Have you ever had to endure a background check?

Sooner or later, most of us will have to undergo a background check...

Hopefully, you don’t have much to worry about. If, on the other hand, this makes you nervous, Kit Fremin, founder of background Check International, says there are a few things you can do to prepare:

• If you have a criminal record that could prevent you from getting a job – look into having it expunged. There is a wealth of information online on how to go about doing that.

• If you’ve got a poor performance record from a previous job out there, contact that source and address the problem. Be prepared to apologize and convince them you’ve changed.

• Volunteer work can be a great resource. Lend your skills to a worthy cause and use this positive experience and reference to balance out something negative.

• Tell the truth. You’ll need to answer questions asked on an application honestly. Otherwise, you risk being exposed as a liar on top of anything else bad on there.

Potential employers have the right to ask previous employers anything they want about your past – and it’s important to know your rights too. If you’re denied employment based on a negative background check, you have the right to see that report and to challenge any findings that are incorrect.