Logo: A Matter of Fact Employment Background Checks
You Are Here > > Home > > Background Check FAQ > > What is an Employment Background Check?

What is an
Employment Background Check?


Application Verification

An Employment Background Check may be best described as an Application Verification. An Employment Background Check allows an employer to verify freely volunteered information provided by an applicant on a resume or job appliction. Independent sources such as criminal and civil court records, prior employers, educational institutions, and departments of motor vehicles are researched. The information obtained is compared to the information provided by the applicant.

Why do Employers Conduct Employment Background Checks

Employment Background Checks are most commonly conducted to uncover applicants who have lied about a criminal history or who have made exaggerated education and work history claims. Background Checks also help increase applicant quality, avoid workplace violence, protect against negligent hiring liability, reduce employee dishonesty losses, reduce turnover by making the right hire the first time, and improve profitability. For more information about why employers do background checks, see Why Do Background Checks?

What is Checked?

The most common searches requested are County Criminal Record Checks, Employment Verifications, Education Verifications, and Social Security Number Scans. Also common are Credit Reports, Driving Records (MVRs), Federal Criminal Record Checks, National Wants and Warrants, and Sex Offender Registry Checks. For more information about available searches, see What Can Be In A Background Check?

Return to Background Check FAQ.

Related Resources



Ready to Go?

Use our Start-Up Kit for a
step-by-step approach to
getting started

Account Setup is Free