It has become a trend for company's to do a background check before hiring a new employee. This way of acting is common in the USA but rarely used in France. .
However, some companies ask for a police record. I personally experienced this last summer when applying to work for a company specialized in offering chauffeur services. I was amazed by such an attitude.
In the soap DC we are studying in class, Mason and Pete apply for a job at the state department. After passing the first selection with success, a member of the government comes to their house to ask them very personal question about their past. This is called "background check". .
In this essay we will discuss whether such acts are acceptable or not and if the interviewees should tell the truth or are better off lying.
It is difficult to take a position and say if background checks are good or not, it definitely depends of the context.
In my opinion, background checks are acceptable if they are used exclusively to evaluate the ability of the person to do the job. For instance, questions could refer to previous job experiences, recent projects achieved and also information about the applicant's scholarship such as his/her studies in University with his/her majors and the results or ranking. It could also be interesting for a recruiter to know why the person is applying for the job offer (desire to change?, just got laid off? ). Employers want to control the information supplied by job applicants to avoid false or inflated information.
I also agree that for some sensitive job sectors a background check should be compulsory, especially after the terrorist acts of September 11,2001. These events have resulted in heightened security and identity-verification strategies by employers. Potential job candidates and long-time employees alike are being examined with a new eye following September 11, 2001. In crucial sectors like nuclear, security departments, army background checks are necessary due to their strategic activities and in those conditions, I don't find it exaggerated to look back in the personal life to be sure nothing is wrong.
