When you apply for a job, you may be subject to a background check. Many people are, so you’re definitely not alone. But what type of information can an employer see on a background check? This guide explains.
What Info Shows Up on an Employment Background Check?
Employers in Chicago and the surrounding communities are allowed to conduct criminal background checks on prospective job applicants. That’s to ensure that they know exactly who they’re hiring. But what if you have a criminal record? Will employers be able to see it, and if they will, is there anything you can do to prevent them from discovering your past?
The bottom line is that what employers can see on a background check depends on how in-depth they go. For example, some employers only look for convictions, while others will require you to get your fingerprints taken and conduct a thorough search of the FBI database.
Related: Can you see your own criminal record in Illinois?
Criminal background checks can uncover a wide range of information, and if you have a criminal record, you may want to expunge or seal it before you apply for a new job. With that said, you need to know the differences between expungement and sealing:
- Expungement is a process that completely clears your criminal record. Agencies that have records on you are required to destroy them or return them to you when they receive a judge’s expungement order. That means there’s nothing for an employer to find.
- Sealing is a process very similar to expungement, but the results are a bit different. When your record is sealed, most people won’t be able to see it. However, employers that conduct fingerprint background checks may access your criminal record.
the catch is that not all records qualify for expungement or sealing. In fact, you can usually only expunge criminal records that never resulted in a conviction. For example, if you were arrested but never charged, you were charged but the charges were dropped, or you were found not guilty of committing a crime, you’re eligible to expunge those incidents from your record. However, if you were convicted of a crime, sealing is your only option.
Sealing isn’t always available, either. Usually, crimes that involve drunk driving or any type of violence must remain on your criminal record. There’s no way to hide those records from prospective employers.
Related: Can USCIS see sealed criminal records?
How Do You Know Whether You Qualify for Expungement or Sealing?
You can find out whether you qualify for expungement or ceiling by contacting an experienced criminal record clearing attorney. Your attorney can look at your entire criminal record and determine what, if anything, you can clear.
Do You Need to Talk to an Attorney About Expungement or Sealing?
If you’re tired of your criminal past coming back to bite you, we may be able to help. Call us right now at 847-920-4540 or fill out the form below so we can talk about your case.
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