Pre-employment Background Screening

[RuedeRivoli]

Hi all,

 

I am currently going through my very first pre-employment background screening. I was told it would take around three weeks to complete the background check.

 

When I initially submitted my background questionnaire, I was contacted right away to support additional information/documentation which I did. Along with the questionnaire, I also submitted a copy of all my degrees/GPA proof, references and payslips for all my past employments to prove the position title, dates and salary. Everything on my CV is backed up with proper official evidence.

 

I have a copy of my criminal record. It's clean.

 

A day after the background questionnaire was submitted, I got an update from the company stating that my credit report came back clear. However, I have not heard aything since. It's been around 10 days and we're in the second week of the background screening.

 

I have not heard anything since. I was told that in case something were to pop up, the screening team would contact me directly for clarification. I was also told the company would not get involved at all. They only get the reports.

 

For those of you who have already experienced a background check, is it normal not to be contacted at all? Is no news good news or what is happening?

 

I don't have a start date yet because it is dependent on the background check completion.

 

I'm starting to get anxious knowing my fate is in the hands of someone who can write whatever it is they want in that report.

 

Thanks!

[Fudgie]

My background check from HR took over 2 weeks. I didn't hear anything. I was told I had the job and everything but I had to wait in limbo because HR is awful and my application/BG check just sat in a queue. Calling does nothing, it's out of the manager's hands. Many places have their own HR dept that do this and they are slllloooooooooow.

[RuedeRivoli]

Well, the background check was delegated to a third party and the HR is only in charge of the updates really. It's not the HR that does the background screening in this instance. Hence, the fact that I was told that if anything pops up, I would be contacted by the screening agency only, not the company.

 

The screening agency only contacted me once to get further documentation and that was it really.

 

I know for fact they're already working on my screening since the credit report came back clear.

[Theniceone]

It has not been 3 weeks yet, there is no reason to be nervous about it. I would contact the company if I have not heard from them after 4 weeks (1 week after the background check was supposed to be completed).

 

It is normal to not be contacted after a backgorund check. Once the verification is completed your file will move to HR were they will provide you with an official start date. You know your file is clear so you have nothing to worry about with respect to the background check.

[LiamLondon]

Hi all,

 

I am currently going through my very first pre-employment background screening. I was told it would take around three weeks to complete the background check.

 

When I initially submitted my background questionnaire, I was contacted right away to support additional information/documentation which I did. Along with the questionnaire, I also submitted a copy of all my degrees/GPA proof, references and payslips for all my past employments to prove the position title, dates and salary. Everything on my CV is backed up with proper official evidence.

 

I have a copy of my criminal record. It's clean.

 

A day after the background questionnaire was submitted, I got an update from the company stating that my credit report came back clear. However, I have not heard aything since. It's been around 10 days and we're in the second week of the background screening.

 

I have not heard anything since. I was told that in case something were to pop up, the screening team would contact me directly for clarification. I was also told the company would not get involved at all. They only get the reports.

 

For those of you who have already experienced a background check, is it normal not to be contacted at all? Is no news good news or what is happening?

 

I don't have a start date yet because it is dependent on the background check completion.

 

I'm starting to get anxious knowing my fate is in the hands of someone who can write whatever it is they want in that report.

 

Thanks!

 

As others have said HR and background companies are incompetent f**ktards mostly and slow. Ask them to expediate it as it wouldn't surprise me if someone forgot or accidentally stuck a post-it note to action it up their bum.

 

One job I had I was technically a contractor for 1 month as it was August and the background guys threw a fit over not being able to contact my secondary school as, guess what, it wasn't term time. I gave them short shrift about it and they weren't a patch on a private eye (who I had actually contact that year - long story). Given that I know 2 people that have procured false references I wonder about HR. And just take a look at their LinkedIn - ! One mate that left a really wanky Irish bank recently just showed me a HR girl's LinkedIn from there where she claims to have been "at the fulcrum of the business" and partly responsible for returning them to profit, when they have nothing to do with that and frankly couldn't hire a miner in Newcastle.

 

Honestly you need to chill as this is yet another post - you seem to be providing an awful lot of posts. I suppose you will stop out of experience but some CBT anxiety therapy could help. I used to get anxious over these things when moving apartment or job, but realised there is little I can do. You're not the only one and tbh I actually once worried over if a couple would take legal action when I offered my apartment to someone else who had a deposit (long story aswell) when they had no recourse and had been correctly informed that I would still be showing it given how flaky they were about having the money ready.

 

Also it is highly likely that the team you will be on is vastly different from idiots in HR. Just look forward to working with professionals and prepare yourself for it and ignore HR drones. You're probably not getting paid at the moment and have other worries but it won't be for long. If worst comes to worst don't be too shy to get money from parents etc - I felt like a doing it first but they are probably better off and only too happy to help, and I know I will for my own kids.

[catfeeder]

This stuff can take forever. On top of the screenings, which may be done in batches, internal stuff can clog the works, such as people who need to review things going on vacation or work travel, or headcounts change mid-process, or a whole queue of people need to be contacted before you.

 

Skip waiting on edge and apply with other places. If your focus is on this being the only job in the world, you'll drive yourself nuts.

 

I've had companies initiate 'next steps' up to 3 months later, when I'd already forgotten about them.

 

Breathe, let go, and let the HR Gods work it all out while you're doing your part to find a job that will enable you to compare offers if this one ever comes through.

 

Head high.

[RuedeRivoli]

This stuff can take forever. On top of the screenings, which may be done in batches, internal stuff can clog the works, such as people who need to review things going on vacation or work travel, or headcounts change mid-process, or a whole queue of people need to be contacted before you.

 

Skip waiting on edge and apply with other places. If your focus is on this being the only job in the world, you'll drive yourself nuts.

 

I've had companies initiate 'next steps' up to 3 months later, when I'd already forgotten about them.

 

Breathe, let go, and let the HR Gods work it all out while you're doing your part to find a job that will enable you to compare offers if this one ever comes through.

 

Head high.

 

I've already signed a contract with them though contigent on this check.

 

I'm clean.

 

Also, I was given a proper indication that they started checking my credentials (employment/education) about two weeks ago.

[Fudgie]

You signed the contract, you have the job, just have to wait now. I know that's easier said than done but really, HR sucks.

[sophie274]

I've already signed a contract with them though contigent on this check.

 

I'm clean.

 

Also, I was given a proper indication that they started checking my credentials (employment/education) about two weeks ago.

 

In that case, you don't have anything to worry about as you're still within the normal processing time they told you about. I would call after 3 weeks to check in if you haven't heard anything yet.

[Batya33]

Agree with Sophie. My only one (last year) took about that long and I believe they also checked social media! All came out fine as I suspected it would.

[Fudgie]

Batya, I don't mean to TJ but did they request your social media profile links and request that you add them as a friend? I hear this is a thing and if you don't add them as friends, they won't hire you.

 

Scares me as I don't post anything controversial, but only my friends and family are on FB and the idea of having coworkers on it makes me nauseous. It feels violating. My whole profile is locked down so no one can see anything if they went to it.

[Batya33]

Batya, I don't mean to TJ but did they request your social media profile links and request that you add them as a friend? I hear this is a thing and if you don't add them as friends, they won't hire you.

 

Scares me as I don't post anything controversial, but only my friends and family are on FB and the idea of having coworkers on it makes me nauseous. It feels violating. My whole profile is locked down so no one can see anything if they went to it.

 

Interesting! Mine was private but no, I wasn't asked that at all. I just assumed they had ways to check.

[thejigsup]

In education, that is a requirement. I got around that by making a page just for my professional life. Nothing controversial ever got posted there because me non work friends and family never knew about it. Easy.

[RuedeRivoli]

Agree with Sophie. My only one (last year) took about that long and I believe they also checked social media! All came out fine as I suspected it would.

 

Good thing I don't have any social media under my real name. As a matter of fact, I don't post anything on social media at all because of this very reason ... screenings! I never got a single request though.

 

I've lived in 3 different countries in the last couple of years, so I would assume it's also part of the reason why it's taking a bit long.

 

Then again, I wouldn't have submitted official proof of every credential/statement on my CV if I had anything to hide. They initially didn't request those, I chose to provide them to expedite the process.

[Fudgie]

Interesting! Mine was private but no, I wasn't asked that at all. I just assumed they had ways to check.

 

Yeah that's what my dad told me that he heard from someone else (not sure of the job/place of employment though). Contrary to popular opinion, if you have your privacy settings enabled, unless you have mutual friends or something, they can't really see what you post. Many people still have things public though and that's where they get "caught".

 

Jigs, I like the idea of making a page just for your professional life. That's smart. I tried LinkedIn years ago but I didn't like it. I think in the future, I would maybe have a separate page and then deactivate my personal page for a bit so if they searched my name, they would only see the professional page.

 

Ruede, the lengthiest part of my HR stint before my job was the background check - particularly the federal portion. I have helped to manage some new contract hires in the past at my job and the BG check by far is what takes the longest. We were left waiting a while. If you've worked in multiple countries, they probably need to request nation-wide checks from those countries.

[RuedeRivoli]

Yeah that's what my dad told me that he heard from someone else (not sure of the job/place of employment though). Contrary to popular opinion, if you have your privacy settings enabled, unless you have mutual friends or something, they can't really see what you post. Many people still have things public though and that's where they get "caught".

 

Jigs, I like the idea of making a page just for your professional life. That's smart. I tried LinkedIn years ago but I didn't like it. I think in the future, I would maybe have a separate page and then deactivate my personal page for a bit so if they searched my name, they would only see the professional page.

 

Ruede, the lengthiest part of my HR stint before my job was the background check - particularly the federal portion. I have helped to manage some new contract hires in the past at my job and the BG check by far is what takes the longest. We were left waiting a while. If you've worked in multiple countries, they probably need to request nation-wide checks from those countries.

 

Yeah, I assumed the criminal records are probably the most tedious part of this whole process, especially as I have lived/studied/worked in different countries. I'm pretty sure I am clean in every country ha.

 

In terms of work history, I submitted recommendation letters for each position (even the unpaid ones) which all contained direct contact details.

[Fudgie]

When they do a federal BG check, they have to submit a request to a place (think government) that has a database. I'm pretty sure for federal, they have someone who does the checks manually since you sometimes have to search region by region. It is tedious. It takes time. hang in there!

[sophie274]

I highly doubt that they are getting any sort of police/background check information from the other countries where you lived and worked (other than checking your references). There are quite a lot of hurdles to getting criminal records from other countries, and you usually have to give explicit permission AND it takes forever.

 

I just got a job at a large US retail corporation and the background check they ran on me was for all of my previous US addresses but none of my foreign ones. I have had an INTERPOL background check done once - when I applied for residency in a foreign country - which also involved said foreign country getting info from the FBI since I am a US citizen. The FBI check was done with my explicit permission/request, cost extra, and took about three months to complete. I can also tell you that when people apply for an immigrant visa to the US, they have to request police/criminal records from all foreign countries they have lived in themselves - and if the US government decides to conduct additional checks, it takes forever (think months, even years). Just to give you some idea of how difficult and long the process can be, which is why I seriously doubt they are getting police and criminal records from other countries except perhaps for whatever might be available in an INTERPOL database (specific crimes of transnational interest, generally speaking) and I'd say it's more likely that it's taking a while just because of their workload rather than because they are going through everything with an extremely fine-toothed comb. (Though certainly contacting references can take a while as you need to wait to hear back, etc).

 

I think you're somewhere in Europe, not in the US - but in the US you have the right to get a copy of whatever report the company gets on you and you must be told if they decided not to hire you based on any information on the report. When I got my check done, I asked for that copy just so I could see what information they had retrieved and what it looked like, which is also how I know they didn't look into anything from my many (many) years abroad.

[RuedeRivoli]

No, I know for fact they run an international criminal check along with a national check in the countries I've lived in. I had to fill in the address for the past couple of years, so I'm pretty adamant they also run national checks in other countries.

 

As for getting a copy of the reports, if everything is clear, I don't need to see them. I checked a few samples, so I know what they're seeking more or less.

 

As a matter of fact, it's not the company that makes the final decision to hire me, it's the background screening company which gives the greenlight to the company to hire me. The company doesn't really have much say on the matter from what I gathered.

 

I'm sure they've already checked my education and employment.