backround investigation tips

Has anyone gone through a BI and do you have any advice? I deleted my myspace but I want to keep my facebook?

There's only one thing you need to know: The truth shall set you free.

It's not so much about what you did in the past, but rather what you're willing to cover up. If you have something to hide, then you're susceptible to blackmail and extortion, among other things. If you're not honest, even about something trivial, you've demonstrated that you're willing and able to lie.


(Message edited by swass on February 02, 2010)

Answer everything truthfully and as accurately as possible. That's it.

KP what do you have the background check for? i know my teacher is saying try to avoid passed out pictures and such, just try and keep everything strict and professional on the facebook!!!

fyi... privacy settings do not matter. I actually think there is a way they can see deleted/previously posted stuff, but most don't go through with it that far.

I've done a couple BI with local police departments. Just make sure you personal history statement is accurate, truthful and complete. Its amazing the things they will look past if you are honest about them. One of my background investigators actually told me to delete my myspace before he got started (thought that was cool). The most important thing to remember is HONESTY. That is the biggest indicator of character most investigators have to base their decisions off of. Don't make the mistake of fooling yourself into thinking you can keep those investigators from finding something out either. If you do leave something out or are dishonest about something and they find out, that will follow you on future background investigations also. Good Luck

Interesting. I think I know where you are working. Don't lie. IF you did something bad in the past, admit to it and they will make you sign a form stating you will not do it again. Do not lie about your education. I know of a couple of people who got blackballed from work because they said they had their degree but were a class short. They will talk to your co-workers, neighbors and friends and they will ask your neighbors and friends to recommend others to talk too.

hmm. small world.

"Answer everything truthfully and as accurately as possible. That's it."

ditto. this is absolutely the best advice regarding a background investigation.

Are you running for office or something????

I work with third party firms ( from time to time) who run background checks...it's usually not cost effective to get so deep into someone background.

Typical is check of credit/crimial background and public records and a few mintues searching the net.

Sam fire departments and police departments generally dig deep since the competition is so high, i know i got a call for my friends with a fire department, and talked to them and had to give them 3 names of people that knew him, so thy could call and talk to them to. They dont fool around!!!

I want the job of calling people and asking them about people they know. I always feel bad putting people's names down as any reference, as whenever people put me down I am called at the most inconvenient times, or miss the call and it's an awkward voice mail that I'm not even sure to call back or not....

Hmmm. What gives KP? Do you have past that I need to know about before you come up to the houseboat again?

i have been through a few myself. when i got my career position at my FD they contacted my high school girl friend, lol. they went to my parents house, witch is the neighborhood and the house i grew up in, and went to all my neighbors asking about me. they even contacted the golf course i worked at in high school as a summer job. like kyle said they get very deep into it for pd and fd, or any public service type position.

No No No, I have a great past just a few speeding tix. Im just asking to see if anyone has tips. I should be fine if I move on to the next level with all of my current processes

Tickets are okay with speeding unless you are going to be driving. However, as everyone else has said, just be honest and things will be fine.

I had an BI done by Department of Homeland Security 4 years ago for my current job. Not problems at all and I just didn't have speeding tix. No DUI's either but underage drinking was one of those issues

Another thing... try to clean up your credit. Credit has been a big issue with Security clearance.

I never knew such extensive background checks were done for the PD/FD. Seems like a waste of taxpayer dollars IMO. contacting high school gf's.....??? wtf? typical bueracracy I guess. Great people get hired all the time w/o background investions of that nature.

I'd be more concenered about the current physical/mental state of a candidate than what they did years ago in high school.

Are there that many people applying that have serious isues in their background? felons? thieves, ect???

I don't have any but the FD/PD BI makes sense to me. If the candidate was a terrorist, think of the repercussions that could happen if they were on the FD/PD. Once these people get higher in authority, the likelihood of a terrorist plot builds. IMO, the BI investigations for the FD/PD is necessary.

Nothing in my past except for my stupid ex-wife filing a police report saying that I pushed her down and hurt her. I'll I have to say is the ex-wives will do almost anything to make sure that they have custody of the children and to grab the attention people in the courtrooms/mediators office.

Mike, I don't think credit would be an issue with the FD/PD whereas it would with Clearnaces for the type of work you're thinking of. FD/PD don't deal with sensitive information like other government jobs and therefore creditors couldn't blackmail for secrets.

How's everything going btw?

Credit is one of the biggest reasons people don't get hired for PD positions. Every background check i've done for a PD or SO has done a credit check and i have a few friends who did not pass background specifically because of their credit.

I don't know why that would be an issue for the PD other than irresponsibility. I know it's a factor with TS/SCI clearances because you could be blackmailed with the debt you have as leverage for secrets.

to avoid a Training Day situation

Sam,

I think it's more of a liability issue for a municipality than anything. If they hire somebody who ends up stealing department or public property then find out after the fact the person has a history of convicted thefts then it could have probably been prevented. As PD or FD you have the right to go into somebody's home w/o any consent (fire, medical emergency where person can't answer the door etc.) Often on calls you will have access to lots of personal possessions like jewelry prescriptions whatever that a dirtbag may want to steal, the owner may not be in the capacity to even notice stuff is being taken, so as public servants you have to expect a certain amount of moral and ethical standard, and somebody's background is the best way to get into past practice of an individual. So to dig deep into the background of those folks is there to protect the public for one and to protect the employer (taxpayer) for another. When they contact high school girfriends they are asking about domestic violence, drug abuse, fights etc.

I feel comfortable knowing that those carrying a badge have had to demonstrate in their past that they aren't criminals if they come into my home to help me or my family.

I have been through one several times now because of my occupation/place of work. I also believe I know where you are working, I'm in Livermore too;-) Best advice, don't lie. Next best, don't do drugs. Lastly, don't worry about anything if you don't have anything to hide. I have a private FB account and I have nothing to hide and don't watch what I say on there. There are some "questionable" pictures from my past but I am not worried because they are from the past. I got GRILLED on a traffic ticket on my five year re-investigation. They will ask you about it, they might make somewhat of a big deal about it, but, it won't keep you from passing your investigation as long as it's not like a DUI or some kind of reckless driving ticket.

My two cents... good luck!

Been through 2 extensive bi with fire and I can tell u first hand that u need to be honest but at the same time u don't need to go out of your way to disclose every lil thing u did in your past....for example one of about a hundred ?s I was asked in my packet prior to the investigation starting was have u ever gambled...I at that time had only played a couple of harmless hold em tourneys at my home and other friends...something I'm sure everyone has done. I didn't know what was considered gambling so me following everyones advice on honesty put that down...well believe u me that was hit so hard in my bi and it really was something I had to defend. That's just one of a couple things I obviously didn't need to disclose... If it's on paper or they can track it then u need to disclose items if they r trival (I truly mean trival things not oh I stole something when I was younger and got caught but they didn't press charges...that's not trival) then my 2cents speaking from experience is to not put every item out there...

KP, Congrats on getting to this point. I boldly remember it as an exciting yet nerve-wracking time of my life. I went through a few fire backgrounds, and now am involved in backgrounds with my dept.

My advice is to be honest, and be responsible for your actions. If something happened, we want to see that you accept the responsibility and learned from the situation. You mentioned speeding tickets...I'll use that as an example. Let's say a candidate receives a speeding ticket for doing 76 in a 65 down the freeway. What we want to hear: "Yes, I was speeding, and I was caught. I learned from that and slowed down, and I haven't received a ticket since because I drive the speed limit." We often hear "It wasn't my fault, I was keeping up with traffic," or they have multiple infractions of the same things. We look very closely as repeat offenses, how far in the past the offenses occurred and how the candidate responded to those offenses.

Expect to be hammered on at least one thing. We also want to see how a candidate responds under pressure. That's why we still are one one of the few that still use a polygraph. We look very closely at your explanations to your answers.

If you have any other questions, let me know. Feel free to PM me too.

- Eric

I got reamed during my BI because I was on a boat with people who were smoking weed. I was not, was not my boat and I had nowhere to go. still got reamed for it. probably not the reason I did not get hired, but still, they care about the integrity of those they hire. this was for a position within the probation department.