An employer's verification of a candidate's history, such as past employment, education, credit or criminal records, before a hire.
A background check confirms what a candidate has stated and looks into their history before a hire. The US Federal Trade Commission lists what it may cover: employment history, education, criminal or other public records, financial or credit history and public social media activity.
In the United States, an employer using a background reporting company must, the FTC states, give you written notice in a standalone document and get your written permission; before deciding against you because of the report, it must give you a copy and a “Summary of Rights”. In the UK, the Information Commissioner’s Office states that criminal offence data, including the absence of convictions, may be processed only “under the control of official authority” or where “authorised by domestic law”. In Switzerland, only the person concerned can order a private extract from the criminal record, which they may have sent to an employer.
In job listings
As a condition, background checks sit among the qualifications, as in a jewelry sales role handling high-value pieces or a private aviation role needing airport security clearance. As a duty, they belong to recruitment roles, which oversee background and reference checks for new hires. See current recruitment roles.
