background checks
Hiring due diligence
Background checks are investigations into a person's history—criminal records, employment, credit, education—typically conducted before hiring, renting, or selling firearms.
Employers run background checks on job candidates; landlords run them on prospective tenants.
The term often appears in debates over gun control: universal background checks, background check loopholes.
To pass a background check is to have nothing disqualifying turn up.
Before starting work
- hiring processSelecting candidates for jobs
- job applicationFormal request for employment
- candidatePerson seeking selection
- applicantOne who formally requests
recruitment · onboarding · HR policies · work history · references · resume · qualifications · credentials
Log of past convictions
- credit scoreNumerical measure of borrower reliability
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
- databaseOrganized digital information collection
- identity verificationConfirming someone's claimed self
driving record · sex offender registry · drug testing · court records · felony · misdemeanor · expungement · sealed records
Request for information
- probeThorough examination or tool
- vettingEvaluating suitability through investigation
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- auditFormal accounts examination
fact-finding · review · scrutiny · research · analysis · due diligence · deep dive · red flag
Worthy of confidence
- reliableConsistently performing as expected
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
- reputationCollective opinion of someone
dependable · character · fitness · suitability · risk assessment · clearance · clean record · good standing
pre-employment
Before starting work
- hiring processSelecting candidates for jobs
- job applicationFormal request for employment
- candidatePerson seeking selection
applicant · recruitment · onboarding · HR policies · work history · references · resume · qualifications · credentials · professional license
criminal record
Log of past convictions
- credit scoreNumerical measure of borrower reliability
- fingerprintingRecording unique digit patterns
- databaseOrganized digital information collection
identity verification · driving record · sex offender registry · drug testing · court records · felony · misdemeanor · expungement · sealed records · adjudication
inquiry
Request for information
- probeThorough examination or tool
- vettingEvaluating suitability through investigation
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
audit · fact-finding · review · scrutiny · research · analysis · due diligence · deep dive · red flag · discrepancy
trustworthy
Worthy of confidence
- reliableConsistently performing as expected
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
reputation · dependable · character · fitness · suitability · risk assessment · clearance · clean record · good standing · vouching
- employmentjob, jobs, career, careers, interview
- police workpatrol, arrests, arrest, stings, investigation
- hiringhiring, job, interview, resume, application
- job huntingresumes, cover letters, CV, curriculum vitae, references
- screeninghealth screening, cancer screening, security screening, employee screening, drug testing
- criminal recordscriminal records, arrest records, criminal history, criminal histories, rap sheet
background checksblind trust
Complete unquestioning confidence
blind hiring · no questions asked · blind faith · rubber stamping · taking at face value
background checksblind trust
Complete unquestioning confidence
blind faith · presumption of innocence · benefit of the doubt
background checksopen access
Free public scholarly content
open door policy · universal access · free entry · free passage · amnesty