
United States: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. But they
aren’t the only ones. There are several other credit bureaus
and thousands of firms that provide credit reports, which
typically provide information on bank accounts, credit
cards, loans, and address histories; as well as other names
people have used in order to secure credit.
Criminal Records (1 day)
Searches of a federal database of criminal convictions
have become fairly fast and routine.
FEATURES
THERE ARE THREE MAJOR CREDIT-REPORTING
AGENCIES IN THE UNITED STATES: EXPERIAN,
EQUIFAX, AND TRANSUNION. BUT THEY AREN’T THE
ONLY ONES.”

9. 9
Employment Records (1-3 days)
Verifying the employer, employer’s address, duration of
employment, positions held, and sometimes additional
data such as pay rate.
Motor-Vehicle Records (2 days)
Verifying records kept by motor-vehicle bureaus, including
drivers’-license and vehicle-ownership records and
moving violations.
Drug Screening (pre-employment, random; 1-3 days)
Screening for controlled or prohibited substances is often
done as part of a pre-employment screening process, and
then periodically performed on employees on a random
basis. State laws vary on when drug screening can be
used and what it can cover.
Civil Court Records (3-5 days)
A check on whether the applicant is the subject of a lawsuit
or has instigated lawsuits against others in the past.
State Court Records (3 days)
Includes a variety of records kept by state courts.
County Court Records (3 days)
Many records are kept at the county level in the U.S.,
and they don’t always percolate up into state or federal
records checks. These include such things as marriage
and divorce records, adoption records, and violations of
county laws or regulations.
Offender Lists (3 days)
Registries of those convicted of various crimes. Many
states maintain sex-offender and drunk-driver registries,
and lists detailing other kinds of offenders.
Legal Proceedings (3-5 days)
This is a check to see if the candidate is involved in any
current legal proceedings that are making their way
through court and have not yet been ruled upon. Cases in
progress don’t show up in databases of county, state, and
federal court decisions.
School Records (1-3 days)
Screening usually involves verifying the dates of
attendance and graduation, and degrees earned (if any).

10. 10
Screening may include grades, test scores, attendance
records, disciplinary actions, awards, or other information
related to an applicant’s scholastic history.
Professional Training Completion (1-3 days)
Verification that the candidate is entitled to use the
professional training certificates and designations he or
she claims. Also can be used to verify that the candidate
has completed the required continuing education to
maintain a particular professional designation.
Reference Checks (3-5 days)
The process of contacting the references provided by the
applicant and verifying the information on the application.
Reference checks often involve soliciting assessments on
the applicant’s performance.
Media Searches (2 days)
In-depth searches of periodicals, radio transcripts,
television transcripts, photos, and other media in an
attempt to identify every instance of a candidate getting
media coverage.
Conducting Interviews (time varies)
Beyond reference verification, screeners may have a need
to conduct personal interviews with individuals known to
the applicant. These interviews could be as quick as an
email or as formal as a legal deposition.
Personality Assessments (time varies)
There are a number of personality tests that employers
use to see if an applicant is a good fit for an organization.
Tests such as Myers-Briggs claim to be able to determine
whether an employee is a risk-taker or cautious, an
introvert or extrovert, among other traits. These tests
can be rather elaborate-including so-called 360-degree
assessments that ask what co-workers, customers,
suppliers, and others who interact with an organization
think about the applicant.
Psychological Assessments (time varies)
Psychological assessments of a candidate’s fitness for a
position can range from a simple IQ test to an evaluation
by a trained psychiatrist.
Aptitude Assessments (time varies)
Tests to determine if a candidate meets various specific
criteria for employment or advancement. These tests
usually relate specifically to the job description, such as
an ability to lift a maximum amount of weight for postal-
carrier candidates.
“THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PERSONALITY TESTS
THAT EMPLOYERS USE TO SEE IF AN APPLICANT
IS A GOOD FIT FOR AN ORGANIZATION.”

11. 11
The rules governing background checks are not only
established by each country’s national government,
but also by subdivisions, such as states, counties, and
cities. For example, some jurisdictions prohibit basing
decisions on records of arrest rather than records of
convictions. Many large organizations also have their
own internal rules for what may or may not be included
in screenings.
Most background check providers are thoroughly familiar
with the screening laws in the territories in which they
operate. It’s when you try to do your own screenings in-
house that you need to be very careful about complying
with the laws in your jurisdiction.
The U.S. federal law governing background screening in
the United States is the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
KNOW THE LAW
“EMPLOYERS HAVE TO OBTAIN THE WRITTEN
CONSENT OF APPLICANTS AND EXISTING EMPLOYEES
BEFORE VIEWING THEIR CREDIT REPORTS.”

12. 12
The act comprises many rules for credit-reporting
bureaus, such as how far they’re allowed to go back in
order to check on and report on an applicant’s credit
history. But even if you’re using a credit-reporting agency
to do your screening, you must follow a few important
rules when initiating credit checks:
1. Employers have to obtain the written consent of
applicants and existing employees before viewing their
credit reports.
2. Employers must provide applicants and employees a
summary of their rights under the FCRA before taking an
adverse action against them based on a credit report.
3. Applicants have the right to obtain a copy of their credit
reports and dispute erroneous or incomplete information
with the credit-reporting agency after they’ve been
rejected based on negative information in a report.
“EVEN IF YOU’RE USING A CREDIT-REPORTING
AGENCY TO DO YOUR SCREENING, YOU MUST
FOLLOW A FEW IMPORTANT RULES WHEN
INITIATING CREDIT CHECKS.”

13. 13
Select a background check provider
and open an account.
Choose the package of screening
services you desire.
Verify that you have consent from the candidate.
Input data about the candidate (or have
the applicant input the data).
Authorize the background check
firm to conduct the screening.
Analyze the results of the screening.
Notify the candidate of your decision.
Provide documentation required by law.
STEP BY STEP
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

14. 14
Basic Screening (1 day) $20-$55
• Social Security number verification
• Social Security address verification
• National criminal database search
• State sex-offender registry search
Advanced Screening (1-3 days) $55-$150
• Federal court records search
• State court records search
• County court records search
• State Department of Motor Vehicles search
• Drug testing ($30-$100 per test)
Custom Screening Services (time and pricing varies)
• FBI fingerprint check (2-5 weeks)
• Presenting results to candidates
• Continual monitoring ($10/month/employee)
• Auditing current compliance
CALCULATING COSTS

15. 15
Use a Vendor. Yes, you can do background checks
yourself, but do you have the staff to research state laws
and make sure you’re in continual compliance? Given
the brisk competition and low prices for background
screening services these days, you’re better off putting
a third party between you and the ultimate decision. If
there’s a lawsuit, it’s the background screening firm-not
you- that bears the greatest liability.
No Hit, No Fee. Some background check services are
so confident that they’ll unearth something amiss that the
report is free if it doesn’t turn up anything negative. They
call it “no hit, no fee.” Be sure to ask if your vendor offers
such a guarantee.
Check Social Networks. Several states have ruled that
employers cannot require applicants to reveal their social
networking passwords-but you’re free to see what you can
dig up without one. You might be amazed by what you’ll
find. A 2012 survey of 300 employers showed that over
90% reviewed an applicant’s social networking activities
before extending a job offer, and an astonishing 69%
said that they’ve rejected a candidate as a result of that
search. Ask your vendor for a price that includes social
networks in the screening package.
PURCHASING TIPS

16. 16
This checklist will help you quickly assess
the best vendor for your needs.
Gathering Data
Online Data Input
Online Consent Forms
Identity Verification System
Candidate Can Input Data
Business Can Input Data On Candidate
Authorized Agent MustInput Data
Access To Results
Instant Results
Levels Of Access To Results
Can Authorize Multiple Viewers Of Results
Results Explained By Screener
Results Presented To Candidate By Screener
Results Stored Online
Pricing And Turnaround Time
Cost For Basic Background Check
Turnaround Time For Basic Check
Cost For Intermediate Check
Turnaround Time For Intermediate Check
My Needs Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3
BACKGROUND CHECK CHECKLIST

17. 17
This checklist will help you quickly assess
the best vendor for your needs.
Cost For Advanced Check
Turnaround Time For Advanced Check
Volume Discounts
Surcharge For Rush Delivery
“No Hit, No Fee” Pricing Policy
Advanced Services
Flags Discrepancies In Application
Adjustable Minimum Rules
Flags Failures ToMeet Minimum Rules
Adverse Action Letters
Adverse Action Notifications
Annual Updates Of Screenings
Vendor Reputation
Member Of National Association Of Professional Background
Screeners (NAPBS)
Professional Certification
Number Of Years In Business
Specialist In Your Industry
No Negative Chatter About Vendor
Live Online Customer Service
Live Phone CustomerService
My Needs Vendor 1 Vendor 2 Vendor 3

18. 18
Adverse Action Letters: The Fair Credit Reporting Act
(FCRA) requires that candidates receive advance notice,
called a “pre-adverse action letter,” if a credit, housing,
or hiring decision might be based on information from a
background check. The FCRA also requires an “adverse
action letter” when a candidate has been declined based
on a background screening. An adverse action letter
must identify the company that provided the background
report, as well as a way to contact the provider.
Conditional Job Offer: A job offer extended on the
condition that an employee passes a background
check. This allows companies to hire before receiving
screening results.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
A division of the United States government executive
branch, the EEOC sets rules and regulations for what
you’re allowed to investigate when doing background
screenings on employees, candidates for employment,
or contractors.
E-Verify: A Web-based program operated by the Social
Security Administration to assist employers in determining
whether an employee is eligible to work in the U.S. and
whether the employee’s Social Security number is valid.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). A U.S. federal law
governing credit-reporting practices, including what you’re
not allowed to screen for when conducting background
checks related to lending, housing, or other contracts.
Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
“FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT (FCRA)
IS A U.S. FEDERAL LAW GOVERNING
CREDIT-REPORTING PRACTICES.”

19. 19
Human Resource Management System (HRMS). Also
called a human resource information system (HRIS), this is
a broad collection of software and practices for managing
the process of hiring and evaluating employees and
potential candidates.
National Association of Professional Background
Screeners (NAPBS). A trade group that establishes
standards for background screening practices and offers
training programs and certification programs.
No Hit, No Fee: A practice among some screening
services to provide a background report without charge if it
doesn’t unearth anything amiss about the candidate.
“HRMS IS A BROAD COLLECTION OF SOFTWARE
AND PRACTICES FOR MANAGING THE PROCESS
OF HIRING AND EVALUATING EMPLOYEES AND
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.”