A background investigator is someone who looks into other people’s pasts in order to learn more about them. When an employer is considering a number of candidates for a critical position, one may be used. When considering a nomination, politicians may hire a background investigator to make sure there is nothing surprising about the person’s past that could jeopardize the nomination. The background investigator looks into a person’s criminal history, employment history, and, in some cases, credit history.
The primary responsibility of a background investigator is to ascertain the individual’s past. If the person has applied for a job, it may just be a matter of double-checking the information they’ve already given. If no information is provided, the job may become much more difficult because the investigator will have to generate his or her own leads. This procedure can take a long time and lead to a number of dead ends.
In most cases, a background investigator’s job entails simply reviewing paperwork and public records. It’s simply a matter of knowing where to look for those records so he or she can complete the task quickly and effectively. This is particularly true for records pertaining to criminal or civil court proceedings.
The background investigator may be tasked with obtaining information from credit reporting agencies in the case of a credit check. The investigator will need the individual’s permission to obtain a credit report. Because credit reports are the reports of private individuals, they are usually not subject to public records requests. Furthermore, the organizations that provide the reports are frequently not government entities. A signed form or other legally binding consent will be required by the background investigator.
This type of investigator may conduct interviews in addition to evaluating various types of paperwork. These interviews are aimed at locating people who know the person under investigation and asking them questions about their background. This can be a frustrating aspect of the job because it can take a long time to find people who are willing to speak with you, especially if they believe the situation is negative. As a result, the investigator must be approachable and may even take the time to develop a stronger bond with the source.
The background investigator will report back to the person who hired him or her once he or she has gathered all of the necessary information. This report should contain all pertinent information about the situation and may be delivered orally, in writing, or in both formats. If information cannot be verified, this may be something to discuss with the person being investigated. Frequently, the investigator will provide an explanation for why the information could not be verified.