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Candidate Screening FAQ
1. What type of information is included in a background screening report?
Every employer has specific background screening requirements based on its industry and governing regulations, the types of positions it hires for, etc. Most employment background checks include a criminal record search to determine if the candidate has been convicted of a crime. Other common requirements include education and employment history, driving records, verification of professional licenses, and drug testing.
2. How long will it take to complete my background screening report?
Most U.S. employment background checks are completed within a week, but extenuating circumstances can cause delays. Court closures and unresponsiveness by past employers or academic institutions are common causes of delay.
3. Can I be hired if I have a criminal record?
Companies’ hiring criteria vary based on their industry, the position they’re hiring for, and their internal policies. Most employers will conduct an individual analysis before determining eligibility for employment.
4. How do I prepare for my background screening report?
Before a prospective employer or staffing agency begins the background screening process, you will be required to sign a Background Screening Authorization Consent form that gives the employer permission to initiate the background screening process. Every company has its own background screening criteria, but you’ll most likely be asked for your current address, date of birth, and Social Security number. Other information often requested is your driver’s license number, educational background (institutions attended, dates attended, degrees earned, etc.), and employment history (names of former employers, dates of employment, and starting and ending salaries).
5. What should I do if I can’t remember every detail about my past employment or education?
Provide as much accurate information as possible. We will compare the information provided with the information verified by the employer or academic institution.
6. Are employers required to share the results of my background screening report with me?
If any information found in your background check is considered in the hiring decision, the employer must provide you with written notice before making a final decision. This gives you a reasonable amount of time to dispute the findings (the time period depends on your state’s law). Your report includes this notice, as well as a federal and state summary of your rights. In some states, the employer is required to provide a copy of your background check if you request a copy.
7. Can the employer share the results of my background screening report with another employer?
No. The results of your background check cannot be shared with a third party unless you have expressly authorized this in writing. For example, this might occur if you’re being hired by a staffing agency on behalf of one of its clients.
8. Will an expunged record show up on my background screening report?
If an expunged record (a record officially sealed by a judge) is filed properly by the court clerk’s office, it should not be reported.
9. Will juvenile records show up on my background screening report?
No. We do not search juvenile courts for juvenile records.
10. Whom do I contact if I have questions about my background screening report?
You can contact our Client Care Support team at 1.844.998.1100
11. Will someone contact me if there’s an issue with my background screening report?
If additional information is required to complete your background screening report, either the employer or a SmartHRCheqs™ representative will contact you directly.
12. How do I dispute the results of my background screening report?
You can contact our Client Care Support team at 1.844.998.1100 or access the dispute resolution form here.
13. If someone else has been using my identity, what do I do?
If you believe you’re the victim of identity theft, you should contact the credit bureau(s) for information on how to place a fraud alert or file block on your consumer credit file. To place a security freeze on your SmartHRCheqs™ consumer files, see the previous question and answer. For U.S.-based candidates, additional information on identity fraud is available on the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft Data Clearinghouse Web site at www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
14. How do I request a free copy of my background screening report?
If SmartHRCheqs™ has prepared a consumer report or investigative consumer report in your name, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), you are entitled to a free copy of the completed background screening consumer report. To receive a free copy of your background screening consumer report, please contact our Client Care Support team at 1.844.998.1100.
15. Does SmartHRCheqs™ make the hiring decision based on the completed background screening report?
No, SmartHRCheqs™ is not responsible for making hiring decisions. The completed background screening report is provided to the employer to determine eligibility and making the hiring decision for employment.
16. What do I bring to a drug screening?
You should bring legal proof of identity, such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID, passport, military ID, or green card. You will also need to take the paper Chain of Custody form or the ePassport to the drug screening collection facility.
17. How long does it take to complete a drug screening?
Most drug screenings results are completed within two to three days; however, extenuating circumstances may cause delays.
18. How do you protect my privacy?
SmartHRCheqs™ respects the privacy of our online visitors, employees, clients, and clients’ employees and candidates. We aim to collect, use, disclose, and retain personal information in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. Full details of our privacy practices can be seen in our privacy statement.
19. What if I am or believe that I am a victim of identity theft?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you specific rights when you are, or believe that you are, the victim of identity theft. A brief summary of the rights designed to help you recover from identity theft can be found below. A summary of your rights to place a security freeze on your credit report can also be found below.
20. How do victims of human trafficking submit requests to SmartHRCheqs™ to block information from being reported?
For further information, see our page on “How to submit a request to block adverse items resulting from Human Trafficking.”
Definitions
1. What is the Fair Credit Reporting Act?
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that gives you the right to know what consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) have on file about you, and it outlines your right to dispute errors contained in your consumer file. It imposes tight restrictions on CRAs regarding the circumstances under which a consumer report may be obtained and disclosed. The FCRA gives you the right to receive a free copy of your consumer file if you are denied employment, credit, or housing or were the subject of any other adverse action as a result of information obtained from a consumer reporting agency. For additional information on the FCRA, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.ftc.gov.
2. What is the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act)?
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act) was enacted in 2003. It amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), a federal law that regulates, in part, who is permitted to access your consumer report information and how it can be used. The FACT Act entitles consumers to obtain one free copy of their consumer file from certain consumer reporting agencies during each twelve-month period.
3. What is a consumer report?
A consumer report as defined by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is any “written, oral, or other communication by a consumer reporting agency bearing on a consumer’s creditworthiness, credit standing[,] . . . general reputation, or character that is used or expected to be used in whole or in part for the purpose of establish a consumer’s eligibility for credit . . . or employment.” In short, a background check report is a consumer report. Under the FCRA, SmartHRCheqs™ is deemed a consumer reporting agency providing this consumer report, and people who are subjects of this report are called “consumers.” The FCRA’s aim is to protect people who are the subjects of these reports. This law gives you rights to obtain a copy of your report and, if necessary, time to identify and address report errors.
A consumer report may contain information from public record sources, creditors, and other data furnishers, which prospective employers as well as housing providers use to evaluate a candidate. A consumer report may also show whether a person has been sued, has filed for bankruptcy, or has a criminal or civil court record.
4. What is a “full file disclosure”?
A full file disclosure is a request made by a consumer to have all the information on an individual held by a consumer reporting agency delivered to the requesting consumer. SmartHRCheqs™ does not maintain a “consumer file” on anyone, but we may have information in the form of a consumer report or may have data in our databases that includes criminal and civil court record histories.
