Mistakes on a background check are not a common occurance, but they can happen and just a little bit of knowledge can help you get a mistake corrected quickly and efficiently.

Probably the most common errors found on background checks come from employment verifications.  Maybe the dates worked were reported incorrectly or the job title wasn’t right.  Your best line of action, should this happen to you, is to contact your former employer’s Human Resources (or whoever it was that misreported the information) and ask them to correct their records. 

Did a criminal record show up that’s definitely not yours?  Many people believe that criminal records are looked up using a person’s social security number, but that’s actually not the case.  Courthouses will reference records using a name and date of birth.  That said, a criminal with just your name and date of birth could commit crimes and try to pass themselves off as you, leaving you in a world of hurt.

On the other hand, did you have a criminal record you were told (by your lawyer or the judge) was dismissed or expunged and it re-appeared on your background check?  Reputable background check companies don’t report dismissed cases as a matter of ethics and expunged cases shouldn’t even be found.

Whatever sort of mistake was returned on your background check, take comfort in knowing that the law is on your side.  An employer running a background check on you must have your written consent according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).  Furthermore, should the employer find information on your check which may prevent them from hiring you, they must give you written notice and a minimum of 5 working days to dispute the results.  You also have the right to know the name and contact information of the company who completed the check.  Once you file a dispute, the background check company is obligated to check it out and fix it whenever possible.  They must then prove that to you by sending you and your employer and updated background check. 

Of course, the best way to find out ahead of time if there are any mistakes or errors on your background check is by ordering one on yourself using IAmScreened.com.  The reports are simple to order, average 1 to 3 working days to complete and will give you the peace of mind that there are no errors on your background check (and even if there are, the staff at IAmScreened will work with you towards a resolution).

Don't disregard the little details when going on a job interview.

Your suit is pressed, you’ve rehearsed the interview with your roommate and you’ve got an answer for any question that might come your way. But wait; aren’t you forgetting some very important details?

When going to an interview, it’s important to know there are a few additional things to bring along that will not only help expedite the hiring process but will also make a very positive impression on the individual(s) who will be considering you for employment.

A COPY OF YOUR RESUME

Don’t assume the individual interviewing you will have a copy of the resume you sent to them. Always assume they won’t have it. Maybe their toner ran out, it was misplaced or the new HR intern destroyed it by accident. By having extra copies on hand you’ve already demonstrated yourself as a prepared individual ready for the unexpected.

A LIST OF PERSONAL REFERENCES

Most employers will want a list of personal and professional references from you. As with bringing a copy of your resume, having this ready for them indicates your willingness to be prepared as well as taking the initiative. Have this information ready to hand over right then and there will eliminate any associated snags and/or delays that come with having to get back to them a day or so later with the requested information.

A PEN AND NOTEPAD

Bring along a notepad and pen to jot down important information pertaining to the position you’re seeking as well as the answers to questions you field to the interviewer. Once again, you’ll come across as prepared, it gives the impression you truly value the opportunity by taking notes and you have good ammunition to review and use in the event of a follow up interview.

A BACKGROUND CHECK

Why not show some initiative by bringing along a completed background check on yourself?  You can easily purchase one from IAmScreened.com that can include criminal history as well as previous employment and educational experience.  IAmScreened.com will also generate a username and password for your potential employers to utilize to view your background check online and see for themselves how serious you are about employment with their company.

TRY NOT TO BRING

Although not a comprehensive list, the following are among the top three things you can bring along that can cause trouble during your interview. If you feel weird about something in your pocket, leave it on your kitchen table!

• Cell phones – they have a nasty habit of switching on without you even knowing it. Don’t let one ruin an otherwise good interview with a disastrously timed incoming call or text message.
• Loose change – All that change jingling and jangling in your pocket is just tacky. If it spills out of your pocket when you get up from a sitting position, you’ll feel and look like a goof picking it all up. Leave it in your car or at home in the piggy bank
• Gum – I list this because you’ll no doubt be chewing on some while you’re on your way to the interview or while you’re in the waiting room. Don’t meet your potential employer chewing away. It’s a kiss of death for first impressions.

As with all things in life, little details are what often make or break pivotal events. Just because something seems small or unnoticeable doesn’t mean it’s not vital or important. Keep an eye for the tiny detail and you’ll never lose sight of the big prize.

Exercise discretion and good judgment when posting personal information and images on your social networking account.

Social networking sites are a great way to keep in contact with friends, network and meet new people. This social phenomenon is now a permanent fixture of the internet and now more than ever, people are opening up their personal lives for the world to see. However, in addition to your friends and family, you could have a potential employer or supervisor who’s interested in your extracurricular activates as well!

One of the pitfalls of social networking sites such as Facebook is that employers are increasingly using them as apart of their background check process. The wrong type of photos and information posted online can communicate an erroneous image of an individual lifestyle thereby ruining the chances of an otherwise highly qualified individual from being hired. What could be worse than being in the home stretch for a start date at Company XYZ only to have a detailed rant against corporate life on your personal blog completely derail you?

Posting incriminating photos/stories/information, derogatory remarks about one’s company, bad mouthing the boss, etc… online is asking for trouble. Being painted as having a reckless lifestyle off the clock may worry your superiors who could be led to believe such behavior could spill over into the workplace and/or damage the company image. Naturally, what manager will stand around and wait for that to happen based upon preemptive intelligence like that?!?

Disciplinary actions, write ups and terminations have all resulted from people who called their jobs boring on Twitter, boasted of goofing on company time via Facebook and posting photos of wild partying on Myspace. Wise up folks! A couple comments from strangers telling you how cool you look passed out naked surrounded by empty bottles is not worth a termination letter handed to you by your boss on Monday.

Now don’t panic. You don’t need to start living your private life as if you were at work with your manager standing over your shoulder. Generally, if you have to stop and ask yourself if posting particular imagery, information or opinions would be damaging to your career, chances are it is and best kept to yourself and your close circle of friends. I usually ask myself “Is this something I’d want Grandma to see?”

Exercise discretion and good judgment when posting personal information and images on your social networking account. If anything, think of it as an online resume of who you are as a person. As with your professional resume, you want to share information that is going to give people a positive perception of you and not the opposite.

Remember, your resume is your ambassador to a potential employer!

Nothing holds truer to the old adage “a diamond in the rough” than a tight and polished resume. The current economic climate still has employers on their guard as far as opening business operations which means fewer available positions being offered. So when something opens up, lots of people are pouncing on the opportunity and it’s up to your resume to stand out from the rest. You need to be sure yours is the Ferrari weaving its way past the clunkers and into the driveway of the job it is you’re after.

The following tips can help insure you get a focused, informative and clean resume that will stand out amid the all too common stacks of applications and resumes that greet business owners the day after posting a want ad.

FORMAT

A simple format that allows the eyes of the reader to go right to the information they are looking for is essential. Employers often perform very quick initial scans of a resume looking for key pieces of info. If they find what they are looking for quickly and easily, it’ll be set aside for a more in depth look later.

CONTENT

Make sure the educational and employment experience you’re putting down is applicable to the job you’re applying to. You may have done a stellar job behind the check stand at the local market but how is that relevant for a graphic design position and vice versa? Employers want to see right off the bat if your skills and experience are a fit. They do not want to have to dig through a lot of unnecessary information.

ORDER

• Your personal contact information at the top.
• A very brief statement of purpose no longer than two sentences.
• A list of educational institutions attended.
• Your past employers including company name, position held, dates of employment and the essential duties performed.
• A brief summary of any special skills/knowledge/training pertinent to the position.

 REMEMBER

• Your letter size should be consistent. Between 10-12 is a good range for resumes.
• Always try and limit your resume to a single page.
• Don’t try and stand out by using goofy/exotic fonts! It’s never professional.
• When in doubt…KEEP THINGS SIMPLE.

Make sure to put aside the time to write a good resume that clearly communicates your desire for gainful employment backed by clear and concise employment/educational history. It’s not the easiest thing to compose and you may have to endure a bit of trial and error but don’t give up. Once you have a polished resume to hand out, you will notice a huge difference in the amount of call backs and interview opportunities that open up to you.

 Remember, your resume is your ambassador to a potential employer!