this post was submitted on 25 Jun 2024
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Do background checks to verify potential employees rely on profiles data brokers have compiled on them? Or do background checks rely on more direct means?

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[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Most big background check service companies are checking your criminal history directly with the court houses of where you've told them you've lived. Many will also verify your past employment directly with those companies as well. Depending on the company/job title they may also be checking your credit score/bankruptcy history or verifying degrees with universities as well. They don't care about what data brokers have on you because they're getting verification on things directly from official sources.

I don't know if you're worried that your too "locked down" privacy wise for a background check to clear? I wouldn't worry because if you're using your countries equivalent of a SSN and living "on the grid" but not online at all they'll still be able to get the info they need/want anyway. I've had employees who didn't even have emails or own phones/computers clear background.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I beg to differ. In my country (Europe) they can get almost nothing on their own (if I haven't volunteered it on social media). Public institutions, schools, banks, the police etc. do not release information to random people.

When we have the odd American client that insists on hiring a background check they come to me to give them paperwork that proves education, past employees and (lack of) criminal history. Then they start bitching that they can't get in-depth information about each of them and I tell them to fuck off.

I'm curious what exactly they're trying to get, maybe you can offer some insight. With the stuff I give them they are able to confirm that I really went to that school and worked at those places, should that not be enough?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 months ago

The background companies we go through here in the US aren't "random people" and you sign a release of that information for them when they start that background check. So you've given them permission to access that info on you. I don't know what HRs your dealing with but if it's random hiring managers asking you then they have no idea what's in a typical background check anyway.