One of the most common questions about background checks is if a background check can show that you were fired from a previous job. In today’s post, we provide an answer, along with other useful facts about background screening.
What You Need To Know
Will a background check show that you were fired? The answer is “Typically no, but it depends.”
What most people have in mind when they talk about a background check is a criminal check, which is indeed the most common type of background check.
Criminal checks don’t show terminations from previous jobs. Instead, they focus on information such as criminal convictions, arrests, and court records.
However, In addition to a criminal check, potential employers may decide to perform additional checks, such as employment verification.
But even in that case, many companies choose to limit their legal liability by providing only basic information, such as employment dates and the position held by their former employees.
What You Need To Keep in Mind
Let’s recap: while a criminal background check won’t show that you were fired, the fact may come up (at least in theory) if a potential employer decides to dig a little deeper into your employment history.
So far so good. But there’s also a third possibility you should plan for: an employer may simply ask you if you were fired from any previous job.
In that case, honesty is the best policy. Offer an objective explanation of why you were fired, and highlight the skills you bring to the table as well as the lessons you learned from the experience.
People are let go for many reasons, and employers know this. Plus, while a termination won’t always disqualify you for a job, dishonesty is the last trait any employer wants to see in a candidate.
Plexus Global: Ongoing Background Screening Services in California
Looking for a dependable background screening partner? Plexus Global is a background screening company located in Riverside, California, serving organizations all over the U.S. and abroad.
Contact us today by telephone (844-516-1008), email (sales@plexusglobalinc.com), or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.