Most companies run background checks on all their potential employees nowadays. This can be a major obstacle when searching for a new job if there’s something negative in the report. Companies don’t like hiring employees with shaky backgrounds, but there are ways around this. Here’s how you can beat a bad background check and get the job.

Run a Check Yourself

The first thing you’ll need to do is run your own background check before applying to any jobs you want. It’s difficult to know what will or won’t show up on a check if you don’t run one yourself beforehand. Once you know what’s on the report, you can take measures to respond and fix anything on the background check.

Be Honest

One of the best things you can do is tell any potential job about your background check and the issues in it. Employers can still hire you if they like you, so honesty is a great policy. If you’re upfront, they won’t discover it in the background check. This way, you’ll also have a chance to explain why they should hire you anyways.

Follow the Law

A lot of things can show up on your background check, but you should try to keep it to a minimum. The more that comes back on the report, the worse your chances are of getting a job. Do what you can to follow the law, and understand what each thing in your report means. For example, learn how SR-22 insurance can affect your chances at a job so you know what you’re dealing with.

Get Recommendations

One of the best ways to offset a bad background check when searching for a job is to get good recommendations. Most jobs put a lot of weight on your recommendations, as they attest to your character and work ethic. This is far more telling than a background check in most cases.

A bad background check isn’t the end of the world, and you can still work at amazing places and follow your career of choice by passing your check. Honesty makes all the difference when looking for your new job.