Whether you’re an employer or a job seeker, you’re undoubtedly interested in how long employee background checks take. If you are looking to fill a job, you may be on a tight deadline and need a speedy response on applicant background checks.
If you’re a job seeker, you probably want to know when you can expect to hear back from a potential employer. The solution is the same in each case: it depends on the kind of check. Here is everything you need to know about background check take for a job.
How Long Does A Background Check Take For A Job?
What Exactly Is A Background Check?
A background check verifies the accuracy of the information on a candidate’s résumé. During the recruiting process, the recruiter gathers information on the applicant.
These considerations are education, previous job history, criminal records, motor vehicle or license record checks, and credit history. These criteria are more precisely as follows:
Verification Of Identity
When it comes to turnaround time, identity verification differs substantially, like many other criteria. Some prospective employers may want your passport or driver’s license information, while others may make a complete inquiry using Social Security number tracking.
Verification Of Employment
This investigation may take two to four days since the recruiter must contact all previous employers or HR professionals. As a result, the more jobs the applicant has changed, the more time-consuming the procedure gets. If the individual has worked in other countries, the background check might take two weeks.
Academic Validation
This verification entails verifying a candidate’s educational background on their résumé with data from the appropriate institutions and colleges. It may be a complex process, and the applicant must sign a release document. This sort of background investigation might take many days.
Criminal Background Checks
The duration of this examination may vary significantly. If a candidate’s criminal history restricts to a single state or nation, the background check may take two business days. Verifying overseas records, on the other hand, takes substantially longer.
Verification Of Professional Certification
This sort of check involves the verification of any trade group affiliations and any certification or licensing authorization checks. Verifying these professional documents might take up to two working days on average.
Checks On Credit
This background check looks at a candidate’s credit history. It usually takes two to four days after validating information with credit bureaus.
Checks For Global Watch Lists
This kind of background check is crucial for a team of employees at any level of government. Potential terrorists and scammers may readily get references. As a result, this search might complete in a single day.
Driving Tests
Because of insurance implications, your company is accountable for you, mainly if you are on the road for small business reasons. In such a situation, businesses will do this sort of screening to guarantee that they hire a responsible driver while also lowering their insurance rates.
Why Do Companies Do Background Checks?
A background check is a crucial pre-screening procedure that reduces the possibility of employing risky or dishonest individuals.
Hiring the incorrect individual due to a hurried or ineffective background check might cost the business time, money, and possibly an unwarranted lawsuit.
Hiring a recruit without valid residence documents in the United States may result in penalties of up to $10,000 per employee.
As a result, adequate screening of applicants is critical once they pass the early rounds of telephonic interviews.
How Long Does It Take To Do A Background Check?
Candidates understandably want to know how long employment background checks will take. However, there may not always be a clear solution.
It is because, as previously said, each background check is dependent on a variety of criteria. A background check should typically take between two and five business days.
However, each person’s past is unique, and variables might cause this span to extend.
Fortunately, there are two basic techniques to avoid process delays. First, if the company and applicant work carefully to complete the necessary release documents and authorizations, the procedure will go more quickly.
Second, applicants may avoid delays by ensuring that all information supplied is precise and accurate to the best of their knowledge.
Are There Any Chances Of A Background Check Being Delayed?
Delays in the background check procedure may be anticipated and hence avoided. Sometimes they are unforeseeable and are just a part of the process.
Candidates May Avoid Delays By Taking The Following Steps
Provide Correct Information.
If the employer provides false information to the third-party investigation agency, the check may take longer to complete. It takes time to correct information.
Release Paperwork And Authorizations Must Sign
Signing all release papers is required by law, and it permits academic institutions and previous employers to provide information rapidly.
Unfortunately, specific issues are beyond the candidates’ control. Among the most frequent are
Many Residences
If a candidate has lived in multiple places or has changed occupations often, reference checks may take longer due to the requirement to verify with various sources.
Lack Of A Paper Trail
Educational institutions may not have digitized records or, worse, may cease to exist entirely.
International Experience
If the applicant has worked or studied in various countries, the referral procedure may take longer than typical.
Name Verification
As easy as it seems, name misunderstanding may create delays.
Multiple Continuing Background Checks
Many delays arise because another candidate’s background check is simultaneously underway, and the employer wants to see both reviews before making an offer.
Conclusion
Any prudent recruiter will go through the screening procedure. It is required to exclude any possible misfit candidates for the position or anybody who may not contribute value to the company. It’s a good indicator for the applicant since a background check is often the final step before receiving an offer letter.
So, in this post, we will go over all of the facts concerning background checks, including the necessity for background checks, the desired turnaround time, and various causes for work background check delays. The above is a complete overview of some commonly asked questions concerning background check take for a job.