When you’re applying for a job or an apartment or rental house, you might be subject to a background check – but what do they reveal in a background check, and should you be worried?

What Do They Reveal in a Background Check?

A standard background check typically reveals whether you’ve been arrested or convicted of any misdemeanors or felonies. In some cases, a potential employer or landlord can use that information to reject your application or to choose another applicant over you. Sometimes having a criminal record can even prevent you from trying to get certain jobs, such as those in the military and some in the healthcare field.

Every employer and landlord is looking for different information, so sometimes criminal history isn’t part of your background check. In some cases, employers or landlords are looking at your financial standing, your academic or professional qualifications, and other information – but generally, when people refer to a background check, they mean a criminal background check.

What if You Have a Criminal Record?

Having your criminal record expunged or sealed prevents most people from ever knowing about it unless you tell them. When your record is expunged, it’s as if it never happened; when it’s sealed, it’s not available to the general public, but it does show up in some background checks (like those used by law enforcement and the military).

You may want to talk to a Chicago expungement lawyer about your record. You could be eligible for expungement or sealing.

Call us at 847-920-4540 for a free case review. If we can help you, we will.