<p>The outcome of background screening has a direct impact on whether an employee gets hired or not. However, the term ‘background screening’ covers a wide-ranging level of diligence, largely depending on the company and the industry it belongs to.</p>
<p>It could involve a cursory check of an applicant’s references or a full verification of a candidate’s <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/trueprofile-background-screening-means" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">professional documents</a> and their <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/lp/id-verification" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">identity.</a></p>
<h2>What shows up on a background check?</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="590" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_657540856-1.jpg" alt="How Do Background Checks Affect Hiring Decisions?" class="wp-image-10316" title="How Do Background Checks Affect Hiring Decisions?" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_657540856-1.jpg 1000w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_657540856-1-300x177.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_657540856-1-768x453.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption>Depending on the company, everything may get scrutinized.</figcaption></figure>
<p>What shows up on a <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/background-screening-protects-communities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">background check</a> depends on the standards of the organisation. <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/employment-background-verification" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">It depends on what the company deems important</a> to investigate. For example, banks will do a criminal records check, identity checks, credit checks, and the corresponding licensure for financial advisers. In contrast, seasonal farmworkers just need to show up and be willing to do backbreaking work. </p>
<h2>Do companies perform background checks before they offer you a job?</h2>
<p>Not necessarily, no. There are companies that rely on a country’s regulating authority to conduct the necessary background screening for them. For example, if you are <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/guide-register-health-practitioner-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">applying as a healthcare professional in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia</a>, you can get a job offer and be flown out to the country prior to accreditation and licensing of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS).</p>
<h2>What would make someone fail a background check?</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="599" src="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/check-correct-daylight-1656594-1-1024x599.jpg" alt="How Do Background Checks Affect Hiring Decisions?" class="wp-image-10317" title="Background Check Affect Hiring Decisions" srcset="https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/check-correct-daylight-1656594-1-1024x599.jpg 1024w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/check-correct-daylight-1656594-1-300x176.jpg 300w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/check-correct-daylight-1656594-1-768x449.jpg 768w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/check-correct-daylight-1656594-1-1200x702.jpg 1200w, https://production-prod-trueprofile-blogassets-origin.s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/2021/03/check-correct-daylight-1656594-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>You may have just failed to mention a bad credit score.</figcaption></figure>
<p>If you intentionally set out to deceive, you will certainly fail a background check. For example, you “exaggerated” and stated that you have a two-year experience when you really only had a 20-month tenure at a hospital before you resigned. Some authorities will not accept anything less than their stated standards. It’s better to be honest than to be inventive regarding your qualifications. </p>
<h2>Do employers tell you if you fail a background check?</h2>
<p>It would depend on the policy of a company and/or regulating authority. It would also depend on the severity of the case. Companies do understand that <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/what-can-i-do-if-background-check-comes-back-negative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">that honest mistakes can happen</a> and it’s better to be upfront about things than to let a prospective employer find out about it via their background investigation.</p>
<h2>Take control of your narrative</h2>
<p>Start your relationship with a professional employer on the right foot and take control of your narrative by being honest about your background and acknowledging any lessons you have learned so far. Any mistakes you might have made in the past does not necessarily have to determine your success going forward. The best thing would be to get your own verification ahead of time via TrueProfile.io. You can then own your PSV report and transfer it to the authority of your choice.</p>
<p>When you own your primary-source verified report with TrueProfile.io, you get to have <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/new-mytrueprofile-page" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">your own Digital CV</a>. This can function as your <a href="https://www.trueprofile.io/member/resources/build-a-digital-resume" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online resumé</a> that you can share with employers. Just make sure that your Profile Visibility preferences are public so that employers can search and view your information.</p>
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<p class="has-small-font-size">Do you want more information about the background screening process? You can find more articles on our <a href="https://blog.trueprofile.io/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blog</a>.</p>