What Shows Up on a Background Check? Everything You Need to Know

Cindy Ellis - September 2, 2022

While background checks are often necessary for applying for jobs or other opportunities, they can be anxiety-inducing to many individuals. If you’ve never submitted a background check before, it can be difficult to know what exactly will show up on your report and which aspects of your information will be evaluated.

This article will detail the types of information included in background checks and help you understand what an employer might look for when they review your background check report. We also answer your frequently asked questions about background checks to help put your worries surrounding this process to rest.

What Are Background Checks?

Background checks are reports that detail important background information about an individual, such as criminal, civil, and credit history, which allows a company or employer to evaluate whether or not the individual is suitable for a job or other opportunity.

Background checks are most often performed when individuals are applying for jobs, especially jobs involving the federal government, dealing with vulnerable populations like children or the disabled, or driving or operating heavy machinery.

Often, background checks are part of an extensive hiring process that involves reference checks and drug testing. Still, the employer or company asking for your background check report will give you more information on whether or not these are also required.

It’s important to note that an employer cannot perform an employment background check without your prior written consent. However, while you can refuse the request, employers can offer jobs contingent on a clean background check report, so failing to submit one may cause the job offer to be rescinded.

Why Background Checks Are Useful

Background checks may seem inconvenient to many individuals, especially those who know they likely have a clean record. However, they are an incredibly useful tool for employers. Completing background checks is part of performing due diligence in the hiring process, and it stops employers or companies from making bad or unsafe hires.

Additionally, when background checks are performed, it adds another step of certainty that the individual hired is who they claim to be. It also ensures that the person has the necessary education, qualifications, and experience for the job and that they won’t make the workplace unsafe or uncomfortable.

What Shows Up on a Background Check?

Background checks can include a wide variety of information and reports pulled from public databases and court records. Below, we give you an idea of the information typically included in a background check so you know what to expect.

Criminal Records

Criminal records are one of the most commonly looked-at items on a background check. When employers look at your criminal records, felonies, misdemeanors, or extensive convictions tend to stand out. Your background check will show criminal records from county, state, and federal levels, depending on the type of search performed and the laws in your state that govern the release of criminal records.

Additionally, arrest records can sometimes appear on background checks, but this depends on the disclosure laws in your state and, often, whether or not there was a conviction after the arrest.

It is important to note that criminal records from varying jurisdictions may require more extensive background checks and typically take longer to complete.

Civil Records

Civil records that appear on your background check are taken from courthouse records and indicate whether or not you have been involved in civil disputes. Civil disputes include contractual disagreements, child support issues, restraining orders, and evictions.

While civil records are not as commonly viewed or referenced during a background check as criminal records, some companies or employers may still look at civil record information on your background check to evaluate your suitability as a candidate representing their standards.

Driving Records

Driving records are an important part of the background check process, especially if you are applying for a job that involves driving or operating heavy machinery. Traffic violations, speeding tickets, reckless driving charges, and license suspensions may appear on your driving records.

DUIs may also show up as part of your driving records, or they may be included in the criminal record section of your background check. But, again, this depends on state laws and the agency compiling your report.

Many employers and companies look closely at a candidate’s driving record history, as this is a good indicator of whether or not they will be able to handle future job duties that involve driving. It is essential to hire candidates with a low risk of causing accidents or harming themselves and others while on the job, making driving records especially important in a background check.

Education History

Even though you list your education and professional qualification history on your resume, many employers or companies will want to double-check this information via your background check report. This is because candidates may sometimes lie about their educational history or qualifications.

Verifying this information on a background check can help individuals determine whether or not their job candidates are fully qualified to perform the job at hand. Without verifying this information, candidates unsuitable for the job could be hired, resulting in legal and professional issues later.

Employment History

Employment history is another item that is commonly listed on a candidate’s resume but is typically verified by employers. When employers or companies verify this information, they will make sure all of your listed workplaces match up—including the address of the workplace—and they will often reach out to prior places of employment to speak with supervisors listed on your resume. This allows employers and companies to ensure you have the experience required to perform your job duties.

Identity Verification

Identity verification is a common part of background check reporting that helps employers and companies determine if an individual is who they claim to be. Sometimes, individuals may apply to jobs with fake names or social security numbers to stop criminal histories from being uncovered or to avoid detection on things such as sex offender registrations. A background check will help employers verify the candidate’s name and discover any information the candidate may be hiding.

Credit History

While many individuals may not think their credit history is important when applying for a job, some employers and companies check this report as a background check. Your credit history includes items such as failure to pay back loans or debts, credit limits, and credit score. Most of the time, your credit history isn’t factored into your job eligibility. Still, if you are applying for a job that works with finances, banks, or loans, your potential employer may take this report more seriously.

That being said, you should know that certain states and cities have laws that govern how credit history can be used to determine employment eligibility. Some areas have even banned credit reporting in the hiring process altogether—research employment rights and credit reporting to learn more about your state’s specific laws governing this.

Background Check FAQs

There can be a lot of confusion and questions when it comes to background checks. Review our answers to these frequently asked questions about background checks below for more clarity and to put your worries to rest.

Are There Different Types of Background Checks?

An employer or company may request a few different types of background checks. The most common type of background check is a criminal background check, but requesting a general background check can include other items, such as driving and civil records. When an employer requests or performs a background check on you, they typically need to inform you of this and tell you which aspects of your history they are evaluating.

Additionally, more in-depth background checks may be required if you apply to a federal position or have international history. These are generally more intensive and take longer to complete due to the amount of information necessary for the report.

What Causes You To Fail a Background Check?

Failing a background check can often be subjective, as what raises a red flag or not depends on the job you are applying for and the employer or company’s specific standards. Typically, an extensive criminal history, lots of trouble with DUIs, or being a registered sex offender will limit employment options.

However, there are state-specific laws that help to reduce discriminatory hiring practices when it comes to individuals who may have criminal records. If you have failed a background check or suspect you might fail, you should research employment laws in your state to understand your options.

How Long Do Background Checks Take?

Background check reports can take a varying amount of time depending on how in-depth the report needs to be and the agency performing the background check. For the most part, a background check will be completed in 3 to 5 business days, though some online systems can have the report completed in as little as 24 hours.

More extensive federal and international background checks will typically take a week or two.

Do Expunged Records Show Up on Background Checks?

Expunged records are those that have been sealed by a court or a judge’s order. These records are then removed from an individual’s criminal history, meaning they won’t appear on background checks. However, records and cases that are still pending and haven’t yet received a conviction cannot be expunged and may show up on a background check, depending on state laws.

How Far Back Will a Background Check Show?

How far back the history on your background check goes depends on state laws and what is allowed to be included on your background check report. In most cases, background checks will show approximately seven years of history, but certain jurisdictions may limit how many years back criminal and civil records are available for access.

Can I Perform a Background Check on Myself?

You can perform a background check on yourself, and in some cases, this might be incredibly helpful. For example, performing a background check on yourself will give you a good idea of the information that a potential employer or company will see, allowing you to be prepared during the hiring process.

If you want to perform a background check on yourself easily, you can use Information.com‘s lookup tools. Input your name, city, and state, and a report will be compiled using public records. Once this report is returned, you can review all the information on it, take notes of any items that may concern employers, and practice addressing them in an interview.

Understanding the Background Check Process

Background checks can be stressful, and if you’ve never had to submit one before, it’s normal to be concerned about the type of information that this report shows. However, most people easily pass background checks and don’t have anything to worry about when an employer requests this information.

Remember, many state-specific are in place to help protect what can and cannot be done with your background check information. If you suspect there are items of concern on your background check, don’t hesitate to run a report on yourself to understand the type of information a potential employer or company will see. Knowing what’s on your report will likely help you feel more comfortable with the entire background check process.