Description: Recruiters have different ways of determining if an applicant is truly the best fit for the job. They even check public records such as your digital footprint and credit status.
So you’ve finally decided to apply for a job and face the challenging process to fully become part of the working population.
Aside from the dreaded interview phase, your recruiter will also conduct several checks to make sure that you are the right fit for the company. They might require you to submit certain documents to very your education.
Most of the checks your recruiter will do will be pretty obvious. They will look at criminal records, academic records and residential records. However, many applicants are unaware that their recruiters are looking at other records, more personal ones that might affect their application.
“Backdoor” reference checks
If you think you can control the reference check your recruiter will conduct by giving names of colleagues who will give positive feedback about you, think again. Recruiters and talent acquisition personnel conduct “backdoor” reference checks. They use their own networks to find someone who knows you (it may be a former classmate in the university or a former professor) to get an unbiased opinion.
What to do: Checks using backdoor reference are neither unethical nor unfair. Just be open to your recruiter during your interview if they ask you about disagreements with former colleagues. Tell them how you addressed the situation and how it went.
If you get rejected, ask your recruiter why you didn’t get the job. Learn from the experience and move on.
Your online footprint
According to a CareerBuilder survey, about 70% of employers use social media to review potential employees and about 43% use social media to check on current employees.
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and all your other social media accounts are open for investigation. Recruiters will search the Internet for your digital footprint, checking if you have a blog or a website that they can look into. They might also check what online groups you are a part of or the kinds of profile you follow on social media. This will give them a hint of your personality that goes beyond your resume.
What to do: Clean up your social media accounts prior to applying. If there is anything that you do not want your potential employers to see — a rant, a post or a declaration of political stand — you can hide them by setting them in private or just delete them.
Credit check
Several recruiters also look at the credit status of potential employees as well as verification of education and previous employment. This process remains relevant to a lot of companies especially if the position you are applying for requires you to be able to manage finances effectively. Potential employers might think twice in hiring an applicant that has a lot of debt because they might think that they are irresponsible when handling money.
What to do: Have a look at your credit report. If you see any incorrect or inaccurate information about your status, report it to credit bureaus right away so they can correct or omit it. If you have a lot of debt, tell them your story and assure them that you are doing your best to pay your debts. Employers like individuals who take responsibility for their actions.
No matter what kinds of checks your recruiter conducts, just relax and let the process run its full course. Keep in mind that your recruiter is not trying to deliberately make you fail. They are just making sure that you will be the best fit for the company and the position you are applying for.
