How To Do A Background Check? [In 5 Simple Steps]

A background check is a formal process that verifies someone’s personal and professional information. This process aims to ascertain whether the given information about that person is false.

People conduct background checks to learn more about a date, a new neighbor, a tenant applicant, or a job candidate.

9 in 10 employers do background checks in their pre-employment phase. Failing to do so can lead to bad hiring, creating complications within the workplace.

Read this article to learn more about background checks, how to do them, and their benefits and risks. 

Defining Background Check

This process involves gathering information from public databases, such as: 

• criminal records
• credit reports
• educational history 
• employment history 

Results from the background check are one of the factors in making hiring decisions. 

Hiring managers can also include interviews with professional references. Moreover, background checks vary in depth and extent depending on the job position.

Steps on Conducting Background Checks

A background check can help determine if the applicants fit the job. That is why hiring managers need to learn how to do a background check on someone. 

To learn how to do a background check, follow these five simple steps:

1. Familiarity with the Law

There are laws associated with conducting background checks. People who run background checks should know the law to avoid violating the person's rights. 

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is the law that governs access to consumers' sensitive information. The law ensures that background check information is fair, correct, and kept private.

2. Ask for Authorization

It is illegal to do a background check without permission. Therefore, getting the applicant's consent before running a background check on them is crucial. It may result in a lawsuit as well as legal fines and penalties.

Employers must notify applicants of their intention and ask permission to proceed. Employers typically require applicants to sign a background check consent form. 

The consent form typically looks like this:

3. Collection of Personal Information

With consent to run a background check on someone, collecting the information needed for background checks is necessary.

The required pieces of information are the following:

• Complete name
• Social Security Number
• Physical Address
• Phone Numbers
• Email Address

4. Conduct Background Checks

Employers can use background check sites to do the background check process faster. 

On the other hand, some employers still favor the do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to conducting background checks. However, it’s worth noting that DIY background checks don’t have a per-search cost. Employers also have total control of the process.

5. Evaluate the Results

To evaluate the results, the person who does the background checks must know the red flags to look out for because the result of a background check is a factor in determining whether an applicant can be hired. 

Doing a background check is easy, but using a background check site can make it even easier and faster. 

Effective Background Check Sites That You Can Use

Background checks can be challenging, as gathering information about a person takes a lot of effort and time. However, background check sites make this process faster and easier.

These sites allow users to search for information on anyone by:

• name
• phone number
• address 
• email address

Take a closer look at the top 3 background check sites on the market.

1. Truthfinder

Truthfinder is a reputable, legitimate background check site that has provided comprehensive reports and accurate information for over eight years.

Using Truthfinder's background check service, users could quickly look up someone’s criminal record, education history, and any potential warning signs that should be considered in their application.

Additionally, background check reports from Truthfinder offer updated information that is presented chronologically from the subject's birth to the most recent information.

Users can use the TruthFinder background check service for $28.05 per month. However, they pay less if they choose a bimonthly subscription because it only costs $23.28 per month.

2. BeenVerified

Since 2007, BeenVerified has enabled over 38 million monthly searches. One of the advantages of BeenVerified over other background check sites is its impressive mobile app.

The BeenVerified mobile app provides the best user experience by accessing public records and doing background checks quickly and anywhere. 

BeenVerified background checks provide legal names, court records, sex offender information, and more. 

Users can choose between a $26.89 monthly membership or a $52.44 quarterly subscription to BeenVerified.

3. PeopleLooker

PeopleLooker offers background checks at a lower cost than TruthFinder and BeenVerified. A monthly membership subscription to PeopleLooker costs $22.86. In comparison, a quarterly subscription would only cost $18.28 per month.

In background searches, PeopleLooker provides bankruptcy, criminal records, etc. This information is essential and can help hiring managers skip some applications.

Benefits and Risks of Background Checks

Doing a background check can result in long-term advantages for companies. This gives employers confidence in the people they hire, avoiding future complications within the workplace. 

While background checks are beneficial in many ways, they also carry inherent risks. 

These are the benefits companies can get if they include background checks in their pre-employment screening:

Now that you know how it helps in hiring the right employees, check out these risks that background checks entail:

There are benefits to conducting background checks. However, it also has potential risks. Before looking at the results of background checks, businesses must consider these risks.

Conclusion

For professional or personal use, background checks give users confidence in the people they interact with. It helps companies make proper decisions when it comes to hiring people. 

While it comes with various benefits, some risks must be considered. Companies must follow a proper guide to decide who is the right applicant for the position.