How long background check take for employment

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Download Now. Kim Nelson Kim Nelson leads a team of highly creative people that inspire her to find new and engaging ways to help HR professionals stay current on trends in human capital management. More Posts Follow Me:. Comments are closed. Background checks can also be slowed down by confusion over names. These checks search through large databases for every variant of a name, for example Bill, Billy, Will, William.

If the applicant has a common name, the agency will have to review and cross check the records to ensure they have the right person. Often times by middle name, ethnicity, or another unique identifier. Some universities, colleges, and former employers may not have fully computerized records, which can add another wrinkle and delay in receiving a background check.

State and government departments, however, usually have set turnaround times that are predictable. However, there are some things to avoid that can slow down your results. This kind of check might take two to four days, or maybe more, as the recruiter needs to be in touch with all the past employers or their HR personnel. Thus, the higher the number of jobs the candidate has changed, the more tedious the process becomes.

If the candidate has worked in other countries, then the background check might typically take from one to two weeks. The candidate can expect to sign a release form giving permission to the company to fetch the relevant information. This check involves matching the educational experience in a candidate's resume with data from the relevant schools and universities. It can be an arduous task, and it also requires the candidate to sign a release form.

This type of background check might take several days. The timeframe for this check may vary significantly. If a candidate's criminal history is limited to one state, or one home country, then the check can take one to two business days. However, verifying international records takes much longer. If the candidate has emigrated or worked in different countries, this process can stretch up to, or past, 20 days.

This type of check includes verification of any memberships of trade organizations or any certification or license authorization check. Verifying these professional records may take an average of two business days. This background check seeks an overview of a candidate's credit history. Typically, it can take around two to four days after verifying details with credit bureaus.

This kind of background check is especially pertinent for workers in any level of government position. References for potential terrorists and fraudsters are easily available. Thus, this search might finish in a day. Your employer is responsible for you due to insurance implications, especially if you are on the road for business purposes. In that case, employers will conduct this type of check to ensure that they hire someone responsible behind the wheel and to lower their insurance costs. These credit checks do not include your credit scores ; however, they do show whether you've paid things on time and will reflect past addresses and employers.

If you're applying to a job that requires handling money, the credit report will inform the company about whether or not hiring you would be a financial risk after the employment screening. Employers are liable for you if you're on the road for business purposes. As such, they will review your driving record if it is one of the duties involved. They want to ensure you have a good driving record so they know that they're putting a responsible person in one of their vehicles.

Also, an employee with a poor driving record can negatively affect the company's insurance rates. Companies must provide safe work environments for their staff. Many believe that criminal background checks during an employment screening are vital to keeping a safe working environment.

Simply having something negative in your criminal records doesn't automatically mean that you won't get the job. Again, honesty is the best policy. The U. Equal Opportunity Commission EEOC has a number of rules businesses must follow when searching and using criminal background checks for employment. For example, if two people from different racial backgrounds have the same criminal record, a company can't deny employment to a candidate of one background while offering employment to the other.

This type of discrimination goes against EEOC guidelines. Simply speaking, the background check process is when companies want to verify that you're the right person for the job. They don't go into a background check expecting to find something — quite the opposite in fact. Employers only want to verify the information you've already provided. Some facets of a background check can't be changed, but if you suspect an employer is going to request a background check, there are some steps you can take to prepare if you're feeling concerned.

Start by requesting copies of your records. You can get a free credit report online from each of the three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion through Annual Credit Report.

Although an employer won't see your credit score, they may see your debt-carrying accounts or any bills sent to collections. You can take steps to start fixing up your credit report, but do note these updates won't happen overnight. It can take up to one or two months for a credit report to update, so it's best to start this process sooner than later.

If your driving record is going to be particularly important for a job, you can request a copy from your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. This process will vary by state, but typically you can request this online, in person, or via phone or mail. It depends. If you're applying for a non-federal job, the background check will take about a week.

If you're applying to a federal position, the background check can take a couple of months. Of course, these timeframes are for the background check itself. You are not likely to hear from the company the same day they get the results.

They have to review the results before they reach out to you.