How do potential employers do background checks?
Sarah Garza
Updated on March 28, 2026
An employer might check on information such as your work history, credit, driving records, criminal records, vehicle registration, court records, compensation, bankruptcy, medical records, references, property ownership, drug test results, military records, and sex offender information.
What background check do most employers use?
Most Common Background Checks for Employers
- Which employment screens are best for your organization?
- Criminal History Checks (National, Federal, County, etc.)
- Social Security Number Trace + Address History.
- Education and Employer Verification.
- Other Common Background Checks for Employers:
What does it mean when a potential employer does a background check?
If a company is conducting a background check on you, it typically means you are a top contender for the job. Companies usually only screen the candidates that they are interested in hiring.
What makes you fail an employer background check?
What causes a red flag on a background check? There are plenty of reasons a person may not pass a background check, including criminal history, education discrepancies, poor credit history, damaged driving record, false employment history, and a failed drug test.
What shows up on pre-employment background check?
Pre-employment background checks typically include criminal-background checks, plus verification of information on past employment, education, and professional licenses. Depending on the nature of the job under consideration, employers may specify that pre-hiring screenings search candidates’ driving records.
Do background checks show job title?
3. Employers won’t find out if I lie about job titles, salaries, or employment dates. Part of your background check includes employment verification, where your prospective employer will contact the human resources department at your old job and ask about your job title, your employment dates, and your salary.
What do employers look for in a background check?
According to Glassdoor, employer background checks can cover your employment background, credit history, driving records, and criminal history. It is imperative that you be completely honest on your job application, avoiding even the smallest fib on a resume, or the results may upset you after a background check.
How old do you have to be to get a background check?
An employer cannot obtain information on grades earned without permission and criminal history more than 10 years old. Most employers are more concerned with your past employment and education and confirming that you actually worked for a company or graduated from college.
What happens if an employer finds a red flag on a background check?
If an employer finds a red flag in the report on your background check, they must send you a letter informing you what they found (attaching a copy of the report) and give you time (typically a minimum of 5 days) to correct or explain the issue.
What happens when you pass a background check?
If you’ve passed the employment background check, you’ll likely receive an email with the job offer! Give the employer ample time to perform the background check and then follow up with them. It is possible that the hiring manager has the completed background check but hasn’t had time to review it.