Individuals and businesses perform background checks to look for someone’s criminal records, verify their identity, as well as check their education or employment history, and more. Usually, employers, lenders, leasing or renting companies, lawyers, and government officials are the ones doing background checks. They do so for a variety of reasons. Here’s more information about each of these groups and why they might want to do a background check from UnMask, an authority on screening services.
Businesses
In the name of safety, businesses are required to run background checks on current and future employees. This helps them find out whether someone’s job history is valid and whether they can actually do the job they’ve applied for. Typically, pre-employment background checks focus on education and employment verification, character references, and checking for convictions and whether the person has a valid work permit.
Neighbors
In many neighborhoods, you can live near someone and still have no idea who they are. This is one reason you might want to run a background check on a neighbor. It’s also why sites such as NextDoor have become so popular. This site connects neighbors online to share events, news, and other information, as well as to exchange recommendations. In addition, many people use the site to talk about things concerning the neighborhood. They use it to warn each other about burglaries, vandalism, or other issues.
Government Officials
Government files frequently contain classified data, which requires employees to get clearance to access. Security clearance requires a detailed background check. The same principle applies if you want to work for the government. As a candidate for employment with the government, you can expect to undergo a screening that goes beyond the standard.
Rental Companies
Rental businesses might run a background check to see a prospective tenant’s rental and credit history. Property managers and landlords use this information to assess the housing candidate’s suitability.
Loan Providers
Lenders do background checks to look for proof of creditworthiness before giving someone a loan. Accordingly, an applicant’s negative credit history or a low credit score impacts their decision and the interest rates.
Lawyers
When a lawyer needs more information about someone to use in court, they will resort to running a background check. They might use the information they find to substantiate or reject testimonies.
Romantic Relationships
Partners or spouses who have started to doubt one another might do a background check to confirm their suspicions. People who’ve started a relationship recently might also resort to one. Furthermore, someone will try to confirm your marital status by looking for your marriage or divorce record. If you want to get married, you will need a marriage license. A background check can confirm that someone is allowed to get married legally and that they can be issued a license.
Bankruptcy Information
A company or individual can do a bankruptcy search to see whether a partner has gone bankrupt in the past. A background check can reveal information such as liens, outstanding debt, foreclosure, judgments, the name and address of a debtor, court and court locations, and liabilities.
Investors
An investor can do a background check on a broker to see if they can trust them. The job of an investment broker comes with a great deal of responsibility. As an investor, screening someone you work with can help protect your interests.
Final Thoughts
These days, background checks have become standard procedures and are carried out for a variety of reasons. In addition, you may benefit from running a self-background check to see what a potential employer or partner would see if they ran one on you. This way, you’re well prepared for the future and any plans you might have, including buying a property or looking for a new job.