What comes to mind when you hear the term ” common background check”? Probably images of the FBI or criminal records. However, a whole range of other types of checks can be conducted as part of a background check. This includes employment verification, education verification, and rental history. Each type of check provides different information about an individual’s past. By understanding the different types of checks conducted as part of a background check, you can be better prepared if one is required. 

Employment Verification 

Employment verification is a common background check that verifies that an individual has been employed by the company they claim to work for. This type of check helps employers ensure that prospective employees are who they say they are and have indeed worked where they say they have worked. Employment verification can also be used as part of a larger background check for applicants.

Rental History 

Rental history is a background check that verifies whether or not someone has paid their rent on time. Like employment verification, this type of check can either be used as part of a larger background check, such as when applying for an apartment, or it can stand alone to verify information about the individual’s rental history. This information could include whether they have been evicted from previous residences, if they have damaged any previous property they rented, and if any outstanding balances went unpaid at the end of a lease term.

Education Verification 

Education verification is a background check conducted by employers to determine if an individual’s educational credentials are valid. There are different types of education verification checks conducted depending on the individual’s job. For example, a check conducted as part of an employment background check requires more information than a check conducted merely to ensure that an individual’s alma mater is accredited.

What Information is on a Background Check?

Each of the above examples of background checks provides individuals with different types of information. Some, like employment verification, are used primarily to verify if an individual is who they claim to be and have indeed held the position they claim to have held. Others, such as rental history, are used primarily to verify if any outstanding claims exist against an individual’s previous residences.

Risks and Benefits 

Although there are many different types of background checks, they all have unique risks associated with them. Employment verification checks may be risky for employers because they can open the door to discrimination complaints from applicants who failed a background check due to a perceived issue, such as having been arrested but never convicted or being related to someone with a criminal history. Rental history checks can come back as inconclusive if you rent from multiple landlords, which can confuse where you lived and who your landlord is. Similarly, education verification checks can be inconclusive if you moved frequently or attended multiple schools under different names.

The good news is that each type of background check has benefits as well. Employment verification checks help protect employers by verifying information provided on a resume and minimizing the risk of hiring employees who falsified their qualifications. Additionally, employment verifications are often conducted looking back several years to help prospective employers see what kind of track record an applicant has. Rental history checks are helpful for landlords because they allow them to verify whether or not someone will pay rent on time and take care of the property they are renting. Finally, education verification checks assure employers that someone applying for a job has the educational credentials they claim to have.

Conclusion 

Background checks are useful for verifying an individual’s wide range of information. This is especially relevant when conducting employment, rental history, or education verification checks. They help narrow down the appropriate time frame to conduct the check and ensure that any information provided is accurate.