Doing background checks used to be a procedure that was somewhat difficult, and they simply weren't often done. In some cases, especially with high-end government jobs, pre employment screen tests software was used. This method, however, was expensive to obtain in the past, and was often not up-to-date. Certain companies still use pre employment screen service software, and some find that it is sufficient. In most cases, however, the Internet makes background checks easier, and they are generally more useful than using pre employment screen software.

Many sites offer background checks, which are typically done for a small fee. These will typically reveal everything from a poor financial status to a criminal record. If a candidate does not wish to disclose his or her personal information, that may be a red flag that he or she has something to hide; this is the exact purpose of a pre employment screen. Even a simple search engines investigation will reveal interesting information about a prospective candidate. Sometimes, candidate profile pages can reveal that information, something the candidate obviously doesn't care about hiding.

Casual acquaintances know about these sites, since the applicant posted it, so it's not something that's off limits from a prospective employer. You might type in your candidate's name and college affiliation, for example, and find that they have a personal profile page where they list their favorite activity as "drinking and passing out." This may very well cause an employer to rethink hiring this candidate, since they've shown they can be irresponsible in their personal lives. In summary, background checks are wonderful ways to do pre employment screening for any past behaviors that may warrant them unemployable. Any criminal behavior should likely set off warning signs about risks associated with hiring that person.