If you have just applied for a new job, they may have told you that they need to take you through the background check process to make sure that everything is in order for your employment.
There are different types of pre-employment background checks that will be administered depending on the job, so the turnaround times of these checks will differ depending on which ones are assigned to you.
You may be feeling nervous about waiting around for your pre-employment background check to be completed, even if you have been totally honest, there is always room for error either through wrong information inputted or inaccurate information gathered.
Today we will answer how long does a background check take and what type of background checks will be done for the hiring process?
Know Your Background Check Rights
It is important to remember your rights regarding employment background checks, including those conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Your potential employer will need to abide by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires them to notify you about the pre-employment screening process and obtain your consent before conducting the background check. This also means the employer must inform you in writing if you have been disqualified.
A DOJ background check tends to be particularly significant because it provides comprehensive information about an individual’s criminal history, which is crucial for positions that involve public safety or trust. And, you may be disqualified due to something on your criminal records (if you have them) showing a criminal history that is not accepted, or on your employment history that raises some flags.
You Have The Right to Appeal
If you feel like this is wrong and you would like to challenge this issue, then you have every right to do so to help clear up this matter if you feel like you have been unjustly let go. In situations like these, it’s crucial to understand your rights and explore all available options. Resources on navigating legal options after job loss and consulting with an employment lawyer can provide valuable guidance on how to proceed, helping you determine if you have a case and what steps to take next.
What Components Are in a Background Check?
Your background check report will go through a lot of different information to get an accurate reading of who you are and what your history is.
The background check process can include –
- Criminal background checks (1 to 2 weeks)
- Federal background checks (2 days)
- Employment background checks & employment verification (1 to 5 days)
- Identity verification (a few minutes)
- Global, country & statewide criminal records search
- National sex offender search
- Education verification
- Credit history check
These are some of the various factors that are scrutinized to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of individuals. Apart from these, drug screening holds significant importance, as it seeks to identify any potential substance abuse issues. Employers should be well-versed in the proper procedures and legal requirements surrounding chain of custody issues in drug and alcohol testing. This will ensure the integrity and admissibility of test results, protecting both the rights of the individuals being tested and the interests of the organization.
The Turnaround Times Differ
As you can see, some have days/times on them whilst others are blank. This is because they will differ, so it is best to ask an employer about specific ones that you want to know if you would like to get an accurate timeline.
Why do Employers do These Checks?
You must be wondering why companies tend to employ top-rated agencies like bondrees.com to carry out background checks. The reason is pretty simple; it is for them to find the best employee who has all the necessary qualifications and a clean history to be a part of the business and drive it forward.
Avoiding Lawsuits and Legal Complications
Doing these checks will help avoid lawsuits especially if they have acted fraudulently, so they are not held accountable for the actions of the employee. For instance, for a taxi company, it is important to know if their drivers have any criminal history. The importance of this increases tenfold because these employees will be in direct contact with customers daily. Additionally, employers would also need to undergo Training for oral drug screening that they can conduct from time to time to ensure that the taxi drivers do not have a history of drug use that can interfere with the job. Failure to do so would directly defy DOT (Department of Transportation) compliance regulations, and cost the company a large penalty.
If employment background checks are not conducted, then they could find themselves facing legal implications that will affect the business.
Additionally, employers need to ensure the safety of their current staff, which is why a background check is necessary to avoid any problems down the road that could put people in danger due to mishandling of the hiring process.
What Causes Background Check Delays?
As previously said, the times that these checks come back are only estimated as there are things that can delay them such as finding it hard to hunt down past employers and incomplete check request forms.
There are other factors that are very basic but can be disruptive to the background check process, so bear these in mind after you have submitted your forms so you do not get agitated.
Weekends
Business days are counted when discussing turnaround times, so if they start on a Friday, you will need to think about how they could be delayed due to the weekend, so don’t expect them to be back first thing on Monday.
International Checks
If you are a job applicant from another country then these checks may take longer for you as they will need to wait for your previous employers to get back to them as well as gather your records from overseas.
Closures
Holidays and national emergencies will affect this process because the main offices that do these checks may be shut down, so the vetting process will be put on hold until they are re-opened.
Types of Checks and The Turnaround Times
Below are a few background checks that have different times depending on what is being looked for and how quickly it is to get it back.
Some have been mentioned slightly above, but this will go into a bit more depth about what is being looked for.
Each one will affect the question – “how long does an employment background check take?” so be aware that they will not all come back to your new employer at the same time, so it may delay them getting back in touch with you.
This doesn’t mean they haven’t chosen you, it just means that they are at the mercy of gathering information.
Criminal Background Checks
This is one of the most common types of background checks out there. They can take a lot longer than average if the job applicant has lived internationally or there are multiple reports, so the 1 to 2 weeks that it is on average may not be stuck to for this.
State criminal checks can be the most varied as they can either be returned within a few days or up to several weeks.
Some companies will tell the employer ahead of time exactly how long it will take with the information provided to them, whilst others are only able to guess.
Hopefully, the employer that you have gone with is using someone who can be efficient with information gathering and they have a solid reputation, as slip-ups can happen.
Driving Records Check
This process can take up to 3 days on average, but that depends on the state as they each have DMVs with different ways on how the process the checks and give the information to the relevant parties.
If they are swamped or they are experiencing closures, then it will go from days to weeks.
Credit History Checks
When a company is running a credit history check on an employee, they have to fill out a particular form called Consumer Credit Reports for Employment Purposes, Tenant Screening, or Franchise Screening, this approval process can add around 14 days.
Federal Background Checks
These checks say around 2 days, but that can lead up to a few weeks. A federal background check is administered for people who want to work in the federal government or are contracted out to them.
They are essential for making sure that an employee is committed to the United States and has a moral character. This check will mean security clearance for specific areas.
Top Secret Background Checks
Having a top-secret background check done is not something that is considered a typical check and this will take months, and in some circumstances a year. If you are waiting for one of these, you will be waiting a very long time, but with good reason.
Conclusion
Now that you know how long a background check takes (on average), and what it will entail, hopefully, this has eased any worries that you may have and you are able to sit back and wait for when it finally comes in.