Background Checks Improve Career Marketing

In today’s competitive job market, job seekers must take every opportunity to set themselves apart from other candidates to increase their chances of landing a job. There are many factors that employers take into consideration when making a hiring decision, which is why it is important for candidates to demonstrate initiative and drive by going above and beyond that of a typical job seeker. Career Marketing Tactics Many job seekers are finding ways to get creative in their job search by incorporating various career marketing tactics to stand out to potential employers. Some of these tactics include:

• Creating customized online career portfolios
• Producing video resumes
• Designing personal marketing brochures
• Creating a job proposal
• Performing their own personal background checks

The tool that is often overlooked by job seekers is obtaining a personal background check. Regardless of the position or industry, pre-employment background checks are becoming a favorite tool amongst hiring managers. According to the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), more than 53% of all candidates lie to some extent on their resume, so employment background checks can easily become a deciding factor to determine who is offered a job. Imagine a recruiter who has narrowed down his choices to two candidates, one of which has already conducted their own background check. Who would you hire? Certainly, the candidate who took the initiative to perform a background check has a better chance. Benefits of a Personal Background Check Job seekers who obtain a background check demonstrate commitment and confidence, both qualities that employers look for in a candidate. With many employers using employment background checks to make informed hiring decisions, job seekers can get hired faster by performing this vital step on their own. Here are a few benefits of obtaining a personal background check prior to interviewing:

• Achieve Peace of Mind – Although you may feel uneasy about obtaining a personal background check, it is beneficial to know what information is available about your past. Background checks are becoming more important in the professional world and allow you to ease your mind about what a potential employer may discover about you.
• Correct Mistakes - Not only will you be able to ease your mind by obtaining a background check, but it also gives you the ability to correct any mistakes you may find on your record before someone else reviews and misinterprets it. Also, be sure to clean up your online image before you perform your background check. You wouldn’t want anything posted on social sites such as Facebook or MySpace to be held against you.
• Add Value to Employers By Saving them Time and Money - The recruitment process can be very taxing and time-consuming for employers. If an employer knows that you have already completed a background check, it may increase your chances of being selected for an interview. In addition, you are adding value by eliminating a step in their recruitment process as well as saving them time and money.
• Increase Your Marketability - You can increase your marketability by promoting your background check directly on your resume. Employers and recruiters receive hundreds of resumes each month. By performing a background check, you can demonstrate that you are serious and committed to your job search and are willing to go that extra mile.

It is important to take initiative and think outside the box when searching for a job to increase your marketability to potential employers.