How extensive are employment background checks?

Curious about pre-employment background checks?

• I am applying for jobs for the first time in 7 years (student and volunteer) and was wondering about the background checks being done now. When I was in management I simply picked up the phone, called the listed references and verified the last three jobs. Now I understand that most companies use third party pre-employment screening like Hire Right and other companies. I tend to keep everything confined to the past 5 years on applications unless it asks for more. But, what gets verified by these third parties? I was denied a position recently because the third party did not verify my full employment for the past 7 years. They said I stopped working for the company when I went to a volunteer status. I had explained this to the HR rep and they understood but it did not match the third party records. The third party also said that my dates did not patch on a job from 16 years ago and requested I give them copies of the W2's. Like I keep that around. It was suggested that I order my employment history through SSA (at the cost of $50.00) so that I could match them in the future. Well that still doesn't show that I was a volunteer there. Non-profits run off volunteers and I enjoyed the freedom it provided to volunteer at my son's school and go to school full time. How can I obtain a copy of whatever file the HR department receives? I don't mind paying for it, but I can't find any legitimate companies that run background checks for individuals. I also wonder how they can verify employment with a company that has been closed for decades.

• Answer:

  Call each former employer and check to see what they say when you worked there. Use those dates when filling out forms. This way you are same page. Good luck.