how-to
How to Conduct a Background Check on Yourself for Employment
Last Updated: October 22, 2026
Quick Summary
A background check on yourself involves requesting your criminal records from county and state courts, reviewing your credit report from the three major bureaus, verifying your employment and education history, and checking your driving record from your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. Running this check before applying for jobs lets you discover what employers will find, dispute errors in time, and prepare explanations for any legitimate issues.
- Criminal records searches should include county courts, your state's criminal records repository, and the FBI for federal charges.
- You are entitled to one free credit report per year from each of the three major bureaus via annualcreditreport.com.
- Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, employers must provide written notice and obtain your consent before running a background check.
- Common background check errors include identity mix-ups, outdated records, duplicate entries, and employment verification mistakes.
- You have 30 days to dispute credit report errors in writing with the credit bureau under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Table of Contents
- What Shows Up on a Background Check
- Why You Should Run a Background Check on Yourself Before Applying
- Step-by-Step: How to Conduct a Background Check on Yourself for Employment
- Background Check Errors and How to Dispute a Background Check
- Understanding Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Using a Third-Party Screening Provider vs. Requesting Records Directly
- Preparing for What Employers Will Find
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Shows Up on a Background Check
A background check is a report employers pull to verify your identity and review your history before hiring.
Most employment background checks focus on criminal history, searching county, state, and federal records for convictions. They may also include arrests that didn't result in convictions, depending on jurisdiction and employer requirements.
Employment and education verification are standard: employers confirm you worked where you claimed and attended the schools listed. Credit reports sometimes appear for financially responsible roles, and driving records for driving roles.
What employers see is NOT the same as what you see when you run a background check on yourself.
Why You Should Run a Background Check on Yourself Before Applying
Running a background check on yourself before you apply gives you control over the narrative.
Most applicants skip this step, assuming their record is clean or hoping nothing surfaces. Then an offer gets rescinded because the check revealed something unexpected, too late to explain or correct.
The stakes are real: an offer contingent on a clean check can evaporate in hours. Sealed or expunged records sometimes reappear, and name changes, identity mix-ups, and outdated information are common.
Coppins Law Group, PLLC recommends this proactive approach especially for clients with any prior legal involvement.
Step-by-Step: How to Conduct a Background Check on Yourself for Employment
Running a background check on yourself is straightforward. You don't need a screening company, request records directly from government agencies and review your own credit report. It takes time but costs little or nothing.
Step 1: Verify Your Identity and Personal Information
Start by confirming your personal details are correct everywhere. Employers use your name, date of birth, and Social Security number to run checks.
Request your credit report first. You're entitled to one free report per year from each of the three major bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, via annualcreditreport.com (Free Credit Reports).
Check that your address history is accurate. Background checks include addresses where you've lived, and a wrong address can cause records from that location to be misattributed to you.
Confirm your Social Security number is correct on all documents. A mismatched or incorrect SSN can cause records to be attributed to the wrong person, creating false hits.
Step 2: Check Your Criminal Record
Criminal records are the most serious item on an employment background check. Search your own history by contacting the courts and law enforcement agencies where you've lived.
Start with county courts. Most maintain searchable online databases of criminal cases.
Contact your state's criminal records repository, which maintains a centralized database of convictions. Some states offer online searches; others require a written request with your full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
Federal criminal records are less common but important if you've ever been charged federally.
Step 3: Review Your Credit Report
Your credit report contains financial history and payment behavior. Some employers, particularly in financial services or positions of trust, review it.
Request your free annual reports from annualcreditreport.com, all three at once or staggered through the year, and review each carefully for errors.
Look for unrecognized accounts, incorrect payment statuses, or fraud. Identity theft shows up as unauthorized accounts or inquiries; dispute any fraud immediately with the credit bureau.
Check your payment history. Late payments, collections, and charge-offs stay on your report for years. Understand what's there so you can explain it if an employer asks.
Step 4: Verify Your Employment and Education History
Employers verify employment dates and titles, and discrepancies are red flags. Contact previous employers and ask them to confirm your dates and title.
Education verification is standard. Contact the schools you attended and request verification of your degree or enrollment, so you know what each will confirm before an employer contacts them.
Be honest about employment gaps. If you were unemployed, caring for family, or dealing with legal issues, prepare a brief explanation. Employers understand that life happens, gaps are less concerning than unexplained discrepancies.
Step 5: Request Your Driving Record
If the job involves driving or requires a valid license, your driving record matters.
Your driving record shows traffic violations, accidents, suspensions, and DUI or OWI convictions. Some employers use it as a proxy for responsibility and judgment, so a clean record strengthens your candidacy for driving roles.
Check for errors. A ticket you paid off should show as resolved. A license suspension that ended should show as current. Outdated information on your driving record can hurt your employment prospects.
Background Check Errors and How to Dispute a Background Check
Errors on background checks are common, a similar name, a record from another jurisdiction, or outdated information can create false positives. If you find one, you have the right to dispute it.
Get Your Free Consultation Now →
Common Types of Background Check Errors
Identity mix-ups happen when your name resembles someone else's and their criminal record appears on your report, especially common with ethnic names or in large-population areas.
Outdated records are another frequent problem: decades-old arrests, dismissed charges, or sealed convictions may still appear, because some companies include information they shouldn't legally include.
Duplicate records occur when the same incident appears multiple times under slightly different names or dates.
Employment or education verification errors happen when former employers or schools provide incorrect information or screening companies misinterpret what they're told.
How to Dispute a Background Check
If you find an error, you have the right to dispute it. The process depends on whether the error is on your credit report, criminal record, or employer screening report.
For credit report errors, contact the credit bureau in writing. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the bureau must investigate your dispute within 30 days (Disputing Errors on Your Credit Reports).
For criminal record errors, contact the court or law enforcement agency that maintains the record. Request a correction in writing. Include documentation showing the record is inaccurate.
For employer screening report errors, contact the screening company. They must provide you with a copy of the report and tell you how to dispute it.
Keep copies of everything. Document the error, your dispute letter, supporting evidence, and all responses from agencies or companies.
Understanding Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is the federal law governing background checks and consumer reports.
Employers must provide written notice before running a background check and obtain your written consent.
You have the right to dispute any information in a background check report. The screening company must investigate and respond within a reasonable time frame.
Certain records are protected. Sealed and expunged records should not appear on background checks.
If an employer violates your FCRA rights, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which enforces FCRA compliance and investigates violations.
Using a Third-Party Screening Provider vs. Requesting Records Directly
You have two options when running a background check on yourself: hire a screening company or request records directly from government agencies. Each approach has trade-offs.
Third-party screening providers offer convenience: multiple reports in one package, with paperwork and follow-up handled.
Requesting records directly from government agencies takes more time, multiple agencies, separate requests, waiting for responses, but you get official records straight from the source, see exactly what's on file, pay less, and keep complete control.
For employment background checks, requesting records directly is often better. You'll know precisely what employers will find and can address issues before they become problems.
| Approach | Time Required | Cost | Accuracy | Control |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct requests | High | Low | Official records | Complete |
| Third-party provider | Low | Moderate | May vary | Limited |
Preparing for What Employers Will Find
Once you've completed your background check, prepare for what employers will discover.
Be honest about your past. Employers respect candor more than they fear old mistakes.
Gather documentation. If a conviction was sealed or expunged, bring the court order.
Practice your explanation. You may be asked directly about issues on your background check.
Understand what's disqualifying versus explainable. Some convictions or issues are deal-breakers for certain roles.
If you're facing serious background check issues, consult an attorney.
Running a background check on yourself is one of the smartest steps you can take before job hunting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I run a background check on myself for a job?
Start by requesting your records from each source separately: obtain your credit report from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) at annualcreditreport.com, request your criminal record from your county courthouse and state police, and ask your state's Department of Motor Vehicles for your driving record. You can also use a consumer reporting agency that specializes in employment screening to get a comprehensive background check on yourself. This approach lets you see what employers will discover before they run their own screening.
What shows up on an employment background check?
Employment background checks typically include criminal history, driving records, credit reports, employment verification, education verification, and professional licenses. Criminal records may show arrests, convictions, and sentences; however, some jurisdictions allow sealed or expunged records to be excluded. Driving records display traffic violations and accidents. Credit reports show payment history and outstanding debts. Employers may also verify previous job titles, dates of employment, and educational credentials with your former employers and schools.
How do I correct an error on my background check?
If you find an error, contact the consumer reporting agency that produced the report in writing and explain the inaccuracy. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the agency must investigate your dispute within 30 days and remove or correct the information if it cannot verify its accuracy. If the error came from a government source like a criminal record, contact that agency directly to request a correction. Keep copies of all correspondence and follow up if the correction is not made within the timeframe.
Can I get a copy of the background check an employer runs on me?
Yes. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, if an employer uses a consumer reporting agency to run your background check, you have the right to request a copy of that report. Employers must provide you with a copy of the report and a summary of your rights if they take adverse action based on the report. You can also ask the employer directly which consumer reporting agency they used and request the report from that agency. This is an important step to verify accuracy before a hiring decision is made.
