Why Did I Fail My Background Check?

Failing a background check can be a humiliating experience, in addition to affecting your livelihood by barring you from a specific position. Many people feel traumatized or hurt when this occurs, but discovering the truth about why you failed will often make you feel better. There can be many reasons why you may have failed a background check, and the best course of action you can take is to figure out what happened so that you don’t suffer the next time you apply for a job.

First, you must keep in mind that different companies employ different methods to do background checks on prospective employees. A large corporation is likely to complete a more intense background investigation than a smaller business. They may even use an outside firm to investigate your past. Meanwhile, a small business may not even do a background check at all. Based upon an examination of your past, you can probably be realistic about why you may have failed.

The first red flag that causes alarm for employers tends to be a felony of any kind. However, a felony may not totally disqualify you. If, however, the position that you applied for involves handling cash and you have been convicted of theft, chances are that this will pose a serious problem for you. Many companies will also view a dishonorable military discharge in the same unfavorable light, depending upon the circumstances.

Another reason people fail background checks is due to bad credit. Although some politicians are currently fighting to stop this from happening, the reality of the current situation is that companies can deny someone employment based upon their credit score. An applicant in this position will want to either take steps to repair their credit or look for a job that doesn’t require a credit check.

One extremely common reason for failing a background check is a disconnect between your application and what the evidence suggests. For instance, if you claim to have graduated college but were actually a few credits short, then your prospective employer will be made aware of this when they call your school. As petty as it may seem to some people, some companies truly do go in and check education credentials. Many of them also check in with former employers, so if you accidentally put down the wrong position title, you may find that your background check has failed.

For legal reasons, many companies will not tell you why you failed your background check. However, chances are that you can pinpoint the reason if you go back and look at your application. If a prospective employer is reasonable, you may be able to discuss your unique position with them. However, if they are not able to accept you as a result, you must move on and begin looking for employment elsewhere.