This document discusses reference checks and background checks that employers conduct during the hiring process. It defines reference checks as contacting past employers, schools, and colleges to learn more about an applicant's job history and qualifications. It provides sample reference check questions employers may ask. Background checks verify details on a resume like dates of employment, education, and can include credit checks and criminal history checks. The document advises being truthful on applications and preparing for potential questions to avoid issues if inconsistencies are found during the verification process.

1. Reference
Check and
Background.
Agust 23,
2010
Universidaddel Valle de México
LilianaPatriciaCoral Baas
5 Semester
Human ResourcesManagement
FirstTopic Research

2. Reference Check Definition
Definition: A reference check is when an employer contacts a job applicant’s previous
employers, schools and/or colleges to learn more about his or her job history or
educational qualifications.
Reference Check Questions
 QuestionsEmployersAskWhenConductingaReference Check
Priorto makinga job offer,aprospective employerislikelyto checkyourreferences.Many
employerswon'tgive outanymore informationthanstartingandendingdatesof employment
and salaryinformation.Othersmaybe willingtodiscussyourjobperformance,yourworkethic,
your attendance atwork,yourattitude andothercriteriathat are importanttoa companywhen
makinga decisiononwhomtoofferthe jobto. In additionto prioremployers,the people you
have providedasreferencesmayalsobe contacted. CoachYour Personal ReferencesYoucan't
control what yourex-employerwillsayaboutyou,but,youcan coach yourpersonal referencesto
ensure theiranswersmatchyours andto ensure thatyou are bothon the same page whenit
comesto your workhistoryandabilities.Review these reference checkquestionsamplessoyou,
and yourreferences,will know whattoexpect.
 Sample Reference CheckQuestions
Whendid(name) workforyour company?Couldyouconfirmstartingandendingemployment
dates?Whendids/he leave the company?
Why did(name) leave the company?
What was her/hisstartingandendingsalary?
What was her/hisposition?Canyoudescribe the jobresponsibilities?
CouldI brieflyreview(name's)resume?Doesthe jobtitle andjobdescriptionmatchthe position
that (name) held?
 Reference ChecksandEmploymentVerification
One of the questionsaskedquiteofteniswhattype of informationwill employersaskwhenthey
verifymypreviousemploymentorcheckmy references.The questionoftencorrelatestothe
broaderquestionof are theygoingto catch me if I fudge mydatesof employmentormyjob title
or the salary I wasearning?
What EmployersCheck
That it depends... Itdependsonhowmuchverificationthe employerdoesduringthe hiring
process.Some employerswillconfirm, verythoroughly,everydetailof yourresume orapplication.
Othersmay doa cursorycheck or none at all.So,the problemwithstretchingthe truthor
embellishingyourresume (otherthanthatit'slying) isthatthere isa chance that you'll getcaught,
eithernoworat some pointinthe future.If youdo getcaught, youwon't getthe job or,if you've
alreadybeenhired,youmightgetfired.
Background Check: Employment
Why doemployerswanttocheckyour background?Itcouldbe forone of several reasons.If
governmentsecurityclearancesare requiredforthe jobyouare interviewingfor,an
employmentbackgroundcheck maybe required.
The employermaywantto make sure youare tellingthe truth.It'sestimatedthatupto 40% of
resumescancontainfalse or tweakedinformation,so,employerswanttoinsure thatwhat they
are gettinginan employee iswhattheywere promised.The employermayperformabackground
checkto findout whetheractuallygraduatedfromthe college yousaidyoudidorto confirmthat

3. youworkedat your previousemployer(s) duringthe time statedonyourresume oryourjob
application.
 BackgroundCheckInformation
What's includedinanemployeebackgroundcheck? The FairCreditReportingAct(FCRA) setsthe
standardsfor screeningforemployment.The FCRA definesabackgroundcheckas a consumer
report.Before anemployercangeta consumerreportor run a creditcheck for employment
purposes,theymustnotifyyouinwritingandgetyourwrittenauthorization.If the employeris
simplyconductinginquiries(ratherthanrunningreports) theyshouldalsoaskforyourconsent.
That way youcouldwithdrawyourapplicationif there isinformationyouwouldrathernotsee
disclosed.
If an employerdecidesnottohire because of thisreport,theymustgive youa pre-adverse action
disclosure thatincludesacopyof the report anda copyof yourrights.They must thengive you
notice thattheyhave decidednotto hire youand letyouknow the name and addressof
ConsumerReportingAgencyandinformationonyourrighttodispute the report.
At a minimum,abackgroundcheckwill verifyyoursocial security number.Atmost,itcan include
an analysisof yourworkhistory,the people youknow,alongwithafull creditreport.Itcan also
include yourcreditpaymentrecords,drivingrecordsorcriminal history.The inquiriesshouldbe
relatedtothe job.For example,if youare hiredtoworkina bank,it wouldbe reasonable tofind
out if youhave a historyof embezzlementortheft.
 BackgroundCheckPrivacy
What can't be includedinabackgroundcheck?There issome informationthatcannotbe
disclosedunderanycircumstances.School recordsare confidential andcannotbe released
withoutthe consentof the student.Youcannotbe discriminatedagainstbecause youfiledfor
bankruptcy,however,bankruptciesare apublicrecord,so,it iseasyfor employerstoobtainthe
information.Lawsvaryoncheckingcriminal history.Some statesdon'tallow questionsabout
arrestsor convictionsbeyondacertainpointinthe past.Othersonlyallow considerationof
criminal historyforcertainpositions. Employerscannotrequestmedical recordsandmaynot
make hiringdecisionsbasedonanapplicant'sdisability.Theymayonlyinquire aboutyourability
to performa certainjob.The same holdstrue for Worker'sCompensation.The militarycan
disclose yourname,rank,salary,assignmentsandawardswithoutyourconsent.Drivingrecords
are notconfidential eitherandcan be releasedwithoutconsent.
 Be Prepared
The bestway to prepare fora backgroundcheckisto be aware of the informationthatan
employermightfind.Geta copyof yourcreditreport.If there iserroneousinformation,dispute it
withthe creditor.Checkyourmotor vehicle recordbyrequestingacopyof yourrecord fromyour
state Departmentof Motor Vehicles.Askyourpreviousemployersforcopiesof yourpersonnel
files.Make sure youknowwhatyour referencesare goingtosay aboutyou.
Most importantly,make sure yourresume andjobapplicationsare accurate andtruthful.If youlie
youmightnot getcaught right away,but,youwill probablygetcaughtat some point.It'snot
worthnot gettinghired,gettingfiredandruiningyouremploymenthistorybecause yourthought
your resume mightneedsome enhancing!
Bibliography
http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/backgroundcheck/a/background.htm