UA & "Background Check" question

Hey folks
I'm one of the many U.S. unemployed at the moment. Months into a job search, a new worry has come to haunt me.

I'm trying to get a job at a local college. I know they only test for a few "safety-sensitive" positions (none of which I'll be applying for of course). They do, however, have a check-box on all their applications where you must indicate willingness to undergo a "background check" if they should decide to hire you. Their drug policy otherwise requires you to be somehow caught with drugs or suspected of use for it to become an issue.

I have no criminal record whatsoever, no arrests, nothing even as a minor. However I once took a UA test for a temp agency and failed. I'd actually already started the job they assigned me to, worked a few hours, and then was called and told to report to the temp agency; there I was told that my test was positive, and I could no longer be considered for employment through that agency (funny thing, they told me then that if I'd simply opted out of testing-required jobs in the first place, they could still send me to no-test jobs, but since I'd failed a test they couldn't employ me at all).

That failed test was approx. 15 years ago. My work record after that time is great, nothing that would be an obstacle to employment.

My question is: can that failed test show up on a background check? The employment app doesn't detail what that background check would consist of. The failed test was administered by a 3rd-party testing lab, and the temp agency was (I'm fairly sure) local, not even one of the "chains."

My guess is that that failure would be "privileged" information, available only to the temp agency that paid for it. Obviously that temp agency wouldn't be listed on my resume.

The most info I can find on the check is that a bit of Googling finds an article that refers to it as a "criminal background check." They're more than welcome to look at that; other than a couple speeding tickets, Johnny Law doesn't know who I am

Can someone point me to some info on this, preferably showing that I needn't worry? I'm not running for political office or anything , just want to start making a living again.

Thanks

In my experience you have nothing to worry about. Especially since you won't even be listing the company on your resume, and the length of time since it happened. I failed a UA for at quest for a job I was applying for then turned right around and joined the military getting a top secret clearance. They do an extensive background check for your clearance and nothing was ever mentioned to me in the two times that I had to have it done. Just my two cents, I wish you the best of luck with your job!
kushnotbush

Thanks, that makes me feel better about it.