[HR / background checks] What exactly is a "10-year background check" (for the US feds)?

As a "victim" of more than one of these background checks ... (1) No. Well, unless the reason you kept changing jobs is because you kept taking money from the register! (2) It depends on the country. Having lived in North Korea is more interesting to the Feds than having lived in Costa Rica. (3) You don't fail your background check, but you must provide information. When I went through it, I provided the information that was correct at the time the employer was in business. The investigator never pestered me about the company no longer existing. (4) The employer would likely have some record of you having worked there. However, these investigators are pretty resourceful, so they probably have some way of figuring out you were an employee. (5) You are not the first person with an insane/vengeful/mean ex-SO. Even if they talk to him/her (and there's no guarantee they will), they'll talk to other people, too. You should only be worried if everyone you're associated with hates your guts. (7) My most recent investigation turned up "loan consolidation" on my credit report. She came back to me and asked me if I had any additional financial information I wanted to come forward with. I did not and had not undergone a "loan consolidation". Coupled with my assets, income, and other credit history, she figured that one of my creditors had mischaracterized one of my accounts, but wanted to give me a chance to clarify. She gave me a copy of the credit reports she pulled and suggested that I get it changed.

Recently, like last Thursday, the Feds tried to get in touch with my brother because his "insane ex-SO," or in this case his ex-wife, is applying for a federal job. The investigator from the Office of Personnel Management actually came to the house to talk to him but because he wasn't there she left a card with her contact info. He called twice, left voice mail messages and he hasn't been called back. I know from my experience that they will probably send him a questionnaire because that is what they did with me. Oh yeah, they are real strict about having everything line up time wise. If you were the house husband then you have to list all that, besides you can list that as a job and show your organization skills, etc. Look on http://www.opm.gov website for more information.

They'll do a financial background from your credit reports. They will verify employment and gaps must be accounted for, and call old employers, etc. For places lived, they will do federal, state and county criminal records search for each place. Outside the US they may try to get that too - not sure what they do in the case of not being able to get anything... I don't think 1 crazy ex-SO will matter unless what they say is backed up by others they talk to that makes you out in a bad light. Really it's just a hassle getting all the old phone numbers, addresses, etc and accounting for periods of time you haven't thought about for 10 years. Be sure to keep a copy too! The next time you have to do a background check - it will be easier and it's very important the next one matches this one as closely as possible with the exception of the 10 year period of time will shift forward. It's not that bad, I've had to do them for employers plus fingerprinting etc. They'll ask you if anything comes up and you can correct or provide more info then, but be thorough the first time.

A lot (if not all) of the things you mention will not be held against you. One of the things the background check is looking for is the potential for trouble. For example, they won't condemn you for your crazy ex-spouse. So you lived in the woods for three months - as long as you're up fornt about it, it shouldn't matter. I had a couple "open items" on a background check (couldn't remember one address exactly from 10 years ago), and that came up in the interview. The investigator asked me a couple questions, made some notes, and that was it.

Thanks very much for your responses, so far. It's good to know that if there are irregularities, they seem to try to resolve them, rather than simply round filing everything.

It's an honesty test, pure and simple. The goal is to catch you in a lie. If you fail, you're out. If you pass, they'll still weigh your work and life history when they decide whether to hire you. The only thing you have to worry about is being scrupulously honest about the information you supply. The people who do federal background investigations are professionals, and they have seen it all. If they have trouble verifying a claim, or if someone contradicts you, they'll get back to you.