What Shows Up on Your Employment Background Check?

If a job offer is on the line, it's worth knowing exactly what employers can see — and what they can't.

What employment background checks typically cover

In the U.S., an employer can generally only run a background check with your written consent — that's required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act whenever a third-party screening company is involved. Once you say yes, here's what those checks typically draw on:

• Identity verification — confirming your name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
• Employment history — past employers, job titles, and dates of employment. Some employers also confirm eligibility for rehire.
• Education verification — degrees earned, schools attended, and dates.
• Criminal records — county, state, and federal court records. What an employer may consider is limited by state law and the nature of the role.
• Driving records — usually only for jobs that involve driving.
• Credit history — only for certain financial or security-sensitive roles, and restricted or banned in a number of states.

A few honest caveats: there is no single database that holds “everything” about you, and background reports do sometimes contain errors or mix up people with similar names. What's included also varies by employer, state, and the position you're applying for. Knowing what's in your own records is the best way to avoid surprises.