In todays job market you must sign a consent form for a background check prior to employment. Employers have widespread availability to information on the Internet and put it to good use given all the events of security compromises in the workplace. Employers are responsible for the well being of their employees and scrutinize potential hires to avoid risks.

As soon as you sign the consent form your past history is completely available to your prospective employer. Employers no longer just verify resumes and educational history. They also check your driving records, credit history, military records and court records. Some employers have been known to even interview your neighbors and former co-workers during the course of their background check. There is a tremendous amount of a lack of privacy in our society today. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of inaccurate information available to your potential employer. As easily as mistakes can show up on your credit report, mistakes can also show up during the course of a pre employment background check. This inaccurate information may cost you that dream job youve always wanted. On the bright side, you do have some rights under the Fair Federal Credit Reporting Act, which can help in some cases if you are denied employment as a result of inaccurate information. However, beware that there are major loopholes in the law.

Simply signing the consent form doesnt give your employer a cart blanche right to dig up all of your dirt. You must also sign a separate consent form know as an investigative consumer report if they want to speak with your friends, neighbors or past co-workers. In addition, if they want medical information you must also give specific consent for that. A companys goal is to find out as much as they can about the skills and behaviors an applicant will bring to an organization. Employers are basically trying to establish whether you will be a good fit for the organization and what type of risk you might pose to that organization.

Most pre employment background checks focus on employment history, educational background, credit history, motor vehicle history and criminal background. Employment and educational background checks verify information that employees have provided in resumes and on job applications, so it's important to be honest on your resume and when filling out a job application. A lot of people are shocked when a pre employment background check turns up something that is different than the information they've provided. If you sign a consent form for a pre employment background check, it's safe to assume that the company you are seeking employment with will be conducting such a screening.