Prospective Employers Probe More Than Ever

Keep your nose clean and guard your personal information. Those were two lessons delivered Thursday afternoon at the first of four discussions about “Cyber Security Awareness” at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The first session “Background Checks and Security Clearances” focused on the information sought by civilian employers and the government when people apply for jobs.

Judy Krezmer, operations and marketing manager for DePasquale Staffing Services, 454 Pine St., said employers have certain expectations of prospective employees and may seek background checks to find the right person for the job.

“The current emphasis on security and liability has made employers a lot more cautious about who they hire,” she said. “No matter what job you apply for, you are likely to go through some kind of check — criminal, background or credit.”

Some background checks are very extensive, with up to a 14-page process for screening potential employees, she said. Information such as work history for the previous 12 months, two forms of identification and asking the person if they are willing to submit to drug screenings are among the information that may be sought.

Some employers also run criminal background checks.

“If you do not consent to that (criminal background check), you won’t be considered for employment,” Krezmer said. “We verify Social Security numbers and education, too. Many people lie on their applications or they inflate their qualifications.”

She also said that since Sept. 11, 2001, security and clearance requests have reached a whole new level — even corporate directors and executives are subject to background screenings.

Background checks may extend to verification of personal acquaintances and driving records, as well as verifying character references listed on a resume. It may extend to information about prior drug testing.

A lot of background information can be gleaned by employers from a number of sources, some free of charge and others that charge a fee, from the state police to the Social Security Administration.

Criminal background checks may be requested by employers, showing convictions for offenses including driving unter the influence of alcohol or drugs. Staying out of trouble, Krezmer said, is wise.

Megan’s Law background checks for child or sexual abuse may be required by certain employers, as well as credit checks by financial employers looking at a potential hire.

“Before you consent to a credit background check, make sure you clean it up,” Krezmer advised.

“Make sure your bills are all paid up and you aren’t delinquent on any accounts.”

To that end, she said anyone can check on their own credit for free once per year by requesting a credit report on themselves from one of the major credit bureaus and then making sure the information in it is accurate. Any inaccuracies may be reported and revised.

Meanwhile, federal security clearances are more intensive, according to FBI field agent Bill Ebersole.

Ebersole said 40 percent of FBI employees are field agents like himself and the other 60 percent are professional staff. All have some type of security clearance to work at the federal agency.

“If you want to work for the federal government, you will need some form of clearance,” he said.

“It might be top secret clearance, or other levels of clearance. That also goes for Secret Service agents, CIA or other federal agencies.”

Even contractors that work closely with the federal agencies have to get security clearance, with a background check required.

Getting a security clearance involves allowing the government agency to scrutinize your background, including where you have traveled, who you have associated with, where you lived, where you worked, your character, your credit and past and present financial situation.

“Illegal or questionable activity can make it difficult to get clearance. Once you get that clearance, you also have to maintain it and go through a recheck every five years.”

Other information that applicants to the FBI and other federal agencies must be up front with include contact with people overseas, prior arrests and investigations that involved them, and any drug or alcohol abuse.

Grades in school, credit history, gaps in employment and other personal background will affect whether an applicant gets hired or turned down.

Reference: sungazette.com

(USPublicRecords.com)