Who Needs to Go Through a Level 2 Background Check? (2024)

Level 2 background check is a broad criminal record screening that includes a fingerprint-based check for state-wide criminal history records through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and national criminal history records through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Since a level 2 background check is comprehensive in nature, it digs through a lot of information to ensure that the candidate is hired for a position of trust and can actually prove worthy of it.

If criminal records show up during your level 2 background check, it may lead to disqualification depending on the severity of the crime.

While minor misdemeanors may be overlooked by an employer, felony convictions will most probably be considered as disqualifying offenses for employment in which a level 2 background check is required.

There are many more disqualifying offenses for level 2 background checks. All the offenses can be found listed here individually.

For many jobs, types such as banking, finance, securities, etc., your credit history mean a lot. If you haven’t been able to maintain a good credit history, it will most probably result in disqualification in your level 2 background check.

A drug test may be performed for the job types that attract level 2 background checks. If you are an unlawful user of or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance and it shows up in your drug test, you can be disqualified from the hiring process.

If you are undergoing a hiring process for a position of trust or responsibility, it will most probably require a level 2 background check.

In such a scenario, lying on your resume or furnishing incorrect information to make your candidature look better than others, will be a really bad choice. If the information could not be verified during the background check and is found to be a lie, you will be straightway disqualified from the hiring process.

Other than that, if you have a lot of short-lived jobs on your resume, multiple gaps without reasonable explanation, and an employment history that makes you look unstable, an employer might choose to trash your resume.

Poor driving history can disqualify you from a level 2 background check especially if the job requires you to drive a vehicle. Too many citations, convictions for reckless driving, or driving under the influence will lead to disqualification from the hiring process.

Screening online activity such as social media posts, tweets, etc. may seem as if going beyond the limits of a level 2 background check. However, it is a known secret that some employers, especially government agencies may choose to screen your online activity for some employment types. Your social media posts, comments, tweets, etc. that show your political bias, the ideology you follow, etc. can have an impact on a final employment decision.