background check
Pre-employment security screening
A background check is an investigation into someone's history—criminal records, employment, education, credit, or other personal information.
Employers conduct background checks before hiring; landlords run them on prospective tenants.
The job offer is contingent on passing a background check.
Gun purchases in the U.S. require federal background checks.
Log of past convictions
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- arrest recordDocumentation of criminal detentions
- convictionFirmly held belief
court records · sex offender registry · warrant · expungement · sealed records · charges · sentencing · parole
Confirming someone's claimed self
- employment historyLog of past positions
- professional certificationEarned competency credential
- transcriptVerbatim written account
- diploma millFraudulent credential seller
Before starting work
- hiringGiving someone work
- applicantOne who formally requests
- candidatePerson seeking selection
- job offerFormal employment invitation
onboarding · HR · recruitment · resume · references · work history · qualifications · credentials
Permitted passage or approval
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
- top secretHighest classification level
confidential · sensitive · government · defense · contractor · national security · vetting · investigation
Voluntary agreement given
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- authorizationFormal permission granted
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- accuracyDegree of correctness
EEOC · fair hiring · liability · audit · regulatory · legal requirements
Record of borrowing behavior
- credit scoreNumerical measure of borrower reliability
- financial historyPast monetary transactions documented
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
- debtMoney owed another
collections · payment history · creditworthiness · financial responsibility · liens · judgments · foreclosure · credit bureau
criminal record
Log of past convictions
- felonySerious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- arrest recordDocumentation of criminal detentions
conviction · court records · sex offender registry · warrant · expungement · sealed records · charges · sentencing · parole · probation
identity verification
Confirming someone's claimed self
- employment historyLog of past positions
- professional certificationEarned competency credential
- transcriptVerbatim written account
pre-employment
Before starting work
job offer · onboarding · HR · recruitment · resume · references · work history · qualifications · credentials · interview
clearance
Permitted passage or approval
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
top secret · confidential · sensitive · government · defense · contractor · national security · vetting · investigation · adjudication
consent
Voluntary agreement given
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- authorizationFormal permission granted
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
accuracy · EEOC · fair hiring · liability · audit · regulatory · legal requirements
credit report
Record of borrowing behavior
- credit scoreNumerical measure of borrower reliability
- financial historyPast monetary transactions documented
- bankruptcyLegal status when insolvent
debt · collections · payment history · creditworthiness · financial responsibility · liens · judgments · foreclosure · credit bureau · Equifax
- employmentjob, jobs, career, careers, interview
- hiringhiring, job, interview, resume, application
- security checksmetal detector, body scan, pat down, screening, passport control
- screeningshealth screening, drug test, cancer screening, prenatal screening, genetic screening
- gun lawsgun control, gun rights, gun laws, gun safety, gun permits
- hiring criteriaqualifications, requirements, eligibility, experience, skills
background checkblind trust
Complete unquestioning confidence
gut feeling · no questions asked · honor system · rubber stamp · snap judgment
background checkprobationary period
Temporary assessment phase for newcomers
performance review · surveillance · real-time tracking · trial period · live audition
background checkpresumption of innocence
Default legal blamelessness
benefit of the doubt · open arms · no strings attached · blanket amnesty
check, background, checked, checking, checks, backdrop, checker, checkpoint, double-check