Whether it’s a new job, an apartment application, a loan, or even a date — someone is probably going to run a background check on you at some point. And what they find might not be what you expect.
Background checks pull information from public records, court databases, and — increasingly — data broker sites. The results can include everything from your address history and criminal records to your social media activity and financial data.
This guide explains exactly what shows up on a background check, where that information comes from, and how to clean up your results before someone else looks.
In this guide:
- What shows up on different types of background checks
- How data brokers feed background check companies
- How informal “Google background checks” work
- How to clean up your background check results
- Your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
Check yourself first: Before a potential employer or landlord searches you, run a free Optery scan to see what’s publicly available about you on data broker sites. These sites feed the informal background checks that most people don’t even know are happening.
What Shows Up on a Formal Background Check
A formal background check through a consumer reporting agency (like Checkr, GoodHire, or Sterling) typically reveals:
Criminal history. Felony and misdemeanor convictions, pending charges, arrests (in some states), sex offender registry status, and federal criminal records. The scope varies by state — some states limit how far back criminal history can go.
Employment history. Past employers, job titles, dates of employment. Some checks verify this through direct contact with previous employers.
Education verification. Schools attended, degrees earned, graduation dates. Discrepancies between your resume and actual records are flagged.
Credit history. For positions involving financial responsibility, employers may pull your credit report showing credit score, open accounts, payment history, bankruptcies, and collections. This requires your written consent.
Address history. Current and past addresses, often going back 7-10 years.
Identity verification. Social Security number verification, name variations, date of birth confirmation.
Driving records. For positions involving driving, your DMV record showing violations, DUIs, license status, and accidents.
Professional licenses. Verification of any professional licenses or certifications you’ve claimed.
Civil court records. Lawsuits, judgments, liens, and bankruptcies.
What Shows Up on Informal Background Checks (The Bigger Concern)
Here’s what most people don’t realize: before a formal background check even happens, over 70% of employers, landlords, and other decision-makers do an informal search first — they Google you.
And what they find on Google comes primarily from data broker sites:
People search site profiles. Sites like Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, and MyLife create detailed profiles that appear in Google results. These show your address, phone number, age, relatives, and sometimes court records and property information.
MyLife Reputation Scores. MyLife assigns you a public “Reputation Score” that anyone can see — a number generated by an algorithm that claims to rate your trustworthiness. An employer seeing a low score might form a negative impression before even meeting you.
Social media content. Public posts, photos, comments, and profile information from Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Old forum posts and comments. Anything you’ve ever posted under your real name on any public website — including things from 10+ years ago.
News articles and mentions. Any news coverage mentioning your name, whether positive or negative.
The informal Google search is often MORE damaging than the formal background check because it’s unregulated. There’s no Fair Credit Reporting Act protecting you from a hiring manager’s Google search. They can find your home address, family members, and other details on data broker sites and make decisions based on that information — without your knowledge or consent.
How Data Brokers Feed Background Check Results
Data brokers play a dual role in background checks:
Direct data supply. Some background check companies purchase data directly from data brokers to supplement their public records searches. Your data broker profile adds context — address history, phone numbers, associates, and other details — to the formal background check results.
Informal discovery channel. When an employer Googles you, data broker site listings are usually the first results that appear. These informal findings influence hiring decisions even though they’re not part of the official background check process.
Inaccurate information spreads. Data brokers sometimes have incorrect information — wrong addresses, outdated records, or even someone else’s data mixed into your profile. These inaccuracies can show up in background checks and informal searches, potentially costing you a job or apartment you deserve.
The most effective way to control what a background check reveals is to clean up both the formal sources AND the informal data broker sources before someone else looks.
How to Clean Up Your Background Check Results
Here’s your plan to make sure what shows up on a background check is as clean as possible:
Step 1: Run Your Own Background Check
Before anyone else does, check yourself. You’re entitled to a free copy of your consumer report from any company that maintains one. Request copies from major background check companies to see what they have on file.
Also pull your free credit reports from annualcreditreport.com — credit checks are part of many background checks for financial positions.
Step 2: Remove Your Data from Data Broker Sites
This is the most impactful step for cleaning up informal background checks. When your data broker profiles are removed, they stop appearing in Google results — which means the informal Google search comes up clean.
Optery — Our top recommendation. Free scan to see your data broker exposure. Paid plans ($39-$249/year) automate removal from 350+ data broker sites. When those listings disappear from Google, your informal background check results improve dramatically. Read our full Optery review →
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Step 3: Google Yourself
Google your name in an incognito window and review the first 5 pages of results. This is exactly what an employer or landlord will see. Note any problematic results — data broker listings, old social media posts, negative content — and address each one.
Step 4: Lock Down Social Media
Set all social media profiles to private. Remove anything an employer might view negatively. Remember that even with privacy settings, profile pictures, bios, and some information may still be publicly visible.
Step 5: Request Google Remove Sensitive Results
Use Google’s content removal tools to request removal of results showing your home address, phone number, or other sensitive personal information.
Step 6: Dispute Inaccurate Information
If you find incorrect information on a formal background check report, you have the right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to dispute it. Contact the background check company in writing, identify the inaccurate information, and request a re-investigation. They must investigate and respond within 30 days.
Step 7: Freeze Your Credit If Needed
If you’re concerned about what a credit check might reveal, review your credit reports and address any issues before a background check pulls your credit. Freeze your credit when you’re not actively applying for positions that require credit checks.
Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act
When it comes to formal background checks, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you important rights:
Consent required. Employers must get your written permission before running a formal background check.
Pre-adverse action notice. If an employer plans to take negative action (like not hiring you) based on a background check, they must give you a copy of the report and a chance to dispute any inaccuracies before making a final decision.
Right to dispute. You can dispute any inaccurate information in your background check report. The reporting company must investigate and correct errors.
Right to know. You can request a free copy of your consumer report from any company that maintains one.
Important limitation: The FCRA only applies to formal background checks through consumer reporting agencies. It does NOT apply to informal Google searches, data broker lookups, or social media screening that employers do on their own. This is exactly why data broker removal matters — it’s the unregulated informal search where most privacy damage happens.
Clean Up Your Results Before Someone Else Looks
Whether it’s a job, an apartment, a loan, or a relationship — someone is going to look you up. What they find on a background check and a quick Google search can determine the outcome.
Take control now:
- Run a free Optery scan — see what data broker sites are showing about you right now
- Remove your data from broker sites using Optery or Incogni — clean up the informal search results
- Google yourself — see exactly what an employer or landlord will see
- Lock down social media — set everything to private
- Pull your credit reports and address any issues
- Dispute inaccurate information on formal background check reports
Don’t let a data broker profile or an old social media post cost you an opportunity. Clean up your results before someone else finds them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do employers Google candidates?
Yes. Research consistently shows over 70% of employers and recruiters Google candidates. What they find on data broker sites, social media, and in search results influences hiring decisions — often before a formal background check is even conducted. Run a free Optery scan to see what they’d find about you.
Can an employer see my data broker profile?
Yes. Data broker profiles on Whitepages, Spokeo, BeenVerified, and similar sites are publicly accessible. Anyone — including employers — can search your name and see your address, phone number, age, relatives, and more. Removing yourself from these sites prevents this.
How far back does a background check go?
It depends on the type of check and your state. Criminal background checks typically go back 7 years in most states, though some go further. Credit checks show 7-10 years of history. Employment and education verification can go back indefinitely.
Can I fail a background check because of data broker information?
Formal background checks through FCRA-regulated agencies must follow specific rules. But informal Google searches — where data broker listings appear — are completely unregulated. An employer can see your MyLife Reputation Score, past addresses, and other personal details and factor them into their decision without telling you.
How do I dispute something on a background check?
Under the FCRA, contact the background check company in writing, identify the inaccurate information, and request a re-investigation. They must investigate within 30 days. If the information is inaccurate, they must correct it and notify any employers who received the incorrect report.
Should I clean up my online presence before a job search?
Absolutely. Start by running a free Optery scan to see your data broker exposure, then Google yourself and lock down social media. Do this at least 2-4 weeks before your job search begins, since data broker removal takes time to process.
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