Interesting editorial in Tuesday's  New York Times regarding the possibility of incomplete or inaccurate background checks. A must read for anyone looking for a j-o-b  in the near future . Employers  are getting more in the habit of running background and credit checks on prospective employees, it pays (literally) to be prepared.

Go HERE to read the full editorial.

Excerpt:

Sloppy reporting was not a huge problem in the past when there were fewer companies gathering data and the only way to get it was to examine court records in person. But, in recent years, this has become a computer-driven industry, with companies buying often incomplete records in bulk from the courts or from other screening companies and then not updating them. An incomplete report might show, for instance, that a job candidate was charged with a crime but not that he was exonerated. And faulty data can circulate forever.  

A study issued in April by the National Consumer Law Center, an advocacy group, points to many other problems. Background reports often list the same offense many times, making it appear as if the applicant has an extensive record. Worse still, companies sometimes fail to do the basic checking necessary to distinguish among different people who have the same name.

HAT TIP TO JENNIFER MAYER ATTORNEY AT LAW!