Give Yourself a Background Check

Before starting your job search, it is a good idea to complete a background check on yourself ahead of any employers. You should find out if there are any potential problems that you will need to fix before an employer does a search on you. Things to look into are your credit report, academic records, driving abstract, social networking sites, and even Google searches of your name. You want to find out if there are any major gaps, or areas of concern, that an employer might uncover when considering your application.

Although not every employer will conduct a thorough background check on you, it's always a good idea to know your standing on these important records and to be fully prepared. When it comes to the internet, it is a good idea to find out what information is available about you whether you are job searching or not. Do a Google search on yourself, inputting your full name as it appears on your resume. Look for any results that appear that you should be concerned about. Along the same lines, make sure that your profiles on social networking sites are locked to only reveal certain information to the public. Sites such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, etc, allow you to keep certain private information protected. This includes information such as contact details, marital status, and any revealing personal information that could potentially ruin an employer's opinion of you.

Next, double check your professional history. Your resume is your first impression with a potential employer, so you want to make sure that all the information displayed on it is accurate. Even if you make a small error or omission by mistake, an employer could think you have made more throughout your documents and, therefore, could discount your entire application. That is why it is so important to ensure all your information is accurate and that you have all the necessary paperwork to back up your licenses and education. Call the schools you have attended and graduated from to obtain official transcripts and look at your certificates and diplomas to ensure the information displayed on your resume is accurate. It is also a good idea to have all this information within reach in case you are required to show them to an employer.

Lastly, make sure that your references have all been contacted and verified before using them. Double check their contact details, and make sure you have permission to use them in your job search. If you work within certain industries, you may be required to undergo additional checks such as credit and criminal record checks. If this is the case, look into these as well, and try to fix any potential problems.

You don't want to be offered your dream job only to lose it because of a bad background check. Do your best to prevent this from happening by doing a background check on yourself and fixing anything that can be fixed ahead of time. This is an essential part of preparing yourself for a successful job hunt and ensures that there will be no surprises for you or an employer when they conduct a background check.