When going on a job interview, you will likely have to go through an employment background check. During this process, prospective employees need to give their consent to have their records checked. They do so by signing a consent form, which is then sent to third-party companies that specialize in professional background checks. However, there are also checks that are informal and conducted by the general public. This is known more as a “people search”, which means that anyone can look up information about you. If you want to know what they can see, you should know how to perform this check on yourself.
What is a personal background check?
In the hiring process, or with tenant checks, employers and renters have to use professional services to find people’s data. However, this does not necessarily apply to the general public. People do not need to use professional companies to look up information on you.
They can perform a people search, AKA background check, to find data about you. This means that individuals can find information about you via public records databases and resources. Such records contain official data, so while they are “off the records”, they do come from official resources. When someone performs a background check on you, whether it if online or offline, this is the information they can find:
- Birth records
- Marriage records
- Arrest records
- Criminal records
- Mugshots
- Contact information
And more
It is completely legal to find these records, and that is why they are named “public records”. So, people can get access to your personal records, and you can do the same with them and with yourself.
Why should I perform a check on myself?
There are several reasons why it is important to perform a background check on yourself from time to time:
To make sure there are no inaccuracies: while public records are collected by official agencies in each state, there are cases where a mistake falls through the cracks. To make sure that there is no false information about you, you should perform a check on yourself.
To make sure that files that should not be public are not available to others: if you have a criminal record that should have been expunged or sealed, but is available via public records, you should know about it. An online background check will reveal which confidential files are made public. You can then contact the proper authorities to have your records removed from public databases.
How can I perform a background check on myself?
To view the records that people can find on you, you should use a public records search website. Backgroundcheck.co/ is a pro website that can give you access to public records within seconds. To find your personal records, you just need to type in your name, and the state in which you live. Backgroundcheck.co/ will then scan the records that are registered to your name, and will produce a report that you can download.
You can see which files should not be available and if there are mistakes in certain records. Just make sure that those are indeed the records that are connected to you. Many people share the same names, so make sure that the report you receive is YOURS and does not belong to someone who has the same name as you.