Many smaller businesses that do conduct some form of background checks on potential employers do so themselves through public records, but this method can be time consuming. BackgroundNow.com has recently launched a new “DIY Search Tool” feature which will make looking into an applicant’s past more efficient and easier for those who do not wish to hire others to handle such matters.

This new feature will connect users directly to the federal government’s registry for all federal criminal, civil, bankruptcy and tax cases. The websites for various county courthouses, many of which offer free searches of criminal, civil and traffic court cases, can be accessed through this site The registry charges users 8-cents per search conducted, but the DIY background check feature on BackgroundNow.com is available free of charge.

Lee Hill, CEO of Informed Networks Corporation, which runs BackgroundNow.com, says that “there is quite a bit of secrecy and misunderstanding surrounding background checks. In part because it was long the domain of private investigators who kept the tricks of the trade to themselves. Also locating the correct source of information can be a complex matter.” He went on to say that “the DIY Search Tool gives access to information needed to get the job done.”

BackgroundNow’s new search feature may give employers access to all the records that are needed to conduct a background check internally, but its not foolproof. Although the federal databases used cover many jurisdictions in most states, they are still incomplete.

The search tool uses the most complete source of records in the country, the National Crime Information Center, which is managed by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services, but misdemeanors are rarely included in it. In many cases, county and even state records are never sent into the FBI. Although use of the DIY background check feature is free, monthly membership to the website is $9.95.

During the hour long and very interactive discussion we talked how many Gen Y’ers think nothing of posting photos and other information to sites such as Facebook and MySpace under the mistaken impression that employers either can’t see it or won’t care about it. I showed some examples of students using the web to enhance their employment opportunities and others who are killing their chances because of what they’ve posted on-line. We also talked about what candidates can do to remove harmful information that they’ve posted or which has been posted by others and to bury information that can’t be removed.

I was very impressed with the students. In addition to be attentive and focused, they frequently asked great questions so we had much more of a dialogue than a presentation. That made it more interesting and educational for them and a lot more fun for me. Several of the students approached me afterwards to discuss their situations.

One takeaway that I need to chew on for a while: of the 75 or so attendees, only one indicated that he had heard of LinkedIn and that was because his boss had insisted that he sign-up. He uses it and understands its phenomenal potential for job seekers so hats off to him, but what about the others? Why are the others not using LinkedIn? Is it a generational gap? I can’t imagine that the answer is that they feel that it won’t help them because apparently only one had heard of it. If you don’t know about a tool, you can’t know whether it is going to help you or not. Perhaps the real question here is why haven’t these students even heard of LinkedIn and are they representative of students at other colleges across the country?

If you prove your worth in the office and behave like a valued employee then everyone will appreciate you and your work. This in turn will compel management to consider you for a full time job.

Be Generous And Pay Your Dues
Generosity pays – so act like an employee and take extra assignments and tasks to showcase your skills. Sometimes you may have to take a less glamorous job during your internship, but do not neglect your work and do that work with full sincerity.

Lower your expectations about how exciting an internship will be, as this can soften the blow of being asked to do ‘grunt work’. Don’t balk on any given tasks and do the work with a smile on your face, as people generally remember a gracious and well-behaved and hard working person. A smile can open many doors.

Exceed Expectations
Sometimes as an intern, your tasks may be limited to menial as well as clerical jobs. Don’t despair – keep your spirits up and be ready to take on any odd job with a smile and go beyond the call of duty.

If you see someone in the office staying late or hear an employee being overburdened with work, try and share the burden. Go out of your way and ask for new assignments. At first, you may not be given important assignments, but when your managers see your sincerity (and abilities), they may start giving you important tasks. Your initiative will be remembered when important tasks come up.

Be Management-Friendly
Your day-to-day routine may not permit you to be friendly with all the staff. So remember make small talk with everyone, especially your manager. Make sure they know that you are sincerely interested in the company and its goals – and you may just be rewarded with a full time job when your studies are completed.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions – Six Sigma Online ( http://www.sixsigmaonline.org ) offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_Jacowski

At their heart, video resumes are a way for a job seeker to catch the attention of hiring managers. In a competitive job market, sticking out from the crowd is important. Those who are considering making should look at it as form of personal marketing. The image on the screen is all the employer has to judge the applicant by. Because of this, it is extremely important to consider what impression one wants to give.

Above all else, honesty is important. Lying about skills or past times to impress an employer will only lead to let downs and job dissatisfaction. Instead, one should focus on the qualities they have that make them a better employee than other applicants. Take the time to write a script so that important information is not forgotten once the camera is rolling.

Personal image also plays a huge part in video resumes. Although this may not be an actual job interview, one should dress as it is. Appearing in casual attire may give employers the impression that this is how the applicant plans to dress in the office if they’re chosen.

One mistake that many video resume creators make is trying to tell the employer their life story. It’s best to remember that hiring managers potentially have a pile of these on their desk and don’t have time for sitcom. Keeping it simple and concise is always the best way to go.

Although no one expects a video resume to have Steven Spielberg worthy production quality, some thought should be given to the technical aspect of the recording. Many common mistakes involve poor editing, bad lighting, or shadows. Because of this one should review their video resume several times over to ensure that these blunders have been avoided. It’s better to take the time to make another recording than to be looked over because of such mistakes.

Also, remember to remove all distracting objects in the area that will be used for filming. The employer should be focused on what the applicant is saying, not on trying to figure out what band poster is on the wall behind them.

Graber suggests putting some of these job focused self-improvement ideas on your New Year’s Resolution “to-do” list for 2008:

• Network More
  Make at least one new business acquaintance per month and cultivate that relationship throughout the year. Don’t let ‘old acquaintances’ be forgotten either, as they are the most likely to have a good sense of your professional growth to date. Pay attention to all contacts with periodic calls, e-mails and appropriate notes.
• Take Responsibility for Your Own Career
  Don’t rely on anyone but yourself to map your success path. Choose near term (6months-1 year) career goals (a promotion, a raise, etc.) and focus on achieving them. Keep abreast of trends in your industry and read the “people on the move” column to see where hiring/promotions are happening in case you want, or need, to make a change.
• Get Out There
  Give a speech. Write an article. Host an event. Get your name noticed in your field at least once in 2008. Visibility puts you ‘on the radar’ for potential new opportunities as well as creating ‘career currency’ at your present employer when it is time for reviews.
• Learn a New Skill
  Master new software. Pursue an advanced degree. Enroll in a certificate
  program that is appropriate for your industry. Any of these will make you more valuable and will provide you with a well deserved sense of achievement.
• Be Good To Yourself
  Your mother was right, “If you have your health, you have everything.” So make time for yourself in 2008. Join a gym. Take a family vacation. Turn off your iPhone or Blackberry for an hour every day. Put things in perspective and you may find that everything falls into place.

“The job market may be in for a roller-coaster ride in the New Year,” says Graber, “so make some career oriented resolutions just in case.”

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Careful employee pre-screening can drastically decrease the number of inappropriate individuals that end up on the pay roll. Drug screening and background checks often weed out the worst of these applicants, enabling companies to avoid many of the worst hiring mistakes. The most difficult of unsuitable applicants to avoid hiring aren’t the drug addicts or those with criminal backgrounds. Often sneaking by even the most astute hiring managers are applicants that lack the skill necessary to complete the tasks associated with their job titles.

One way to decrease the number of these individuals on staff is by utilizing a different type of employee pre-screening. Aptitude assessment tests are becoming an increasing popular addition to the traditional hiring process. These tests can range basic literacy surveys to programs designed to show a persons ability in leadership positions. There are also test that can evaluate an applicant’s honesty and integrity,

With the amount of money that bad hiring decisions cost a company, this form of employee pre-screening for drugs can more than pay for itself. Many businesses exist to provide these services to those who desire to increase their overall level of success. Employers have the option of using pre-made or customized tests although prices usually vary between the two.

Although the tests, when properly used, can be a highly effective form of background checks, they are not concrete. Learning to judge the results can be difficult due to the fact that an individual with the highest score on a test of basic skills could lack the personality or people skills a position may require. Because of this, aptitude assessment tests should not have the final say so in the hiring process. For the most part, it’s best to look for applicants who have the best mix of required skills and the personality suited for the job.