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How Long Does A Background Check Take For A Job?

December 5, 2023

Employers frequently use an employment background check to learn more about prospects. It can be useful to know what to anticipate if you are applying for a new job and are awaiting the results of an employment background check. The article discusses how long a background check takes for a job.

Most employers run background checks on candidates after speaking with them. Typically, it takes 3 to 10 days for a background check. Depending on the data sources and information sought, a background check may take a few minutes or days. If the business needs to investigate your past, it can take longer.

A background investigation looks into the accuracy of the material on a candidate’s CV. The recruiter learns specific details about the candidate during the hiring process. Read below to learn how long a background check takes for a job.

Table of Contents

What Is a Background Check?

A background check is essential to the hiring process, ensuring the firm has a solid and responsible workforce. The background check is a procedure that ensures that an applicant has a transparent professional and personal history, as its name implies.

The recruiter will review your information during this process. If necessary, get in touch with your former employers and other sources to obtain a complete report.

How Long Does A Background Check Take?

It makes sense for applicants to be concerned about how long does a background check take for a job, but there might only sometimes be a clear response. It is so that each background check can take into account different types. A background check typically takes three to ten business days. Each person’s background is unique, and circumstances can extend this duration.

How long does a background check take for a job? Thankfully, there are two critical strategies for avoiding process delays. Ensuring all information is truthful and accurate to the best of the candidate’s knowledge can help them avoid delays. Second, if the company and candidate work diligently to complete the required release documents and authorizations, the process might move more smoothly.

What Does A Background Checks Include?

The most typical types of job background checks are listed below.

Identity Verification

The most frequent background check that employers undertake, usually in the early stage, is an identity verification check. The analysis looks to see if the applicant gave the correct name and, if they are who they claim to know, how long does a background check take for a job.

Employers must perform identity verification because it lowers the likelihood of fraud.

Social Security Verification

To confirm that the candidate authorizes to work in the US, prospective employers check the applicant’s social security record.

Also, it verifies that the social security number they supplied is accurate.

Education Verification

The education verification sort of check confirms the accuracy of the academic information provided on the resume.

Employers can verify this by contacting the schools on the list to see if the applicant attended there and received the grades claimed on their CV.

Employment Verification

Ensuring accurate information is one of the key reasons employers run job verification background checks; how long does a background check take for a job. While most people will happily reveal their former career history, others may lie to secure a job chance.

The employer usually contacts someone in the human resources division of businesses the candidate has worked for while conducting employment verification.

Reference Check and Verification

To confirm that the information you supplied corresponds to your experience and knowledge, prospective employers may also call the professional references you provided throughout the hiring process.

The time it takes to complete reference checks will depend on how soon callers are returned.

Criminal Verification

Businesses use a national criminal database to perform criminal verifications to learn about an applicant’s criminal past. A criminal record check comprises gathering data on the candidate’s prior offenses, unfulfilled warrants, probations, and other details.

Organizations typically consider a criminal background check essential, especially for employment involving contact with children or sensitive sectors like finance.

Drug Tests

Some firms demand drug tests from applicants as part of a full background investigation of how long a background check takes for a job. These checks are frequently required for jobs that include operating heavy machinery, managing prescription medications, or overseeing the welfare of others.

Employers could have particular test requirements when they need the findings.

Credit Checks

To learn about a candidate’s credit history, employers run credit checks. These checks entail a credit bureau record search, which may contain information on past or present debts, bankruptcies, payment histories, etc.

Furthermore, as businesses increasingly integrate technology in HR processes, employers must stay informed about the latest trends and advancements. Companies typically run these checks on candidates for job postings in financial professions.

Possible Reasons For Delay In Background Checks

Here are a few possible causes to know how long does a background check take for a job to be delayed if it takes more than three to five days:

Correct or incomplete check request forms and an employer’s failure to obtain the necessary authorization and release papers from job candidates as needed by federal law are the most common causes of delays. Agency background checks can begin once they have received written authorization.
Most county court documents still need to be fully digitalized. So, a county clerk or court runner must often manually carry out the searches. Depending on the jurisdiction or case, the manual search could take anywhere from 3 to 30 days.
An international background check might be necessary if you have recently resided abroad for employment or studies (within the last ten years, depending on the company).
Finally, Name variations can slow down the background check service and require manual verification to verify your identification to know how long does a background check take for a job. Your background check may also take longer if you’ve used different names in the past or if it turns up that you and someone else with the same or a similar name have the same records.

FAQs

What is the longest wait for a background check?

In the best-case scenario, a background check typically takes one to three business days. But, depending on the depth of the searches, it can take up to 14 days or more. The process includes steps that take time, such as: examining the application pool for the position.

How do you recognize if you passed a background check?

The employer will contact you to let you know when the background check on you is clear. Alternatively, you will know there are no problems if you are hired.

What transpires if a background investigation is prolonged?

Contact your contact at the hiring company if the procedure should be shorter. They can respond to your inquiries or advise whether the business requires more details to complete the process.

What background checks do most employers utilize?

The most popular type of criminal background check is a county search for criminal history. Employers can obtain reports from local county court records using these searches.

Conclusion

Overall, It is all about how long does a background check take for a job. Background checks are one of the most crucial components of a recruitment process that ensures the firm has a safe and responsible workforce. Furthermore, Any employer that hires employees should do background checks. So you now have all the necessary information required for the background check.