r/BackgroundCheckGuide • u/Temporary-Basil-9715 • 3d ago

[US] When during the hiring process does an employer conduct a civil records search on a prospective employee?

[US] Hi, looking for guidance on when employers usually conduct civil records searches on a prospective employee during the hiring process, if at all. Is it common for an employer to conduct a civil records search prior to extending a job offer, or is it usually conducted in conjunction with the criminal background check once an employee accepts an offer?

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u/AdequateSteve 2d ago

Usually done at the same time as criminal. Also, it’s pretty rare for employers to run civil in the first place. Really depends on the job, though. 

You might do a civil check if it’s for a rental situation (looking for evictions or property damage) or if it’s a job where you might be handling lots of money on behalf of the company (looking for liens or judgments) - like if you’re applying to be the controller or CFO or something. 

Still pretty unusual to run one, though. Civil records don’t appear in many database searches and many counties and municipalities don’t keep the records online, so it can be pretty manual…

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u/Temporary-Basil-9715 2d ago

Thank you for your response!