How Long Does a Background Check Take?
by admin on October 23, 2011
Background checks are required for nearly every job these days, from the hiring company simply calling up a potential hire’s references, to requesting public records such as criminal or driver’s histories. The best checks are the ones that are thorough and avoid taking any short cuts, so if you’re an eager hire waiting to find out if you got the job of your dreams, or an employer looking to start a new employee as soon as possible, you know a background check will take some time. But just how long should you expect?
The short answer? There is no set time. Several factors influence the length that a thorough background check takes – the biggest being, naturally, how extensive the check is. Some of the simplest checks only look at the applicant’s Social Security Number to verify its authenticity for work eligibility. Others, however, can look back into the applicant’s work, educational, military, criminal, credit, property, and driving history, all of which takes time to obtain the proper records from the various courts, schools, and employers. Usually, it can take about a week to hear back from these sources, though there could be delays due to holidays or requests that have to be made by mail. If the applicant has a common name, the researcher may find many records that then need to be reviewed for identification, as well.
For extensive background checks, a separate company that specializes in the service is often contracted. These companies have streamlined the process to return the results faster than a manual check done by the employer. In most instances, it will about take about three to five days, though it can also take as little as one day for the results to come back.
Whether you’re the employee or applicant, there are things you can do to help the process go smoothly. For those requesting the check, make sure you fill out the Employee Background Check Request Form clearly and legibly, as any mistake could slow down the process. Likewise, as a potential hire, make sure your name, address, Social Security Number, driver’s license number, and other information is filled out on the Applicant Authorization and Release Form, and that your job application is completed clearly and legibly with no errors. Also, try to choose references that are reliable and not so busy that they may take several weeks to respond to inquiries from your hiring company. Above all, be patient and cooperative.
Here at BackgroundCheck.org, we aim to provide you with the information you need to successfully conduct a thorough background check, as well as details on how to use the information you receive. Browse through our informative articles to learn more about background checks, such as what a background check includes, what it leaves out, and what you need to know about the legality of requesting certain …Read the full article →
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Companies rely on pre-employment background screenings, but they often fail to update their records by investigating on-the-job employees. An employee convicted of a crime involving a serious moral or ethical lapse could present many problems, especially if the worker has delivered outstanding work performance for many years. Another major background check problem involves international screenings …Read the full article →
Criminal history is not the only information obtained from a background check. Along with criminal history, other pertinent information included can alert potential employers to an employee or applicant’s negative history. Employers learn to spot repetitive patterns that have an adverse influence on an employee’s performance in the workplace. An employer must obtain signed permission of the applicant …Read the full article →
Now that you know how important a background check is, the first step is to gather information on the potential nanny. Start by talking to the applicant. Ask for references from other employers and families. Find out what ages of children they have cared for, and ask them directly if there is anything about their background you should be aware of. Applicants should be completely comfortable and at …Read the full article →
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Research where people are searching to find rental information and place an ad in this publication. For example, if the rental unit is located in a smaller town, and most renters use the local paper to find living spaces, advertise in the local paper. Though it may be easier to post an ad on the internet, if few potential renters use the internet to locate their next living space, an ad on the …Read the full article → 
