snlee
Ideal_Rock
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Background Check
- Thread starter snlee
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allycat0303
Ideal_Rock
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saturn
Shiny_Rock
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I had a background check before I could start working at the CDC. Since it''s a government agency, the background check was conducted by the FBI. I had to fill out a lot of paperwork, and list every place I had lived in the past 10 years. Then I had to give references for every place I had lived in the past 3 years, and three more references. The references were all contacted, plus they check for any arrests in your record.
When a friend of mine started working for the FBI, they actually interviewed his references in person (an agent went to their house). My references just got forms or phone calls.
It was a lot of hassle and paperwork.
I''m guessing that a private company would probably be different, but I don''t know how.
Hope that helps.
When a friend of mine started working for the FBI, they actually interviewed his references in person (an agent went to their house). My references just got forms or phone calls.
It was a lot of hassle and paperwork.
I''m guessing that a private company would probably be different, but I don''t know how.
Hope that helps.
Mara
Super_Ideal_Rock
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For a typical job (not higher security levels) they can check for criminal records and DMV to check for things like drunk driving, felonies, etc, they can also check school records (if you have an advanced degree that is crucial to your job etc)...and I think some companies check credit reports, but I guess it would vary by company and policies.
I worked in HR when I was in college in the recruiting department of a big software company and I remember they did pretty extensive checks. But it wasn't like oh if you have bad credit you won't get hired. They are just looking for big stuff usually like bankruptcy, felonies, drunk driving, or things like that.
I guess if you have higher security clearances they'd check for more, etc. And I guess now they do drug tests? I never had to take one.
I worked in HR when I was in college in the recruiting department of a big software company and I remember they did pretty extensive checks. But it wasn't like oh if you have bad credit you won't get hired. They are just looking for big stuff usually like bankruptcy, felonies, drunk driving, or things like that.
I guess if you have higher security clearances they'd check for more, etc. And I guess now they do drug tests? I never had to take one.
Erin
Ideal_Rock
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sometimes it''s job specific - I remember working for a temp agency right before we moved (because I didn''t want to take a full time job KNOWING I was moving) and they wouldn''t hire me at this credit card production place where I would potentially be digitally drawing CC artwork for the faces - all because my credit score wasn''t high enough. I guess there was a fear that people in desperate situations working around a bunch of CC before they are assigned an account number - a scandalous theft or scam could happen
Blue824
Brilliant_Rock
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It totally depends where the job is at.
I had an incredibly extensive one conducted by the FBI for a State Dept. internship. I think, unless you are working in the government where you''ll need some level of clearance. THey even had to go interview my mom for it. And some of the questions the investigators asked me were so odd! Same thing about 10 pages of information I had to provide them and then had to prepare another good 10 pages to submit when I had the interview with the FBI guy. Pain in the butt!
Most likely you''re not looking at something that extensive...My boyfriend has had two less intense ones, he was worried they''d find out he got fired from a job and there were disputes (they fired him and lied about him stealing things and he had to hire lawyers to get them to stop slandering him)...but that wasn''t even brought found. If it was, they certainly didn''t care about it enough to ask him for details. I think they''re pretty basic, criminal checks, credit for major things, not just a few missed bills or student loans, etc. And then drug tests and one time they added another health test to it as well, like he had to run on a treadmill. So random!)
I had an incredibly extensive one conducted by the FBI for a State Dept. internship. I think, unless you are working in the government where you''ll need some level of clearance. THey even had to go interview my mom for it. And some of the questions the investigators asked me were so odd! Same thing about 10 pages of information I had to provide them and then had to prepare another good 10 pages to submit when I had the interview with the FBI guy. Pain in the butt!
Most likely you''re not looking at something that extensive...My boyfriend has had two less intense ones, he was worried they''d find out he got fired from a job and there were disputes (they fired him and lied about him stealing things and he had to hire lawyers to get them to stop slandering him)...but that wasn''t even brought found. If it was, they certainly didn''t care about it enough to ask him for details. I think they''re pretty basic, criminal checks, credit for major things, not just a few missed bills or student loans, etc. And then drug tests and one time they added another health test to it as well, like he had to run on a treadmill. So random!)
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Yes, and several levels at that.
The basic check that many companies use is:
1) State & Local Criminal Record System.
2) Credit Check
3) Drug testing
A more extensive search will involve the Federal database.
The next level is to query all state & Local record systems.
Then, queries can be sent to varous international - or specific countries.
The level of contact on background references varies widely.
For simple jobs, none.
Many jobs; some phone contact of some of the references and/or people at places you have previously worked.
For jobs with very high level security clearances: As noted above - expect personal interviews with almost eveyone you have known for the last 10 to 20 years (personally and professionally).
Certain jobs may also perform psycological screaning (MMPI is common, but their are others). This may be followed up by an interview with a psycologist.
By the way, MMPI stands for "Minnesota Multiple Personallity Index." I can definetely say that I do not have any multiple minnesota presonalities (a joke in my industry as we all have to "pass" the test or the shrink to even have access to my job site).
Many companies with initial drug testing may also have some for of "randome" drug testing as well as a condition of employment (I get "tapped" at least several times a year).
It all depends what you are doing and how the company wishes to position itself.
In my industry (nuclear power); fully 1/3 of all people who apply for work don''t make it through the security screaning process. And these are the people who don''t have any significant criminal background or drug use (we are told in advance of the basics of the process). During outages when temporary employees and contractors are brought on site - 1/2 of all new people don''t make it (you would not believe how stupid some of these people are: Day one of inprocessing and they fail the breathalyzer test, or the drug screaning if they don''t leave outright - Every outage we have people who when told that they need to report for drug screaning get into their car and drive away. Crimiinal records pop up on day 2 - 4 of inprocessing (you can get access with "minor" offenses if you declare them up front and after a interview with security: "Look, 15 years ago I did something really dumb" is usually the right way to start an interview). After 1 week "temporary" access is granted; full investigation of backgrounds take up to a 2 months. But; 98 % are discovered in that first week, and usually the next 1.5 % in the next week.
Personally: I would have at least a state level background check, credit check, and drug test for any employees at even a general company. I would aslo do a basic personality profile test (looking for contradictions).
Hope this helps.
Perry
The basic check that many companies use is:
1) State & Local Criminal Record System.
2) Credit Check
3) Drug testing
A more extensive search will involve the Federal database.
The next level is to query all state & Local record systems.
Then, queries can be sent to varous international - or specific countries.
The level of contact on background references varies widely.
For simple jobs, none.
Many jobs; some phone contact of some of the references and/or people at places you have previously worked.
For jobs with very high level security clearances: As noted above - expect personal interviews with almost eveyone you have known for the last 10 to 20 years (personally and professionally).
Certain jobs may also perform psycological screaning (MMPI is common, but their are others). This may be followed up by an interview with a psycologist.
By the way, MMPI stands for "Minnesota Multiple Personallity Index." I can definetely say that I do not have any multiple minnesota presonalities (a joke in my industry as we all have to "pass" the test or the shrink to even have access to my job site).
Many companies with initial drug testing may also have some for of "randome" drug testing as well as a condition of employment (I get "tapped" at least several times a year).
It all depends what you are doing and how the company wishes to position itself.
In my industry (nuclear power); fully 1/3 of all people who apply for work don''t make it through the security screaning process. And these are the people who don''t have any significant criminal background or drug use (we are told in advance of the basics of the process). During outages when temporary employees and contractors are brought on site - 1/2 of all new people don''t make it (you would not believe how stupid some of these people are: Day one of inprocessing and they fail the breathalyzer test, or the drug screaning if they don''t leave outright - Every outage we have people who when told that they need to report for drug screaning get into their car and drive away. Crimiinal records pop up on day 2 - 4 of inprocessing (you can get access with "minor" offenses if you declare them up front and after a interview with security: "Look, 15 years ago I did something really dumb" is usually the right way to start an interview). After 1 week "temporary" access is granted; full investigation of backgrounds take up to a 2 months. But; 98 % are discovered in that first week, and usually the next 1.5 % in the next week.
Personally: I would have at least a state level background check, credit check, and drug test for any employees at even a general company. I would aslo do a basic personality profile test (looking for contradictions).
Hope this helps.
Perry
VegasAngel
Brilliant_Rock
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My husband has had pre-employment background checks, one I think, by the FBI. However, the most thorough one was probably not when he was about to work for the government (which he has done), but for a privately held bank. The study of our household done for international adoption was even more thorough, although not as focused on criminal activity. [The State of CT just checked for criminal activity using our names; the organization in Colombia from which we were adopting made us get updated fingerprint checks from the FBI every six weeks (on the theory that after a lifetime of no arrests we might suddenly go on a crime spree, I guess).]
We have not experienced the kind of background checks people working for the CIA have had. My husband worked with one man whose background check literally took years. The CIA told him to get an interim job while they conducted it...and they went on to conduct interviews with relatives he had in Italy!
Deborah
We have not experienced the kind of background checks people working for the CIA have had. My husband worked with one man whose background check literally took years. The CIA told him to get an interim job while they conducted it...and they went on to conduct interviews with relatives he had in Italy!
Deborah
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