Temp Service Background Check

[flcadam]

I'm trying to make this as concise as possible, bear with me...

At a meeting someone offered me a job, but I have to apply with the temp agency she works at to get it. As routine they run a background check on everyone. I'm especially looking to hear from someone who is knowledgeable about the pre-employment screening process since I know that

Comments

[hrolleif]

Depends. Are you in Michigan? They will keep old names on your driving record FOREVER. Could be other states do as well, I don't know.

As far as the credit reporting agencies go, despite having the same social security number, they (so far) have not linked my new name to old names.

Other databases, I don't know. I think you are definitely taking a risk, tho.

[flcadam]

Yeah, credit reporting agencies haven't linked up my old names either.

I'm mostly wondering how much information she'd really be interested in. I mean, as long as she sees that I'm not a felon I don't know that she'd want to take a magnifying glass up to my credit report and driving records(I didn't even consider what might be on my driving record).

But we'll see. I'm wondering if someone in this group works for a temp agency or in human resources and would be able to give me specifics.

Yeah, it is a risk. I don't even know how involved she is with Republican politics but wouldn't want her to leak this to the wrong people.

[budgie3579]

I work for a temp. My advice: you're overthinking it bro.

[budgie3579]

I don't know dude, I don't think something's gonna "prove" you undenaibly transitioned. What if pro-surfer Kelly Slater changed his name to Mike Slater and he applied for a job and his old name came up...let's just say he wasn't a pro surfer but that was the case. I mean people aren't going to assume he transitioned.!!!

[flcadam]

Yeah, I would be inclined to think the database was screwy.

[budgie3579]

i mean not even that the database was screwy...just that he had a name he didn't like is all!

[sneakersjay]

I don't know either but I was on a site maybe 411.com and found my new name linked to about 15 different versions of my old name, as well as the city and state of every place I've ever lived (and had a phone). It listed my new name as a relative of my old name.

[flcadam]

Hmmm. Noting came up on that site for me.

I think I'm going to go to the interview. Worse thing that could happen is I have to explain I legally changed my name(which still doesn't imply anything).

[sneakersjay]

Did you put in your old name? That's how mine came up. And it's been 9 months since my name change and all that as well. If you've ever had a land line you should come up somewhere.

[flcadam]

I've never had a land line, so that's probably why.

[twoborgs]

So, I work through a temp agency. While my temp agency does indeed know I'm trans ( hadn't changed my name when I started there ), they never told the company I work for. Why would they?

[flcadam]

She's actually the person doing the hiring at the temp agency and I don't want her to know.

But your response does make me think: it would be strange for her to leak this information to acquaintances. Possibly illegal?

[chaz_in_transit]

Definitely illegal. However, I've worked at a handful of places that required us to sign confidentiality notices on customer info... it's not very binding when you're at a bar with friends.

[flcadam]

Yeah, I've decided I'm going to bail on this one. But if anything, this was a good reminder I need to do more work on cleaning my record up.

[tonyinabag]

i used to work in a recruiting office at a truck driving company; my whole job was running background checks/motor vehicle records & verifiying past employment

[flcadam]

That is good to know that errors can be expected.

I do have a question for you:

If you found something that wasn't disqualifying on the record, would you bother having the applicant obtain a copy of their record?

For example if there was an arrest but no conviction for a misdemeanor or something of that sort?