Can you run a background check on yourself? The short answer is yes. In Canada, MyCRC has passed rigorous accreditation and is authorized to offer Canadian criminal record checks through police partners across the country as listed on the “How to obtain an online name-based criminal record check” web page of the RCMP. The best part about using MyCRC? There’s no leaving the house or waiting in lines.
What’s a Background Check
Simply put, a background check is the process of verifying someone’s personal, professional, or criminal history. Background checks are typically used for employment, housing, or other screening purposes (e.g., applying for a licence, requesting a special security clearance, etc.). They’re very common! If you’re asked to complete a background check, also called background screening, the goal is to gather more information about you to assess your suitability, credibility, and/or any potential risks in one of the contexts listed above — aka, whether you’re right for the job, the rental, or authorized to gain access.
Examples of Background Checks
Background checks come in many formats and verify different types of information. Here are some examples:
Criminal Record Check
This is what people commonly think of when they think of a background check, and likely what brought you to this blog post! A criminal record check involves searching databases of law enforcement agencies to identify any criminal convictions, arrests, and/or pending charges. These searches can be conducted at the federal, provincial, and/or municipal level depending on the type of criminal record check and the information being requested. If you live in Canada, the blog post Criminal Record Check Canada FAQs covers everything you need to know.
Credit Check
A credit check generates a credit report, like the ones provided by TransUnion, Equifax, or Experian. A credit report helps assess a person’s financial history, including credit scores, outstanding debts, and payment history. This is often used for financial, rental, and lending decisions, but you could also be required to complete a credit check for jobs at financial institutions depending on your role and the seniority level. When it comes to credit checks for employment, the check has to be relevant to the job.
Employment Verification
This is pretty standard. Employers often verify your work history, including job titles, dates of employment, and sometimes qualitative performance evaluations. Whether the latter is allowed depends on where you live — many jurisdictions limit what previous employers can say about you beyond confirming that you worked there during the time you said you did and in the role you said you did. Employment verification is a quick check that helps confirm the accuracy of your application to make sure you’re a good fit for the role. This type of verification can span a few or up to 10 years depending on the role.
Driving Record Check
This checks a person’s driving history, including traffic violations, accidents, and the status of their driver’s licence. It’s often conducted if you’re applying for a job that involves driving a company vehicle. If you’re not applying for a job where driving is required, it’s less likely you’ll be asked to complete this check. Applying for a retail gig as a cashier? You’re less likely to need a driving record check. On the other hand, if you want to be an Uber driver, this check will be mandatory.
Social Media Screening
If it’s allowed where you live and there’s a job-related justification, some checks may even include a review of your public social media profiles and online presence for up to seven years. Yes, public. Social media screening can be programmed to check for public statements, photos, and comments that fall into pre-determined risk categories such as bullying, violence, and hate speech. It’s really important to us that social media screening is conducted legally and ethically, so we’ve published a lot on best practices. The blog post Best Practices for Social Media Screening outlines what we recommend to our clients.
As we’ve hinted at, the type of check and the depth of the check varies based on the purpose, industry, and legal regulations governing the checks. In all cases you have rights under laws that protect your information and define how to dispute any inaccurate information. In Canada, employee background checks are covered by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and provincial privacy acts. In the US, the FCRA governs the use of background checks by employers, along with state laws.
Why Run a Background Check on Yourself
Employers and landlords run checks on prospective employees and tenants all the time – running checks is a common way to mitigate risks and reduce the chances of hiring or renting to people with a history of criminal activity, financial instability, and/or behaviour that could pose a risk to others. By skipping the screening process, they may even be held legally liable if they bring in individuals who pose a known risk to others. Here’s more on why background checks are essential. Financial institutions and government agencies also run checks – credit checks and security clearances are a form of background screening.
Don’t worry, while background screening is very common, it’s also subject to national and regional laws to protect your privacy and ensure that you’re being treated fairly. As we mentioned above, in Canada, employee background checks are subject to federal and provincial privacy acts. In the US, the FCRA governs the use of background checks by employers, along with state laws.
Why should you run a background check on yourself?
If you’re considering applying for a new job or are open to new opportunities, running a check on yourself first is a smart move. Why? If anything is inaccurate, you can dispute it. It may also be beneficial to understand what potential employers may see about you when they conduct a check – you can be better prepared to navigate the job search process and plan what you’ll say to explain anything on your record that’s accurate. This blog post, Tips for Addressing a Criminal History in an Interview, has sample scripts to use to help bring up incidents that might turn up in your background check. See, we’ve got you!
A service like MyCRC partners with Canadian police agencies to conduct name-based criminal record checks to search for the existence of criminal convictions for which a record suspension or pardon hasn’t been granted.
What to Consider Before You Run a Background Check on Yourself
Here are five questions to consider to be prepared before you run a check, specifically a criminal record check, on yourself:
- What kind of check do I need? To determine which kind of check to run, think about what kind of information you want to or need to uncover. For information on your criminal background, you’ll need a criminal record check from an authorized background screening vendor or police agency. A credit report, available from a credit reporting bureau, will provide information on your credit history. In Canada, some volunteer positions require a vulnerable sector check which has to be obtained in person through a local police service where you live.
- What documentation or identification do I need to provide? Look into the required identification or documentation you’ll need to provide when requesting background check information. Most agencies require your name, date of birth, and proof of identity. Depending on the type of check, your Social Insurance Number (SIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) might be needed.
- How much will I have to pay? Determine whether there are any fees associated with obtaining your background check reports. Some reports may be free, while others may have associated costs. An example of a free background check is a credit report. In North America, you can get a free copy of your credit report through one of the main three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Background check fees vary by region.
- How long will it take to get your results? If you’re running a personal check for a freelance gig or other job, most employers don’t accept checks that are older than six months, and many require a check conducted closer to the time the position begins. Therefore, it’s important to get the timing right. If no criminal history is found, results can take three to five days or as little as 15 minutes with a 100% online background screening vendor.
- How can I dispute any inaccuracies or discrepancies? If you find inaccuracies or discrepancies in any of the reports, you have the right to dispute and correct the information. Follow the instructions provided by the agency or organization to address any issues.
How to Run a Background Check on Yourself
You can run a background check on yourself and get a copy of your criminal record through a police agency or in as little as 15 minutes using a service like MyCRC. Here are the steps to run a criminal record check on yourself:
In-Person Background Screening
If you live in Canada, you can obtain a criminal record check through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) network database via your local police service. This database has access to criminal records in all provinces and territories. Obtaining an RCMP database record often involves a fee. Here’s more information from the RCMP if you decide to request your check at an in-person location. Note: In-person check wait times can be longer.
Online Background Screening
It’s easy to get your Canadian criminal record results online. Here’s all you need to do via MyCRC:
- Enter Your Personal Information: Consent to the check (this is a must for all background screening), take a photo of your ID and selfie to prove it’s you, and confirm the information is correct.
- Run Your Check: MyCRC is authorized to connect to Canada’s federal RCMP database to search for criminal records.
- Get your Results in Minutes: The official results of your check will be emailed to you in as little as 15 minutes.
FAQs About Running a Background Check on Yourself
Here are some FAQs we’ve heard about how to run a background check on yourself:
- How does the costs and process for running a background check on myself through MyCRC compare to getting similar checks through traditional in-person methods, such as via local police services in Canada? Great question!
- Are there any limitations or differences in the information provided by a background check conducted through MyCRC compared to checks obtained directly from police agencies, particularly regarding the depth of criminal record information or the inclusion of other background details?
- Beyond criminal record checks, what other types of background checks can I run on myself through services like MyCRC, and how might these additional checks provide valuable insights for personal and professional uses beyond employment or housing?
Comparing MyCRC to Background Checks from Local Police Stations
The costs and process for running a background check on oneself through MyCRC compared to traditional in-person methods varies in terms of convenience and efficiency. MyCRC gives you the advantage of conducting checks entirely online, eliminating the need to visit a local police station in person. That’s a win! Additionally, MyCRC typically provides faster results, often within minutes, whereas obtaining a check through local police services may involve longer processing times (some websites list turnaround times of up to two weeks). However, there may be differences in terms of the fees associated with each option. It’s essential for you to weigh the trade-offs between convenience, speed, and cost when choosing between these options.
For example, in Vancouver, it costs $82.00 to obtain a background check from the Vancouver Police Department. In Calgary, the Calgary Police Service charges $71.25 at the time this blog post was published. In Quebec City, La Sûreté du Québec charges $78.00. MyCRC charges $64.99, so in these three Canadian cities, the online option is more convenient and more affordable.
Is the Information Provided by MyCRC Legit?
MyCRC uses the same federal RCMP database to search for criminal records. Direct checks from police agencies may only offer more detailed insights for vulnerable sector checks, which aren’t conducted by MyCRC. (No online background screening provider is authorized to conduct vulnerable sector checks in Canada.)
What Other Types of Background Checks Can I Conduct on Myself?
Beyond criminal record checks, you can conduct other types of background checks on yourself. These additional checks may include credit checks, employment verification, driving record checks, and social media screenings, among others. Each check provides unique insights into different aspects of your personal and professional background. This information can be valuable for personal awareness and career planning. For example, a credit check can help you understand your financial history and identify any potential issues that may affect their creditworthiness, while employment verification can confirm all your work history and experience lines up.
Online Background Check – Run a Background Check on Yourself
As we covered, employers use checks, especially criminal record checks, as part of their hiring process to make informed decisions about candidates and landlords use them to assess the suitability of potential tenants.
If you’re applying for a new job or open to new opportunities, it might help to run a background check on yourself to understand what others may see about you when they conduct their own screening. Deciding to run a background check on yourself can also be a proactive way to verify the accuracy of your personal and professional information and address any discrepancies or inaccuracies before they affect your employment or housing opportunities.
MyCRC is a division of Certn, a global background screening company that’s trusted by 20,000 teams including some of the world’s biggest brands. Certn runs over two million checks a year. With MyCRC, you can run a background check on yourself right away and we’ll send you your official results in as little as 15 minutes. Get started today!
