<p>Watch Your Back </p>
<p>Job seekers need to start worrying about more than just their work history. Employers are increasingly turning to background checks to research potential employees. The ADP Employer Services Hiring Index shows that use of background checks has risen 16 percent in the past year to 4.4 milliontriple the amount recorded 8 years ago. It would seem that our lives truly are becoming more transparent. </p>
<p>Among the most common "hits" turned up in background checks are inconsistencies in education and employment credentials, negative credit reports, criminal records, and yesdriving violations. </p>
<p>On top of conducting formal background checks, many recruiters are using Google to screen job applicants. So it's a good idea to do a little ego-surfing to see what's out there on the Web with your name on it. Other job seekers are sealing their own fate by posting blogs that, in some cases, may endanger their job search if they contain potentially controversial opinions or information. </p>
<p>So, before you embark on your next job hunt, check in on and, if possible, take care of any negative dings in your background. Or be prepared to explain them if they come up in a job interview. </p>
<p>Of course, some industries are more prone to use background checks as a standard hiring practice, including securities sales and trading, government, banking, transportation, and telecommunications. </p>