What to Do When an Employer Googles You and Finds Something Bad
First, find out where the information came from. If a background check company supplied it, federal law says you get a copy of the report and a chance to dispute it before the employer makes a final decision. If a hiring manager just searched your name, you have far fewer formal rights, so your best moves are to address it directly and change what the next search shows.
Either way, don't pretend it isn't there. The candidates who come through this best are the ones who bring it up briefly, explain it honestly, and get back to talking about the job.
Figure out which situation you are in
Ask the recruiter plainly: "Did this come from a background check report, or from an online search?" If a report was ordered, you should already have signed a written authorization for it, and the answer tells you which rules apply.
- A background check report from a company that sells them is a "consumer report" under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The employer needed your written permission to get it, and specific notice rules apply.
- An informal search by someone at the company, like Googling you or looking at your social media, generally isn't covered by those FCRA notice rules. Anti-discrimination laws still apply to how they use what they find.
If a background check report was involved
The FTC's guidance for employers, Background Checks: What Employers Need to Know, spells out the steps. Before rejecting you because of a report, the employer must give you a copy of the report and a document called "A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act." That is the pre-adverse action notice, and it gives you a chance to respond before a final decision.
If they still turn you down, they must tell you the name, address, and phone number of the company that supplied the report. They must also tell you that the company did not make the hiring decision, and that you have the right to dispute the report and get a free copy within 60 days.
What to check in the report
Read every line. Common problems include records that belong to someone with a similar name, charges shown as open that were actually dismissed, and one case listed twice. Dispute errors in writing with the background check company, attach court documents, and send the employer a copy of the dispute right away.
There are time limits on some records, too. Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681c, background check companies generally can't report arrests that did not lead to a conviction once they are more than seven years old. That limit doesn't apply to convictions, and it doesn't apply to jobs expected to pay $75,000 a year or more. Some states have stricter rules. The EEOC's guidance on arrest and conviction records also says an arrest alone does not prove someone committed a crime. This is general information, not legal advice. If you think your rights were violated, talk to an employment attorney.
If someone just searched your name
Now it comes down to how you handle the conversation. If the employer brings it up, or if you know it's the first thing people see when they search your name, deal with it head-on:
- Keep it to three or four sentences. What happened, what the outcome was, and what is different now.
- Stick to facts you can back up. "The charge was dismissed in 2022; I have the court record if it helps."
- Don't blame the website or the reporter. Even if the coverage was unfair, arguing about it takes over the interview.
- If it isn't you, say so and prove it. A different middle name, a different city, or a different age is often enough. Mix-ups with people who share your name are more common than most employers realize.
- If it's false, say that clearly, and treat getting it taken down as a separate project.
See exactly what they saw
Search yourself the way a stranger would. Open a private browser window, sign out of your accounts, and try your name on its own, your name plus your city, and your name plus your job title. Check the Images tab and the second page of results. Note every result that could worry an employer.
Then sort the list. Some things you can remove yourself, like old posts on your own accounts. Some a platform might remove if you ask. Some, like accurate news stories and court records on government sites, will almost certainly stay up. Our guide to what Google removes for free goes through the categories.
Change what the next employer finds
You can't control what's already been seen, but you can work on the next search. Start with removals, since those are permanent:
Then build accurate results
What you can't remove, you can outrank over time with pages that are accurate and current. Use the same form of your name everywhere, so search engines connect the pages to each other. A complete LinkedIn profile, a simple personal site on a domain with your name, and profiles on professional directories in your field are the usual starting points. This takes months, and it works better for some names than others. A common name, or one that already has strong pages, is harder to move.
If you're actively job hunting, our page for job seekers walks through the order most people tackle this in.
- Personal details. Google's Results about you tool lets you find and request removal of search results that show your phone number, home address, or email.
- Outdated pages. If a page was changed or taken down but Google still shows the old version, use the Refresh Outdated Content tool.
- Mugshot and arrest-listing sites. These follow different rules than newspapers. See our mugshot removal page.
When outside help makes sense
If there's one bad result and you know what it is, the steps above are often enough. Help is worth considering when there are several results across different sites, when the problem is a case of mistaken identity that keeps spreading, or when you have interviews coming up and need a clear plan. Be skeptical of anyone who promises the result will be gone by a certain date.
Want this handled for you? See our online reputation repair service.
