Failed Background Check After Job Offer:
What’s Next?

Background checks are stressful; there’s no doubt about it. But nothing compares to the stress of failing one of these reports for a reason that you may or may not know, especially after receiving a job offer. It’s important to understand why you might fail a background check and what your next steps are if you want to stay informed of your history and your next steps.

Below, our article will give you a rundown of important background check information and your next steps after failing one of these reports.

Reasons You Might Fail a Background Check

There are a few reasons why you might fail a background check report; we’ve listed the most common ones below to give you an idea of what’s stopping you from passing one of these checks with flying colors.

You Have a Criminal Record

Criminal records are typically the biggest red flag that employers look for on background check reports. Felonies, misdemeanors, driving-related offenses (such as DUIs), and, occasionally, civil record issues (like restraining orders) will all show up on your background check if you have earned them in the past.

Of course, different states have different reporting and disclosure rules when it comes to criminal and civil offenses, but you can be fairly certain that if you have had any of these on your record in the last seven years, your potential employer will see it.

Education or Employment History Doesn’t Match

When your background check report is pulled, potential employers will be reviewing your listed education and employment history and comparing it to what you listed on your resume.

If these records don’t match, or if you haven’t achieved certain qualifications and professional licensing as you have claimed, you are likely to raise questions and fail your background check report.

Your Identity Verification Failed

Oftentimes, a potential employer will collect your social security number from your job application and run a quick check on it. If the information returned doesn’t match the information that you filled in on the form (this includes address history and personal identity information), you have a high chance of failing the background check.

Your Background Check Report Is Incorrect

Occasionally, the information on your background check report is incorrect, and this can cause you to fail your employer’s verification. This typically happens when you’ve used multiple names in different areas, or when there is confusion about which records belong to you.

Misreporting can also land others’ history on your background check report. And while this doesn’t happen often, it can happen, so be sure to request a copy of your background check report to evaluate if you’ve failed the check and aren’t too sure why.

Figuring Out Your Next Steps

If you’ve failed your background check report after a job offer, you are probably wondering what your next steps should be. Review our guide below and determine what you should do next.

Speak to Your Potential Employer

Speaking with the person or people running your background check report can help give you clarity on why you failed the check and if there is anything you can do about it. Because states have different authorization, reporting, and disclosure rules when it comes to background check reports, they may or may not be allowed to discuss the specifics of why you failed.

Additionally, different employers have different tolerances for what constitutes a red flag. You can also get a sense of whether or not there is anything to be done after failing a background check report once you speak to those in charge of running it.

Double-Check Your Background Records

This step is especially important if you think that information has been reported incorrectly on your background report. You can utilize an online background check tool, such as the background check on Information.com, to run a search on your own personal history and review all aspects of your record. If you notice that something has been misreported or is incorrect, you can then take the time to fix it.

Correct Information on Your Report

As we mentioned above, checking your background report is essential to make sure you are informed of what a potential employer might see. You can work toward correcting the information on your report by contacting your state or city’s records office, town hall, and other public record-keeping agencies to update your personal history.

From there, you can speak with your potential employer again and show them proof of requested changes if they ask to see them.

Should I Speak to a Legal Professional?

If you believe that your employment rights have been violated or your employer has based their employment decision on a discriminatory reason after they pulled your background check report (there are laws governing what employers can do and the decisions they can make with the information they find), then you might want to contact a legal professional that specializes in employment law.

Keep in mind, however, that most states have ‘at-will’ employment laws, and that a legal professional will not be able to help you if you failed your background check for any reason that the employer decides goes against their company’s image or policies, or disqualifies you from the job you are applying for.

Legal action is only required due to instances of discrimination or the abuse of information on the part of your potential employer.

Can I Lose My Job Offer After Failing a Background Check?

Depending on state laws and whether or not your employment offer is contingent on passing a background check, you might lose your job offer after failing a background check. This is especially common if you have a criminal record and are applying for a sensitive job, such as one that works with security or vulnerable populations.

Again, if you believe that you incorrectly failed a background check due to misreporting, or you have questions about why you might have failed, you should be speaking to your potential employer and/or the individuals that ran your background check report.

Staying Informed of Your Record

Background check reports can be a sensitive subject, but they are an often-required part of any hiring process.

If you aren’t sure what your background check report will show, then you should be running a search to pull your own report and evaluating the information returned to you. This will help you stay informed and can reduce some of the anxiety of the background check process.