How Long Does a Background Check Usually Take?

An essential part of the modern job-seeking and job-offering process is the background check, but waiting for it to be finished can be a slog. After the interview is done and all the necessary paperwork is signed and filed for the background screening process, it may seem like the whole thing takes far too long to complete—somewhere between eternity and forever. That’s an exaggeration, of course. Or is it? How long does a background check usually take? As with so many questions of this nature, the answer is, “it depends.” Here’s a little more insight into the process and why a good background screening, like fine wine, requires time.

What Is a Background Check?

If you don’t already know, a background check is the process by which a person’s history is reviewed. To be more specific, several sections of their history are explored and sifted through. No company performs a comprehensive background check of everything a person has ever done, of course. That would be impossible. Most companies concentrate on the basics, such as employment history, criminal records (if any), credit reports, educational background, and other aspects. The checks are done to ensure the person is who they say they are, that they possess the education and skills for the job, that they work well with others, that they are safe to be around, and other necessary traits. While the interview allows the candidate to introduce and describe themselves to the employer, the background check verifies what they say.

Tick…Tock…

Well, that sounds thorough. And thorough processes are rarely done in the blink of an eye. The time it takes to conduct a background check depends on several factors. Keep the following in mind while counting the days for a screening’s completion.

Type of Background Check

Several background checks are typically done at once. We’ve mentioned a few already, but here are the general time frames for their completion:

• Criminal Record Check—On average, a criminal background check can take just two to three days if it’s kept to the immediate county level. Doing a check for a state, federal, or international criminal record will take far longer; expect to wait a week or even more.
• Employment Verification—Depending on the number of positions held by the individual and the responsiveness of the former employers, verification of previous employment can take two to five business days. Geographical location, times of business, and the like can affect the speed with which they respond.
• Education Verification—Employers usually have a human resources department ready to respond to such requests. Educational institutions have similar departments set up to deliver verification and take two to five business days to respond to requests. But again, it can depend on location, schools being in session, and more.
• Reference Checks—These timelines are far less reliable since you’re dealing with reaching out to individuals who may be available or not and may or may not even respond. Figure for two to five business days, but be prepared to follow up and play phone and email tag.
• Credit Checks—One big benefit of modern technology is that almost all financial records are available online and ready to retrieve. Credit checks are often done in less than a day, but you never know.

Check Complexity

As suggested, sometimes outside forces speed up or slow down the check. If a person worked in one area for one company for 20 years, you’re probably in luck, and the check will take no time at all. But a person who’s moved around a lot, worked here and there, and perhaps even left the country? That might require a bit more electronic legwork.

Responsiveness

Machines have sped processes up, but human beings still must do the actual work of tracking down, compiling, and confirming information. Schedules, workloads, rules and regulations, and availability can make the process a breeze or a slog. Most individuals involved in recordkeeping have a process down and are often doing their best to assist with the background check.

Informational Accuracy

Sometimes, all the information is there, and the institution, facility, or company you’re dealing with can complete the check and send it to you with no hassle whatsoever. Other times, hiccups occur. Information may not be immediately available due to disasters, computer glitches, improperly input names, and more. All of these factors can impede efficiency and bring the process to a crawl. The background investigation services company may also need to verify the details before sending them on.

Legal Matters

Not all states and countries have the same ideas about sharing information. There may be more stringent laws and regulations that require further steps and documentation during the screening process.

Volume, Volume, Volume

In a perfect world, it would be possible for everyone to be first in line everywhere. But that’s not the case. The background check company may be handling multiple clients during a particularly busy hiring season. As requests rise, processing times increase.

What’s Next?

Whether you’re a jobseeker or employer, be patient and incorporate a few best practices to ensure the background check process goes smoothly. Employers, of course, should hire a reputable and respected company with a great record of speed and thoroughness. They should skip seeking a comprehensive background check (which can be very expensive and take far longer) and concentrate on attributes and experience reflecting the positions.

Jobseekers, on the other hand, can also expedite the process by providing accurate, detailed, and up-to-date information. Double-check names, titles, contact numbers, emails, and similar information before sending it on. Be as transparent as possible, and don’t try to hide gaps and missing information. Be upfront and let employers know in advance if anything out of the ordinary might turn up (having traveled out of the country for a year, for example, or quitting your job to seek an advanced degree). Above all, be patient, and while following up can make a good impression, don’t overdo it to the point of seeming impatient.

So how long does a background check usually take? As demonstrated, these timelines vary, but there are ways around delays and more. Contact us for a consultation about conducting background checks for you! We’ve been doing it for a while and know how to keep the process moving along.