When you’re applying for a job, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to go through a background check. For this reason, you need to know what the terminology means when your background check comes back. For example, the background check may say something along the lines of “eligible.”
So, what does eligible mean on a background check? In this article we take you through everything you need to know and a lot more. Read on to learn more below.
What Is a Background Check?
First things first, we have to determine what a background check is before we cover specific terminology that’s on them. A background check is a specific type of check that involves combing through someone’s public records. These checks are usually used for employment, and they help an employer determine if someone is a good fit for their business or organization.
Most checks focus on identity verification and criminal records, but some may focus more on driving records or credit history depending on the role. In fact, landlords may use credit checks as part of their background check process to ensure that a tenant can afford to live in their apartment.
What Does Eligible Mean on a Background Check?
When you’re done with the background check process, there’s a good chance that you’ll get to review the results. Also, if you’re a recruiter or an interviewer, it helps to know what the verbiage means if you’re working with a background check company. Whatever your motivation, understanding what “eligible” means on a background check is important.
So, what does it mean? In short, it means that someone is eligible for hiring. Essentially, the background check didn’t find anything that would prevent someone from getting the job. For example, if a job doesn’t let people who have a DUI work for them because of a driving requirement, if you don’t have one, the background check will say that you’re eligible.
Of course, this is only one example. Background checks may also ask for additional information or say something else.
How to Make Sure You’re Eligible Before You Apply
In most cases, you only get one shot when applying for a job. Therefore, we always recommend checking to ensure that you’re eligible for a specific role before you apply.
This involves checking over your education and work history, sure, but it also requires checking your public records. This is because many government agencies and companies use them to ensure they’re hiring quality employees. To make sure you’re eligible before you apply, we have a few tools you can leverage below.
Information.com
The best way to determine if you’re eligible for a position is to check your public records with a background check tool. Information.com has a simple background checker that makes the process a breeze. Simply enter your information into the tool and open the full report to begin.
Once inside the full report, you can see if there are any red flags that may prevent you from being hired by a specific company. You can also use the information you find to fix any problems or to seal something that shouldn’t be there otherwise.
Credit Check
Another great way to prepare for a job, especially if they say they require one, is to check your credit history. This includes your credit score, history of bankruptcies, and any additional public records that are associated with your credit history.
Of course, this isn’t something you need to do for every background check. However, if you’ll be a fiduciary or something similar, you’ll need to pass one. What’s more, if you plan on renting or applying for a loan, this is the most important aspect.
Social Media Check
Last but not least, it’s not a bad idea to see what your social media profiles look like. If you notice any red flags, you’ll have time to remove photos or clean up your profile before things get brought to a hiring manager’s attention.
You can also check Google for any websites or use Information.com to help you find old social media accounts you may have forgotten about.
What Does Eligible Mean on a Background Check? Our Final Words
So, what does eligible mean on a background check? At the end of the day, it’s the verbiage that most companies use to determine if you’re someone who’s approved to work at the company. While it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve got the job, it’s a sign that the company or agency won’t have any issues approving you for the role if it does get offered to you.
