[akkartik]

I've been at several startups and never undergone a background check, to my knowledge. I've never been asked any "Have you ever..?" questions. So this is less of an issue than you might think. I get the sense companies only start doing background checks when they grow large enough to become targets for litigation.

[rocky1138]

Or when you're applying at a place without having a good friend that works there who can vouch for you/friends with the CEO, etc.

Networking gets past almost any trouble, where trouble is defined as the sort of thing that shouldn't stop you from getting hired but does.