# Do Your Own Background Check Before Employers and Landlords Do
Running a background check on yourself reveals problems before hiring managers or landlords discover them. This proactive approach gives you time to fix errors or explain discrepancies.
Start with the three major credit bureaus. Visit Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to pull your credit report for free at annualcreditreport.com. You get one free report per bureau per year. Review for inaccuracies, fraud, or accounts you don't recognize. Dispute errors immediately through the bureaus' websites. Errors can tank your credit score and torpedo job applications.
Next, search yourself online. Google your full name, variations of your name, and your email addresses. See what appears in search results. Check Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter for old posts or photos that employers might find unprofessional. Adjust privacy settings or remove problematic content now.
Run a criminal background check through your county courthouse website. Most allow free searches by name. Some states offer statewide databases. Know exactly what shows up before an employer runs the same search. Some convictions disappear after seven years, but others remain permanently.
Check eviction records at your county assessor's office or courthouse. Evictions appear on background checks for years and hurt rental applications.
Look at your driving record. Visit your state's Department of Motor Vehicles website or office. Traffic violations and accidents appear on employment background checks, especially for driving jobs.
Review your employment history. Confirm dates, titles, and reasons for leaving with previous employers. Lies about employment are easily caught during reference checks.
Finally, consider a professional background check service. Companies like MyBackgroundCheck.com or GoodHire run the same reports employers use, starting around $20 to $40. This shows exactly what hiring managers will see.