Hi Seven. My best friend told me about your blog and that you answer questions regarding the call center industry and that you’re always online to respond. May question ako: totoo po ba talaga ang background checks? I mean, do companies really spend time, money, and effort just to find out who you are?
TIA for the response.
Lovely
Hello, Lovely. Thank you very much for your email. I hope you don’t mind if I respond here instead. I indeed respond to questions as long as I know the answer (hehe), but it is also false that I am always online; I sleep as well. Haha.
Now, back to your question. Yes, background checks are a requirement not only in the call center industry but also in most businesses in any industry. A background check is a way for the company to ensure that you are who you say you are. Remember that the company will entrust you with their resources, train you, and so on. As a result, the information on your resume must be “true and correct.” It is also a deterrent to criminals and job hoppers.
There are several methods for conducting a background check.
- The company contacts the references you provided on your resume over the phone. They may also contact the companies listed to ensure that you worked there.
- Home visits are frequently used by multinational corporations, BPOs, and call centers with a financial account. They hire a third-party investigator to confirm your home address. The investigator will also inquire about you among your neighbors (especially about your character).
- When they need information about your academic records, they will use registered mail.
- “You are what you post,” according to social networking sites. As a result, some companies now include your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts in their background checks. You’d be surprised at how much your social media accounts reveal about your personality, attitude, and behavior.
- Your BIR and SSS company history – This is illegal under the law. The BIR and the SSS are required by law not to disclose your employment history, even to your current employer.
Your character references are significant in your job search. This is why some businesses are particular about the type of reference they require. As an example, consider one colleague, one friend, and one HR representative.
Your character reference must:
- know you and your work ethic, attitude, and behavior, and give concrete examples of each aspect when needed.
- Be confident and authoritative.
- Know they are your character reference.
- Must expect a call anytime.
Let me know if you need more information.
Thanks.
Se7en
Gino Borlado 
3 responses to “The Low Down on Background Checks”
Hi. It would be prudent to assume that HSBC will conduct a thorough background check, this means including your criminal record. I’ve known HSBC to be uber strict when it comes to background strict. My recommendation here is for you to keep job hunting. There will be a company out there who will be willing to give you a shot. Try to apply in companies that won’t be too background check heavy, and these companies are easy to spot (eg not or no financial accounts). If you have a criminal record, you are obligated to declare it, it’s better to be rejected during the recruitment process instead of being found out and fired after. Also, your NBI and Police record will show this, so there is no point in hiding it.
Se7en
Hi sir se7en,
I saw on one of you previous comments that you were once employed by hsbc. Sir, I’m currently an applicant myself and will be submitting the required “Set A” requirements later but I’m having problems with regards to the part of the job application form that asks the question of if I had been previously directly/indirectly charged with a felonious offense.
Considering that the company has a strict policy on backround checks does an answer of yes and the degree of the offense affect my chances of being given a contract? It wasn’t related to anything that might be associated with banking or financial business matters.
I’ve already answered yes but I’m currently debating with myself on whether I should change my answer to no and take the chance of it being found out by the investigators or just stick to answering yes and disclose the details of the now dismissed felony charge against me and still be taking a chance.
I don’t wanna lose the opportunity of getting hired over something that happened a decade ago.
Hope you can help me with this sir se7en.. Thank you! : )
Background checks is a fact… Specially for financial accounts…
Though background checks may be lenient for some accounts and some companies