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What To Look for in a Background Check

There are many reasons why you might need to conduct a background check. Maybe you are hiring a new employee and want to be sure they don’t have a criminal record. Or maybe you are considering getting involved with a new romantic partner and want to know if they have a history of domestic violence. For this reason, conducting a background check using a site like Go Look Up can be useful.

When it comes to your safety, you can never be too careful. That’s why, if you’re looking into someone’s background, you need to know what to look for. Keep reading to find out what you should look for in background checks.

Criminal Records

One of the most important things to research in a background check is the individual’s criminal history. The type of criminal history you are looking for can vary depending on the purpose of the background check. For example, if you are looking to hire someone for a job, you may only need to know about a person’s felony convictions. However, if you are looking to date someone, you may want to know about all of their criminal history, including misdemeanors and arrest records.

The jurisdiction where the crime was committed is also important. For example, if you are looking for a person’s criminal history in the United States, you would need to look at the jurisdiction where the crime was committed, not where the person lives now. You also need to consider the time period, as crimes committed in the past ten years may make a person more dangerous than someone who committed just one crime over 30 years ago.

Employment History

Employment history
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Employers may have different policies on what is acceptable when looking for employment history in a background check. Most employers want to know if a job candidate has a steady work history and is not someone who frequently changes jobs. It can also provide insight into an applicant’s work ethic and skills. If there are gaps in an applicant’s work history, they may want to look into that and ask the applicant questions to clarify them.

Generally, when conducting a background check on a candidate, an employer will likely look at:

  •  the length of time they’ve been employed, 
  • the types of jobs they have held, their job stability, 
  • the types of employers they have worked for, and 
  • the skills and experience they have gained from their work history.

Education History

The history of education is often included in background checks for employment and other purposes. This is because an individual’s education can be a good indicator of their character and capabilities. There are a few key things to look for when reviewing someone’s education history:

  1. Verify that the degree is from an accredited school.
  2. Check to ensure the degree is in the appropriate subject area.
  3. Verify the dates of attendance and degree conferral.

All of this information can be found on the school’s website. You can contact the school directly if you cannot find the information online.

Marital Status

marital status
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When conducting a background check on potential employees, many employers will inquire about personal information like the individual’s marital status. This is because marital status can predict how responsible and reliable an employee will be. For example, research has shown that employees who are married are more likely to show up for work on time, take less sick days, and be less likely to engage in misconduct on the job. This is likely because married employees have more to lose if they lose their job and are therefore more likely to be responsible and reliable employees.

Knowing the marital status of an individual may also be helpful if you are going on a date with someone you have just met. This information can let you know if they really are single or not.

Overall, a background check can reveal vital information about a person. Doing a background check can ensure that the person you are hiring or meeting is trustworthy.

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