If you’re curious about the ins and outs of background checks, you’re not alone.
As employers, landlords, and even schools look to the past to vet candidates, the process protects both parties—but there are some nuances that you need to be aware of, too.
So, what’s involved in a background check? And how far back do they typically go?
This article will discuss what you can expect from a background check and provide tips for ensuring yours is conducted effectively.
We’ll also dive into how far back these checks usually search and what might keep them from going even further.
Ready? Let’s get started on decoding background checks!
What is a Background Check?
If you’ve ever applied for a job, you may have had a background check done by the prospective employer.
So what exactly is a background check? Essentially, it’s an investigation into an applicant’s criminal and credit history and other publicly available information.
Background checks can happen at different stages of the application process. Some employers might want to start with the basics.
They may confirm your identity and check your work experience. Others might require a more detailed screening before hiring.
The depth of each background check will vary depending on the employer and position you are applying for.
Although, most go back at least seven years into your criminal and credit history.
After that, you may be asked to provide other types of information, such as driving records or references.
Depending on the position, employers may also require drug testing or even use social media as part of their background checks.
No matter what type of background check is run, it’s essential to understand why employers are doing them:
To ensure they hire qualified and trustworthy candidates who represent their business correctly.
How Far Back Do Background Checks Go?
If you’ve ever been asked to provide a background check for employment or other purposes, you may have wondered – how far back these checks go.
The answer is that it depends on the type of background check being conducted and the specific details of your criminal record.
Criminal background checks for employment can generally go back seven years, although some states allow employers to access records that go back longer.
In addition, certain types of offenses, such as sexual misconduct or violent crimes, may remain on a person’s record forever.
Also, they are accessible through a more comprehensive criminal background check.
The key is understanding the background checks available and how they might affect you.
For example, many employers conduct a standard criminal background check which looks at only recorded arrests and convictions.
Other employers might include credit history when conducting a background check or use more detailed searches beyond criminal records.
Each search type has regulations and can reveal different information about an individual’s past.
What Details Are Checked During Background Checks?
You want to know what details are checked regarding background checks. After all, it’s essential to understand what goes into the process.
Generally, a quality background check will check for the following:
1. Criminal Record
A criminal record search might check state records where the person has lived or worked in the past 7 to 10 years.
This includes any criminal charges, convictions, arrests, and incarcerations. It may also include any traffic violations or misdemeanors.
2. Education History
The background check may include verifying someone’s educational history—including any schools attended, degrees obtained, and relevant certifications or licenses.
3. Employment History
The background check might also include verifying someone’s employment history—including previous employers, job title and salary information, dates of employment, and positions held.
In addition to these critical areas, a more comprehensive background check may include credit score information, social security number validation, and medical records checks (if applicable).
As you can see from this list of details that get checked during a comprehensive background search, it’s no wonder why employers take the time to run them!
How Far Does a Background Check Look Back?
The answer to “how far back do they go” isn’t so cut and dry for background checks.
hat’s because different types of background checks look for different types of information.
1. Criminal History
Criminal history is probably the most common type of background check, and this one looks at your record over the past seven years. That said, some states have laws that limit the data period to five or six years.
Note that even if something happened more than seven years ago, it’s still possible for an employer to find out about it if the role requires a security clearance.
2. Credit History
Credit report checks can cover a longer period—up to ten years—because they look at bankruptcies, court judgments, and liens.
Other factors included in a credit check are your payment history, account balances, and when you opened credit accounts.
3. Employment History
Employment history verification typically looks further back than criminal or credit checks, often up to 15 years.
This kind of check is designed to verify where you were employed in the past and for how long; it may also include details about promotions and job titles.
So ultimately, how far back do background checks go? It depends on what type of information employers seek.
Most background checks generally look at information from the last seven to fifteen years.
States With Varying Laws on How Far Back Background Checks Go
When it comes to background checks, you should know the laws surrounding the process.
Each state has laws regarding how long employers can return to an applicant’s background history.
For example, states like New Jersey and California limit employers to going back only seven years for most offenses.
The employer can go further if the job requires a background check that looks further back due to their licensing requirements or other regulation.
On the other hand, Texas and many other states have no regulation on how far back employers can go in an applicant’s history.
This means employers can view your criminal record, regardless of when or where it occurred.
It’s important to remember that certain crimes like murder or child molestation never disappear from a criminal record.
So it is vital to know the differences between state laws and understand how far back a potential employer may reach when conducting a background check on you.
Are There Exceptions to the 7-Year Rule?
One thing you may need to learn about the 7-year rule is that there are some exceptions.
For example, many states allow employers to go back further in their searches when looking for criminal convictions.
Some states have laws that permit employers to look back more than seven years when searching for convictions resulting in a jail sentence of more than a year or any serious crime. In other states, it’s up to the employer’s discretion.
In some cases, an employer may even be able to require a job applicant to disclose criminal records older than seven years.
This can happen when applying for jobs like law enforcement and working with children.
So while the 7-year rule is a good starting point for understanding how far back background checks can go, there is no hard-and-fast rule regarding exceptions.
It all depends on what state you’re in and the type of job you’re applying for.
Tips for Handling Your Background Check Results
When you receive the background check results, you must know how to interpret them. Luckily, we have some tips here that can help.
First, it’s important to remember that background checks give employers a snapshot of your criminal history.
That means they will only go back so far—typically seven years or less, depending on the state where you live and the type of background check conducted.
It also means that your record can improve over time, so if something flags in your background report, there’s a chance you could get clear it up depending on your circumstances.
Here are some other tips for understanding and handling your background check results:
Check the report’s accuracy
Ensure all names are spelled correctly and that information is current.
2. Ask questions
Ask questions about anything that might need to be corrected or completed in the report.
Also, request an explanation of any results or entries found in your report from the source who provided it.
Ensure your concerns are addressed before agreeing to move forward with employment opportunities or other activities associated with your background check results.
3. Be Informed
Understand what employers can look for when conducting a background check.
Criminal convictions, driving records, credit histories, and employment verifications are all common areas employers may check, depending on the type of job you are applying for.
By following these simple tips, you can better understand and interpret your background check results to ensure they accurately reflect who you are.
Conclusion
Background checks can go as far back as seven or more years, depending on the type of background check and the regulations in place for the employer.
Employers must comply with the law and can only use the most relevant information when making their hiring decisions.
Hence, employers have restrictions to collecting only information relative to the position in question.
So if you’re asked to take a background check, remember that it’s not an excuse for employers to dig into your past.
Don’t be caught off guard, and ensure you know your rights.