The Internet Lets You Search on Others while They Search on You
Closed Published August 20th, 2010 in Business Opps, Hall Of Websters, Information Hub
Maybe not everyone is as misunderstood as Harry Potter’s friend (and godfather) Sirius Black, but several million Americans have criminal records. Just because someone did some time may not mean they will steal from your business, but when you want to make an informed hiring decision you probably turn to the Internet for help.
Criminal background checks and searches are becoming more commonplace but even HR professionals may not be aware of all the pitfalls entailed with such utilitarian activities. For example, how do you know that your John Smith from Louisville, KY is the same John Smith from Louisville who was convicted for a minor crime spree 10 years ago?
And if you do match up that applicant with a criminal history, how old is it? What has he done with his life since then? Are you checking for positive achievements and indications that someone who made youthful mistakes has turned his life around? You cannot answer every possible question, but you can hone your instincts and your judgement by learning how to put all the available pieces of the puzzle together.
As anyone who has read the background records blog at RecordsBackground.com should know by now, there are many ways of finding out who has done what on the Internet. Unfortunately, the next time you apply for a job, you may find yourself being matched up with someone else’s criminal background. If that day ever comes, knowing what prospective employers may find under your name on the Internet helps you prepare for the embarassing conversation.
You’re not responsible for what other people do, but many people who use the Internet to research prospective job applicants fail to take into consideration that they may be looking at faulty data. Look at the debacle that the credit reporting industry has become. Despite losing many lawsuits through the years, credit bureaus are still thought to be reporting as much as 40% inaccurate or outdated information, which affects the lending decisions that businesses make every day.
So, yes, you should be concerned about what you find when you search on that job applicant’s background. But don’t be so quick to move on to the next applicant. Make sure the data you have is up-to-date and really matched to the person. Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes may just prepare you for being in that awkward position yourself one day.
