What shows up on a background check?

The honest answer is: it depends on what type of background check your employer ordered. There's no standard "background check" that everyone gets—each one is customized based on the job requirements, industry regulations, and employer preferences. Let's break down what typically appears and what doesn't.

Core Components of Most Background Checks

Identity Verification Every legitimate background check starts here:

• Social Security Number verification (confirms it was issued to you)
• Address history for the past 7-10 years
• Name variations you've used (maiden names, nicknames, etc.)
• Date of birth confirmation

This isn't about judging you—it's about making sure we're checking the right person's records. You'd be surprised how many "John Smiths" exist in the world.

Criminal History This is what most people worry about, but it's more nuanced than you might think:

What Shows Up:

• Felony convictions from courts where you've lived
• Misdemeanor convictions relevant to the job
• Pending criminal cases (in some jurisdictions)
• Sex offender registry listings (if applicable)

What Usually Doesn't:

• Arrests without convictions (legally restricted in many cases)
• Sealed or expunged records (protected by law)
• Juvenile records (generally sealed)
• Traffic tickets (unless specifically requested for driving positions)
• Very old misdemeanors (some states have time limits)

Employment History Verification Employers want to know if you actually worked where you said you did:

• Dates of employment (start and end dates)
• Job titles you held
• Reason for leaving (sometimes)
• Eligibility for rehire (often just yes/no)
• Salary information (rarely, and often prohibited by law)

Education Verification For positions requiring specific education:

• Degrees earned and graduation dates
• School attendance confirmation
• Professional certifications and licenses
• Continuing education credits (for licensed professionals)

Job-Specific Additions

Financial Positions May Include:

• Credit reports (for roles with financial responsibilities)
• Bankruptcy history
• Liens and judgments
• FINRA BrokerCheck (for financial advisors)

Driving Positions Include:

• Motor vehicle records from all states where you've been licensed
• DUI/DWI history
• License suspensions or revocations
• Traffic violation patterns

Healthcare Positions Often Add:

• Professional license verification in all states
• Sanctions database searches (OIG, NPDB)
• Malpractice history
• Drug testing results

Government/Security Positions:

• Federal criminal database searches
• Terrorist watch list screening
• Foreign contact verification
• Financial investigation for security clearances

What Background Checks DON'T Include

Medical Information:

• Health records or medical history
• Disability status
• Therapy or counseling records
• Prescription medication information
• Workers' compensation claims

Personal Financial Details (unless job-related):

• Bank account balances
• Investment portfolios
• Personal spending habits
• Family financial information

Private Communications:

• Email content (unless from work accounts in specific circumstances)
• Text messages or phone calls
• Social media private messages
• Personal conversations

Family Information:

• Spouse's background (unless both applying for positions)
• Children's information
• Family members' criminal history
• Domestic relationships

Social Media and Online Presence

Standard Background Checks Usually Don't Include:

• Personal social media profiles
• Online dating profiles
• Private posts or photos
• Internet search history

When Social Media IS Checked:

• Specific cyber investigation services (must be separately authorized)
• Public safety positions
• High-security roles
• Executive-level positions (sometimes)

What Employers Can See:

• Only publicly available information
• Professional networking profiles (LinkedIn)
• News articles or public records mentioning you
• Court records that are publicly accessible online

Time Limitations on Information

Seven-Year Rule: Under federal law, most negative information can only be reported for seven years:

• Most criminal convictions
• Civil lawsuits and judgments
• Tax liens (once paid)
• Accounts sent to collection

Ten-Year Rule:

• Bankruptcy information
• Some professional licensing issues

No Time Limit:

• Criminal convictions for positions paying over $75,000 annually
• Sex offender registry information
• Positions requiring government security clearance

State Variations: Some states have stricter time limits or broader protections, especially:

• California (limits on older convictions)
• New York (Clean Slate Act protections)
• "Ban the box" states (delayed criminal history inquiries)

Industry-Specific Database Searches

Healthcare:

• National Practitioner Data Bank
• Office of Inspector General exclusion lists
• State licensing board sanctions
• Medicare/Medicaid fraud databases

Financial Services:

• FINRA BrokerCheck
• FDIC enforcement actions
• Federal Reserve sanctions
• NCUA exclusion lists

Transportation:

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records
• Department of Transportation violation databases
• Commercial driver license information systems

Education:

• Child abuse registries
• Teacher certification databases
• Background check clearances specific to working with minors

International Components

For International Candidates:

• Criminal records from countries of citizenship
• Education verification from foreign institutions
• Employment verification from international employers
• Immigration status verification

Limitations of International Searches:

• Not all countries cooperate with background check requests
• Language barriers may require translation
• Different legal systems and record-keeping practices
• Significantly longer processing times

What You Can Do to Prepare

Know What to Expect:

• Ask your employer what specific checks they're running
• Understand which components are relevant to your position
• Be prepared to explain any issues that might appear

Gather Documentation:

• Employment records and contact information
• Education transcripts and certificates
• Court documents for any criminal history
• Professional licenses and certifications

Be Honest Upfront:

• Address potential issues before they're discovered
• Provide context for any concerning information
• Don't try to hide information that will likely be found

Red Flags: Information That Shouldn't Appear

Contact Us If Your Background Check Shows:

• Information belonging to someone else with a similar name
• Arrests or convictions from places you've never lived
• Employment at companies where you never worked
• Education from schools you never attended
• Sealed or expunged records that should be protected

Illegal Information:

• Medical records or disability status
• Information about protected characteristics (race, religion, etc.)
• Sealed juvenile records
• Information obtained without proper consent

The Bottom Line

Background checks are designed to verify the information you've provided and ensure you're qualified and safe for the specific position. They're not fishing expeditions looking for reasons to reject you—they're verification tools that help employers make informed decisions.

Key Points:

• Different jobs require different types of background checks
• Most checks focus on job-relevant information
• You have legal protections against inappropriate information
• Being prepared and honest is your best strategy

Remember: The goal isn't to find perfect candidates with no history—it's to find honest candidates whose background is appropriate for the specific role they're seeking.

Questions about what might appear on your specific background check? Your employer's HR team can tell you what components they've requested, or you can call us at (518) 271-7546 for general questions about the process.