“Will I find out if I failed my background check?” is a common question that job candidates may ask themselves. Many people are concerned that when they apply for a job, they will need to undergo a background check and then not be informed of the outcome. Not knowing the results of background checks leaves many to wonder the exact reason they were rejected.
Employers are required to notify job candidates when the results of the check disqualified them. An employer can’t use background check findings to reject someone, just like they can’t perform a check without asking for your consent.
Background check services such as Checkpeople can give you some insights into what your prospective employer will see.
When you get a job offer, it becomes obvious you passed the background check. Usually, companies run checks after finalizing the recruitment process after making the conditional offer. If you’re hired and onboarded, the screening results probably didn’t raise any eyebrows.
Employers Must Obey The Law
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires employers to inform candidates who didn’t pass a background check. If the company decides to eliminate the candidate, they must provide a notice of pre-adverse action, which comes with a rights summary and a copy of the report in question.
If the company makes an adverse decision, which usually means disqualifying an applicant from the selection process, there are additional measures to take. These include giving the applicant information about the background check service, such as the name of the company, their phone number, and their address.
The applicant must be notified of the decision in writing. The employer must add a disclaimer that it wasn’t the screening service that made the hiring decision. Moreover, they need to let the applicant know that they’re entitled to get in touch with the screening service if there are any findings they wish to dispute. Finally, the applicant must be informed that an additional copy of the report is available to them at no charge. They can obtain it in the two months following the adverse decision.
Employees Must Be Proactive
Some lawyers advise companies to give as little feedback as possible to job applicants to avoid legal action. In fact, it’s estimated that more than two-thirds of employers give unsuccessful candidates no feedback whatsoever. More and more job seekers are trying to stay ahead of background checks today, given that false credit information and inaccuracies regarding criminal history are more common than you may think. Being proactive during the interview is, therefore, highly important. It’s the best way one can find and address inaccurate information or prepare to answer questions.
Are you wondering where to start? We suggest to first get your credit report since you have access to a free credit report once a year. You can get one from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. You have every legal right to dispute the failure of a background check if it demonstrates inaccurate or irrelevant findings. The latter case is quite common as well. If you have a common name, such as Tim Jones, for example, a less than thorough background check provider might mix you up with someone else.
