How to Do a Background Check On Oneself

If you have any concerns about what may turn up during a background check, there are a number of things you can check yourself at no charge. It is usually best to know up front and in advance of any issues than to receive a call from the human resources department while unprepared.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Order a copy of your credit report or request a free credit check online. These typically take about 24 to 48 hours.
2. Request that the Department of Motor Vehicles provide you with your driving records. This is especially important if you are applying for a driving position, such as a mail or postal carrier, bus driver or delivery person.
3. Do a criminal record search by state. There are several free online services or services available at a nominal cost.
4. Call the people on your list of references, professional and personal, in advance. Ask them if they would provide you with a written reference. Written references are usually better because you know exactly what the person is saying about you.
5. Put your name into one of the popular search engines and review any returned results to be sure there is nothing incriminating online.
6. Know for sure what the results of a background check will be by hiring a screening firm to do the background check. The fee is usually from $30.00 to $50.00 depending on the type of information you want included in this check.