Who are the People in Your Neighborhood... in Your Neighborhood... in... (never mind)

As a child, I was highly educated by that wonderful show called Sesame Street. And one of those songs that seem to have attached itself to my brain permanently is that song when the characters sing about the different people in their neighborhood. Of course, everybody was happy, productive, and kind - the perfect setting for a perfect neighborhood.

Now all grown up and wiser, I know that one's neighborhood is not as happy and kind as we all wish it to be. So do YOU know the people in your neighborhood? Who are they? What work do they do? Is anybody a convicted felon?

I say, why don't find out? A background search is easy to do and costs almost nothing compared to the peace of mind you will get.

Background Searches – What Information Do You Get?

Contrary to common belief, there's A LOT of information you can get from a background search. Apart from important data such as if the person has a criminal record (e.g., sex offenses, felonies, etc.), you can also learn if the person you are checking up on has been known to have any alias names, bankruptcy filings, tax liens, and arrests.

As regards non-criminal information, you can also find out if the person has ever been divorced, where he/she has been residing the past 20 years, his/her known or listed phone numbers, any work licenses he has obtained, even a list of relatives and their contact information can be provided!

Mind you, not all background check providers provide such detailed information so do shop around for the provider with the most extensive database to be sure you get your money's worth.

Want to find a list of the top providers in the field? Click here for a highly-informative review of the industry’s best online background check providers.

Background Checking a Potential Business Partner

Statistics show that more and more people want to work for themselves and establish their own business. And for most of these people, one of the things stopping them from pursuing this dream is 'lack of funds'. And now... in comes the 'business partner'.

Sometimes, we get so carried away by the prospect of finally fulfilling our dream of establishing a business that we forget to be THOROUGH. Not all business partners are what they seem to be. And no, it does NOT matter whether you 'know' this person for a long time already or not. There are countless stories out there speaking of how their 'business partner' had duped them out of their life savings.

Granted, there is no 100%, sure-fire way of looking into the real character and intentions of someone but there are tools that can give you a glimpse into them. Consider running a background check on your potential business partner. He/she should not be offended at all if you do this. After all, it's not personal, just business...

The Employer's Point of View

We all accept the fact that companies who hire run background checks almost on autopilot for appplicants. It's not really hard to understand why right?

The things is, people are now so adept at making their resumes 'shine' that reality is often blurred. I read an interview given by a top hiring consultant to Fortune 500 companies and he said that one resume claimed that the person had '5 years experience as a marketing consultant'. The guy turned out to be a second-hand car salesman. So was the claim totally wrong? Not really but it did distort the truth didn't it?

It does not matter if you are a Fortune 500 firm looking for top candidates or a home-based business owner looking for a reliable accountant to do your records every other week, the goal is the same - you want the best person for the job. And today, conducting background checks is one tool to ensure just that.

Background Checks - Nanny Screening

We all work hard so that we can have a bright future. More so if we have kids. As such, it is sometimes perplexing to note that most people will easily hire a nanny without much thought. In fact, many parents will grab the first nanny they can get their hands on just so they don't have to be confronted with the problems of not having a nanny (e.g., missing work, etc.)

But what about the problems of hiring a nanny blindly? Sadly, there are a lot of bad people out there who would just love to get inside your home to steal and plunder. Worse, you might be allowing people with criminal records (e.g., pedophiles, kidnappers, etc.) to have direct access to your kids!

At the very least, you owe it to yourself and your kids to conduct a background check on anyone you are considering to hire as a nanny even if it is just to ensure that he/she has indeed the credentials or qualifications of becoming one.

Background Checking your Spouse

Further to my previous blog, I mentioned that conducting a background check is really the responsible thing to do especially if you are placing someone in a position of trust. But what if you are tempted to check on someone who is already close to you?

Sadly, many husbands / wives / partners become victims of cheating spouses and a background check (into their past) may help you reveal if your spouse has a history of infidelity or at least have characteristics that point to a propensity for lying.

So do you really want to be the last to know? Or would you want to find out now if your spouse is cheating on you?

Background Checks - You THINK You Know Someone...

For a lot of people, conducting Background Checks is not really an option but a MUST.

Consider the company who intends to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to train someone in a financial management position only to find out later that said person has a record for embezzlement.
Consider the new neighbor who is the picture of perfect kindness only to see his/her face on America's Most Wanted.
Consider the nanny you are thinking of hiring for your child only to regret that decision, later...

A Background Check is not an invasion of privacy. It is your right to know about someone if you are putting that person in a position of trust. Furthermore, you have NOTHING to lose but all to gain so think about it.