Background Checks - What's the deal?

Question

Hey there - can anyone shed some light on the background check process? I worked for my parents' business a few summers in college, and for a few months after graduating, but the company has since shut down. How do they verify this kind of employment if the company has disbanded?

rhyme · Answer

This question comes up so often...

In general, they are looking for glaring inconsistencies. For instance, you claim to have been working in FL from 2000-2007 but you filed tax returns in Texas. You say you were in school in IL from 1999-2000 but your address shows up in Omaha. Your social security number doesn't match your name.

Generally, it includes some attempt to identify dates of employment, position and salary, though 99% of firms I know will not disclose salary at all. Many people were also self employed (myself included) where none of this can be verified, and thats not a problem. Its quite common. And when I say "some attempt", I mean basically little more than seeing what Transunion / Experian or other have on file. There's no googling your company names and finding phone numbers and calling people etc. Think basic, computer automated low level stuff.

If there's a criminal check, typically the kinds of crimes they are looking for are things that would put other people - your coworkers, boss - at risk ....im talking about aggravated assault, aggravated battery, assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, murder, rape, false imprisonment, domestic assault, kidnapping, a dozen TROs, etc. Either that or issues of serious ethical breach such as say b&e or embezzlement, RICO act stuff. Credit checks are just a further element of this.

Now for the purposes of grad school, they aren't looking for exact employment dates, nor do they care if your salary is right - some people include bonus, some not, etc. They aren't going to come after you if you are off on salary figures, nor will they come after you if dates don't line up precisely, nor will they likely validate extracurriculars (its near impossible to do, generally theres no public record of that stuff). They are less concerned with these details and more concerned with egregious claims: If you claimed not to have a criminal past and you have a (serious) criminal past, thats not good. If you claimed to have a degree and don't. If you claimed to work at a firm Y and you never worked there at all.

So unless you happen to take the "the" out of psychotherapist, I wouldn't don't get hung up on this background check.

mbagal1 · Answer

rhyme, that's interesting. One thing is a couple of my employers have been consulting companies who do not care where I live since I am required to travel to a client site as required. My resume indicates the location as the location of my HQ, but in reality I might have been living in another place and traveling to yet another. So, what location should I be giving on my apps/resume? I paid taxes out of my state of residence. My current company I know registers the company in the location where the consultants live. However, not sure about another company I worked for a few years back.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Tarmac · Answer

Just be honest and there should be no problems. Once you start making stuff up, you will get caught in a web which you cannot explain away.

loathetheapps · Answer

Ok awesome that is reassuring. The other question I have is - I had a lot of jobs during college and I barely remember my start dates and salary. Does this background check generally go as far back as college workstudy jobs and what not?

Rubashov1 · Answer

Great post overall, but this ending is just sublime. :lol:

*kudos thoughts sent*

isa · Answer

I saw that many apps had a spot for the City/State/Country of the company and another area for your current address - that should let you document your address as well as the company's...

rhyme · Answer

Its a common issue for consultants. I've paid taxes in multiple states in a given year. Don't worry about it.

That said, you might want to consider listing different cities if it adds some diversity, e.g. if you did anything internationally, I'd highlight it. (If its Topeka and Nashville, dont bother).

If I were you, I'd also just list the city you live in rather than the HQ, not because of a background check, but because I'd hate to go to some interview and have the guy start rambling about how he's from Denver too (or wherever) and 2 minutes into his story I have to stop him and explain that I don't live in Denver and I've never been there but I listed the HQ on my resume and I'm actually from Topeka.

rhyme · Answer

No, don't worry about those. Put them on the app, estimate as best you can, and forget about it.

rhyme · Answer

NSFW If you like that, check out www.tshirthell.com NSFW

devil420 · Answer

what kind of background check is done for international applicants? I understand that many B schools use kroll, but what is the extent of background check?

rhyme · Answer

I dont know, but I'd bet its quite similar.

mbagal1 · Answer

Thank you rhyme. I almost missed this post. As always, your posts bring a smile during this grueling process. I hadn't thought of it that way about the resume, but makes sense. The place I live in could pretty much be Topeka

jayantadv · Answer

Hi.. I am a self employed attorney based out of India. The nature of my work experience includes representing Clients before Courts of Law, providing legal consultancy as well as assisting the Administration in framing regulations and policies. I have also initiated several small scale social welfare projects.

The apprehension that I have is that owing to me being self-employed and the nature of my work experience being contractual, the verification process would be whole lot trickier for me. I would greatly appreciate if anyone could throw some light on what would the verification agency/B - schools require me to produce to corroborate the significant cases that I have handled, the policies and regulations I may have advised on or formulated for the Government as well as the social welfare projects which that I have started. It not like each and every assignment or project that I may be undertaken would be documented and can be corroborated.

Thanks in anticipation

Background Checks - What's the deal?

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