Would an Employer Terminate my Job Application After a Background Check?
Most employers conduct background checks on their prospective employees. There could be many reasons why an employer would stop the job application process for you, after they have conducted these background checks. It could be because you have a criminal record that is closely related to the job role you would be doing. It could be a negative reference from a previous employer. This article will discuss reasons why you could miss out on a job offer after your background checks have been conducted.
Depending on what job role you have applied for, would determine the level of DBS Check that you would be asked to apply for. This could be a Basic DBS, Standard DBS, Enhanced DBS, or Enhanced DBS with Barred Lists. The Enhanced DBS Checks are more extensive and thorough.
Past Criminal Offences
If you have previous criminal behaviour, with past criminal offences showing on your record, this would be a key reason why an employer may decide to go no further with your job application. Depending on the severity of the crime, and the nature of the job, would be considered. If for example you had previously committed a sexual crime, you would not be allowed to work with children or vulnerable adults.
If your past criminal history has a crime, this does not mean that your application will be automatically rejected! It would depend on how long ago the crime was, and the nature of the crime, and if it is relevant to the job role. UK employers would be discriminating against offenders if they just refused all applicants with a record.
A sensible suggestion is to mention any past criminal offences to a prospective employer before the DBS Check stage. You can then discuss this, and the employer may be more inclined to hire you, because you have openly disclosed this, and they may be able to see you’ve lived as an upstanding citizen ever since, and that the crime is not relevant to the job role.
Depending on the nature of the crime, there are some jobs you will be ineligible for. If you have committed a serious crime; or many smaller offences; fraud; tax evasion or sexual offences then you would be unable to get jobs working with children, vulnerable people, or any jobs that require high-security clearance.
CV Contains Lies
The best advice is to never lie, when applying for a job, because background checks have a way of unearthing lies. It puts you under far more pressure, trying to remember the lies you’ve told, whereas it’s easy just to state what is truthful. If your lie is found out, an employer will not continue with your job application, because they won’t know what else you have lied about, or how honest you’ll conduct yourself in the business.
Credit Check Shows Issues
Some jobs will require you to undertake a credit check. This may be the case if you’ll be working in finance, handling other people’s money or large budgets. It may also be the case for jobs where you could be susceptible to being bribed, such as the Police, Courts, or Security roles. Employers need to know that their employees don’t have large amounts of debt that could give way to temptation and corruption.
Negative References from Previous Employers
Your prospective employers want to know that you are professional in the workplace; that you work hard; that you give 100% when at work and are an asset to the organisation. The feedback that a previous employer gives when asked for a reference can impact your job application.
Your DBS Check Has an Error
It would be rare for your DBS Check to have an error, but it’s not completely unheard of. If someone has a similar name to you who has committed a crime previously, it is possible that this information could have been pulled through by mistake. Someone could have stolen your ID. If when you receive your DBS Check you see that it contains inaccurate information, let your prospective employer know immediately. If they have conducted the check on your behalf, they will be able to follow this up with DBS. It is best for a quick resolution, that you have completed your DBS Check online, so this can be swiftly dealt with.
