By Averyl Hill         JobsInME.com

The good news is that many employers are taking workplace safety seriously, and have taken steps to increase security. The bad news for you, a job seeker, is that you may have to jump through more hoops and pass a few more screening procedures as a result of the events of September 11th. According to Ted Axelson of First Response Security, Inc. in Scarborough, his company has seen a 25 percent increase in employers conducting background checks since that time. The best things you can do are not take the process personally (as long as it’s legal) and inform yourself of your rights.

Your Rights

It’s important to know that you cannot be discriminated against because of your religious background and beliefs. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits bias based on religion, ethnicity, birthplace, culture, or linguistic characteristics. Unfortunately some people, although very few, may be more suspicious of specific groups of people. It is perfectly acceptable for employers to carefully screen you, no matter what your nationality and background is. What would be unacceptable is if employers ONLY screened certain groups of people.

Questions asked during an interview that relate to race, color, religion, national origin or disabilities are illegal. You can’t be asked if you are a native-born citizen of the United States, or where you are from. You can be asked if you are legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. You can’t be asked if you have ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol. You can be given a drug test and medical exam only after a conditional offer of employment. You can’t be asked if you have a disability, but you can be asked if you can perform the essential functions of a job.

Employers can check a wide range of records- with your permission. According to Deb Whitworth who has over twenty years of HR management experience and is the President of HRInME.com, "You would need to sign a form that authorizes the company to investigate your background." Oftentimes, the signed job application will provide this authorization, so read the fine print carefully. Additionally, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, employers must get your written consent before seeking your credit report.

Contacting past employers is an obvious step in a background check. Because most companies require written authorization from a former employee before they will release any employment information, and also have in-house policies limiting what they can release, "Some employers will verify dates of employment only, without further comment," Whitworth explains. Even gaps in your resume may now raise more suspicions. In a press release from the web-based company, USSearch.com, they are promoting intensive background checks for people who have gaps in their employment history "to account for what the worker’s activities and travels were during the period(s) between jobs."

What can Internet background searches turn up? Some sites advertise the ability to check county criminal records, driver's license history, social security numbers, your credit report, your education, and a federal criminal court search. You might consider purchasing and conducting a search on yourself to see what turns up! That way, you will be able to dispute any incorrect records before a potential employer finds them.

It’s important to keep in mind that if you are concerned about what may turn up, your refusal to share information may jeopardize your chances of getting the position, Whitworth points out. That doesn’t mean you aren’t entitled to a legal background search and an interview that respects your rights. To find out more on what’s legal and what isn’t, you can visit the web site of the equal opportunity commission: http://www.eeoc.gov/index.html.

The best way to prepare for your interview is to secure at least three local references who will give you favorable recommendations, and bring their contact information with you when you meet with the employer. And remember, the interview process is a two-way street, so don’t forget to research the company to which you are applying!