The most common type of employment-related background check is the pre-employment screening, which can be conducted at any point during the hiring process, but is most often completed for candidates who have received a contingent job offer. Some employers, however, choose to conduct ongoing background checks on current employees, but the reasons for doing so should be clearly communicated to employees through a policy and executed consistently and fairly. A wide range of searches can be completed during a basic screening, including federal criminal searches, one statewide criminal search, a Social Security number trace and a sex offender database check, but more comprehensive plans may include additional statewide searches, education and employment verification, motor vehicle record checks, credit history checks, and drug tests.
