What Employer Look For:

Most if not all employers hire independent firms to perform background checks on candidates for employment, including verification of education.

Be honest about your educational credentials. If you do not have a diploma, you do not have a degree. Fudging of degrees happens so frequently, some companies now ask for a copy of your diploma in the beginning of the hiring process.

Account for all of your jobs on your resume. Background checks include research into what companies paid social security taxes for you and what dates you worked over decades.

Be prepared to document statements of accomplishments. If you can’t document it, don’t write it on your resume.

References mean business references: ex-managers, customers, peers. Have daytime phone numbers if possible. Having a Senator as a reference is no good if an employer can’t reach him/her in a day or two. Do not include your relatives.

The Interview:

Know what you earned last year. If asked, be accurate and up front. Don’t fudge the numbers. Occasionally, companies ask for a copy of a pay stub.

Motivation to change jobs must include reasons other than money. Leave one place just for money, you’ll leave again for a better offer. Loyalty, integrity and commitment become questionable. Saying you don’t make enough in your current job could be construed that you’re not very good – otherwise, you would be earning more money.

Never consider a counter offer. They seldom, if ever work out. You may have a job, but not a career with that company.

More On Background Checks:

These days, most companies perform a background check as apart of the hiring process. Here is what a background check may include:

CREDIT REPORTS: Some companies check credit, others do not. If they do, your credit report will probably pass if:

1. It has less than 30%of “trade accounts” in negative or collection status.
2. It will not have any tax liens that are not satisfied.
3. It does not show child support payment in collections.
4. It is free of home foreclosure or asset repossession.

The highest level of Education listed on your resume will be verified, and all other formal education may be verified.

Your employment will be verified and employment dates on your resume should be accurate and any salary listed on the application should be accurate.

All licenses and professional certifications may be investigated.

Criminal history, based upon where you have lived will probably be investigated (state, county, federal). Any criminal violations must be listed on the employment application.

 

Some Resume Tips:

1. Before sending your resume anywhere, check it for misspelling, punctuation, missing words and grammar.

2. If your career warrants more than a one page resume, it's o.k. Create a document that is longer than one page. Do not reduce the size of type to a degree that your resume becomes difficult to read.

3. Do not "fudge" over dates or titles to hide the fact that you have been unemployed, switched jobs frequently, or held lower level positions. If a prospective employer's background check discovers you have lied, you can kiss the job goodbye.

Adapted from : “Attention Hiring Managers” by Russ Reindeau, The Fordyce Letter, 2005

Other good advice:

Prior to the interview, it is a good idea to visit the company’s website, often you will find helpful information on the company that may come up in the interview.