Finding a Job - What About the Background Check?

You're looking for work. You have all your ducksSome of the areas you can expect to be
in a row. You present a good appearance includinginspected include past employers &
your apparel (right down to your shoes); you'reimmediate supervisors. Your driving record and
well groomed and have impeccable hygiene (itcredit history is easily attainable and usually among
goes without saying),the first to be apprised. Criminal history and drug
You interview quite well. You know a lot of thetest results are also at the top of the totem pole.
questions that are going to be asked, and you'veAnd depending on the level of the position, do be
learned some conversational techniques to buysurprised if investigators interview your neighbors,
you time so you can think of answers torelatives, former peers at past jobs, etc.
questions you weren't expecting. You'reLest we make no mistake, this is an employer's
personable and charming as well.market.
Your resume is in order. You 'I's' are dotted andTHE BOTTOM LINE
your 'T's' are crossed, both literally andThe bottom line is you can have everything else,
figuratively. Your cover letter is downrightall the other job seeking components, down to a
professional.science and passed with flying colors, but if you
Your application is neat and complete. You havecan't pass the background check with a nearly
not hesitated to provide all the informationunblemished record, you are not getting the job
including education, job history, and even former(in all but the rarest of exceptions).
employers contact addresses and phone numbers.THE GOOD NEWS
Just one little question: What about theThe good news is the Internet is the modern day
background check?gold rush. And not only is it not too late, it is still in
Will there definitely be a background check? Howits INFANCY. Internet traffic doubles every 100
important is it compared to the other elements?days. You read that right.
If you are completely honest up front, can youOnly 3% of people who claim they want to make
circumvent some of the unpleasant issue amoney on the Internet, actually do so. So how is
background check will surely bring?that good news? Because the 97% who quit
I don't believe in sugar coating things, so let merefused to learn the basic skills that virtually
entitle this next part...anyone can learn. They try to take the easy
THE BAD NEWSway, and they "invest" in one get rich program
Now more than ever before in recorded history,after the other, doing anything and everything
companies are scrutinizing the people who comethey can do, other than learn a few very basic
through their doors asking for employment; and inskills, and then rinse and repeat, as they say.
some ways, rather unimaginable not that long ago.Are you one of them? I certainly was. Only did
The information that is available to them at themy stubbornness save me from quitting. I hung
touch of a keystroke can be overwhelming toaround for 3 years wasting my time and money,
think about.thinking that skills, yes, just the basic ones, were
From the corporate standpoint there arebeyond my ability..."Meant for other people, but
heightened security concerns as well as increasednot for me" (to borrow from The Monkees).
lawsuits blaming them with negligent hiringBeyond skills, you just need the tools. One
practices. So it's simply in the interest ofwithout the other doesn't do it, but put them
corporations to do thorough background checks,together, and you'll be cooking with fire.
and as smaller companies get overtaken by largerEven if you can't imagine making a full time living
ones, this trend is almost saturating the hiringon-line, the fact is, it could take MONTHS to
market, Indeed more than 90% or companies runreplace your job. What are you going to do in the
background checks, and the number is constantlyinterim?
going higher.