Will a School Address Error Affect My Background Check?

Scenario: You recently graduated but faced a curious issue during your background check—is the request for your school address a mere hiccup or a significant misstep? Let's explore this situation in detail.

Understanding the Process

During a background check, it's common for the verifier to seek your school address, especially if you graduated in the past year. However, if the system returns a non-specific date for your graduation, such as 1/1/2020, it could raise eyebrows. You tried adjusting it but couldn't, so you submitted it as is.

Is the Error a Red Flag?

While it might appear as a noticeable error, it's not necessarily a deal-breaker. Automated systems sometimes struggle with specific dates, and if a human reviewer examines your application, they can likely correct it. In the absence of a clear start and end date, they may verify your information with your school records or other public records. Your birth date can help them deduce your graduation year, which is usually accurate enough.

What to Do Next

If you're uncomfortable with the current process, consider reaching out directly. Contact the background check service via email or phone to explain the situation. Doing so can provide you with peace of mind and ensure your information is accurate. If you have further questions or need clarification, the service provider is likely to contact you.

The Verification Process

Background checks typically involve a thorough verification process. They might contact the school to obtain your graduation date and degree information directly. This is why specifying your school address is crucial; it allows the verifier to cross-reference and verify your information accurately.

Common Issues and Solutions

Moreover, your concern about the error affecting your background check is understandable. However, most organizations have robust procedures in place to handle such issues. They rely on multiple sources to confirm your details. If the check reveals any discrepancies, they are likely to reach out to you and request additional information. They understand that human error can occur, and their goal is to confirm the accuracy of your information.

Conclusion

While it's important to provide accurate information for your background check, a minor error in the school address or date range should not significantly impact the outcome. Automations can sometimes generate errors, which a human reviewer can easily correct. If you're unsure, reaching out to the service provider is a good idea. This shows your commitment to the accuracy of your application and can potentially resolve any issues before they escalate.