17 Jun
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Hiring is a strenuous process for companies. While bright employees are the key to success for any company, can they trust documents like resumes or even interviews to truly know their candidates?
A person might seem like they would be a great fit for your company when you meet them at an interview. But, you can never truly know what’s going on in someone else’s life until you take a closer look at it.
So if you were wondering how long does it take for a background check? It depends! The company has to make sure that you are who you say you are and have no criminal record that could put your company at risk. In this article we’ll discuss:
Table of Contents
What is a Background Check?
A background check is a process of checking the background of an individual to determine their suitability for a job. Background checks are used by employers to verify candidates regarding their:
- Reliability
- Eligibility
- Trustworthiness
It is an important step to determine whether their candidates are truthful about their achievements and work experience.
Why Do Background Checks Take So Long?
It’s a common misconception that all employers conduct background checks in the same way. While some do, there are many variations when it comes to how thorough they are.
For example, if you’re an employer who conducts a basic background check with fingerprints and criminal convictions, then you’ll only need to contact one government agency: The FBI. You can request any information they have on the potential employee through their National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database in order to make an informed hiring decision.
But if your company requires more comprehensive background checks (including credit reports), you may need to contact several different agencies—and sometimes even private companies—to get all the information needed for your final hiring decision.
What If a Background Check Takes Too Long?
Companies sometimes have hundreds of applicants for each position. Getting through them all can naturally take time since every candidate goes through proper screening. A delay in background checks could be because of a number of reasons:
- Lack of paper trail
- International experience
- Name verification
- Multiple checks
- Multiple residences
Here’s what you can do to avoid delays:
- Sign release forms and authorizations
- Include accurate information in all documents
Must Read: Significance of Data Collecting to Enhance the Business Productivity
How Long Can it Take?
There are many types of background checks which include various procedures to obtain data and verify them. Here is a guide for how long each type of background check can take:
- Federal Background Checks: 2 days
- Employment Background Checks: 1 to 5 days
- Universal Background Checks: 2 days
- Criminal Background Checks: 1 to 2 weeks
Bear in mind that this information may not always be accurate for all candidates. If your background check takes longer than this, you can drop a follow-up email to your employer, asking for clarification.
Key Takeaways
Background checks are critical for companies to make sure the employees they hire are what they portray themselves to be. Most employers rigorously conduct background checks and it may take some time for them to receive the data they want and come to a conclusion.
- Background checks can take time from a few days to even weeks depending on factors like the availability of data and types of background checks
- Make sure that you only include accurate information to speed up the process and avoid delays
- If it takes too long without an update from your employer, contact them for clarification
While it can be nerve-wracking to wait around for results, consider it a mandatory process so that companies consider you a qualified candidate with a lot of potential!
