In talent acquisition, it is crucial to understand the importance of background check results. They help you manage the hiring process and provide updates to candidates, improving their experience.
A proper background check is designed to protect the company. It ensures the company’s credibility and sustainability regarding potential hiring, helping industry professionals navigate through the hiring process efficiently.
In this blog, we will discuss how long a background check takes and why it is done. We will also delve into the different types of background checks and the factors associated with them.
Let’s get started!
A background check is focused on assessing basic information about individuals in the US. It can either be swift or take two to four business days. When dealing with international regions, the timeline extends to about 10 to 15 business days.
These background checks come in different forms, impacting the timeline and the complete scope of your screening process.
An individual or a company uses the background check process to verify the authenticity of a person.
It offers an opportunity to verify a person’s education, employment history, criminal records, and other relevant background details. It helps to confirm their validity in the field of employment.
The laws and functionality of background checks depend on the type of business, jurisdictions, and people concerned. This process involves various methods to complete detailed checks, ranging from database searches to personal references.
For example, an employment background check depends on the employment location, industries, and individuals.
It is crucial to make the right choice when hiring employees. Background checks help you avoid risks and improve the quality of your hiring. These checks help employers evaluate candidates and confirm their backgrounds.
Identity verification is the basis for more detailed evaluations. Standard identity verification for a candidate employed in a conventional sector takes 2 to 4 business days. However, you can expect a longer journey if you wish to gain more detailed knowledge.
For example, the finance and healthcare sectors require comprehensive background reports. These help with regulatory requirements and expedite processes.
Employment verification checks are among the most frequently used worldwide. They involve contacting former employers’ administration or human resources departments.
It also includes confirming the duration of self-employment with the applicant. Usually, it takes two to three business days.
However, issues with contacting former employers or having outdated information may delay the process.
Background checks for criminal records are a worldwide standard. These checks take around two to three business days. Weekends, holidays, and staffing challenges at the court may prolong the duration.
Applicants outside the US should be prepared for an extended timeline of 3 to 30 business days.
This delay is related to manual record checking or thorough verification when multiple matches are identified.
Verifying a candidate’s educational credentials is time-consuming. Generally, scholars need to contact universities and schools one by one.
A standard report may take two to three business days. Employers should anticipate longer time during summer and school breaks.
It may delay the whole background checking process if you need verification from non-US educational institutions.
Employers may request additional background checks including motor vehicle reports, drug & health screening, tenant background screening, international background checks, or reference verifications.
It depends on how extensive the employer’s screening process is. These checks vary in detail, turnaround time, and potential regulations.
So, how long does a background check take?
There are different kinds of background checks, and the turnaround time for each differs. The average time for a background check depends on the information collected, data source restrictions, and legal obligations.
The accessibility of records influences the turnaround time for background checks. Internet databases can accelerate various forms of background checks; however, some documents are not digitized, or technical problems may hinder access to records.
The laws and regulations relevant to your organization influence the speed of background checks.
Whether you are an employer or you are looking for jobs, it is crucial to know how long it takes to get the background check. If you want to fill a position, you may be on a strict timeline and wait for a swift response on background checks.
As a job candidate, it’s natural to want to know when you’ll receive a final decision from a potential employer. Often, any delay in the hiring process is due to the background check. While candidates typically hope for quick results, recruiters must carry out several levels of verification.
This process allows employers to gather comprehensive information about prospective hires. However, the multi-step nature of background screening can lead to longer wait times.
In general, background checks must comply with data privacy and security regulations. Employers are also required to inform applicants about the specific information that will be reviewed during the screening process.
Here, we will discuss some of the common essential checks, which are part of the standard background screening process.
The duration required to conduct an employment background check varies from one to five business days.
It could take longer if the background investigation requires manual searches or collaboration with other entities.
It might include professional licenses, educational institutions, and former employers.
Employment background screening is frequently conducted as a component of pre-employment screening. An employer might carry out continuous background checks on present employees.
It is done through yearly criminal background screenings or routine employee drug tests. A quick background check helps to maintain a secure work environment.
A background check for employment deals with certain vital criteria. It includes criminal records, verification of education and employment, driving history, and/or additional assessments.
The verifications an employer decides to conduct affect the processing time for employment background checks.
Wondering how long does drug test and background check take?
The processing time for drug and health screenings is one to five business days.
The time it takes to get results for drug screenings frequently relies on the test results.
Positive screenings necessitate additional testing to eliminate false positives, which may take several days to a week.
Tests indicating a positive result for multiple substances can take even longer.
Tenant background check screenings may require about a few minutes to several business days. It depends on the details requested and the applicant’s previous residency locations.
Credit checks can be performed in just a few minutes. On the other hand, often times criminal background checks can be finalized instantly.
Collecting data on employment and rental backgrounds requires the most time. If these individuals respond to or return calls promptly, the screening procedure will be done swiftly.
In situations where multiple attempts are made to contact an applicant’s previous connections, the process gets delayed.
MVR checks (Motor Vehicle Records) are also known as driving record checks. They are frequently finalized in minutes.
Many states keep online databases of driving records. These are accessible to an approved employer or background verification firm. It results in fast turnaround times.
The process might be extended in states without digital records.
An international background check is necessary for clients living, working, and studying overseas. These verifications generally require four to five business days, depending on cooperation with the country involved. Some nations impose strict privacy laws that may extend the process to as long as 20 business days.
Do you want to know the duration of a criminal background check?
It depends on the process and the regulations involved. A criminal background check can take a few business days to multiple weeks.
It helps them understand whether the person has any criminal records.
When someone is keen to know the duration of background verification, they are interested in the time it takes to complete the check.
A range of factors lead to delays in the background check process. When dealing with the hiring process, certain factors must be considered.
These impact the timeline of a background check. Whether it is a simple verification or a comprehensive screening, the depth of the investigation plays a crucial role in how the results are returned.
Keeping these factors in mind, organizations can manage expectations and streamline their hiring process.
Wondering why is my background check delayed. Here’s an overview of each potential reason affecting the timeline of background checks –
A frequent reason for background check delays is inaccurate or incomplete information. A candidate must provide specific identifying information to the employer.
It helps them access online databases or formally request records from employers. It is also effective for educational institutions and government bodies.
If you fail to gather all the necessary information or if it is incorrect, the need to amend or other additional information will delay the procedure.
Any limitation of records databases may add more time to the background check procedure.
Regardless of the online accessibility of records, some states fail to provide them in digital format.
These searches need to be conducted manually. The manual search can take 3 to 30 days, depending on the county or the specific case.
An international background check is essential when an applicant has lived abroad.
The timeline for completing this check largely depends on the level of cooperation from the respective country. In cases where agencies are responsive, the process can be completed within a few business days.
However, some countries have strict privacy laws or inefficient administrative processes, which can lead to delays of up to three weeks or more.
If a candidate has used aliases or nicknames, it can complicate the background check process.
This is because the screening agency must search across multiple name variations to ensure a comprehensive and accurate review.
Informal or commonly used names—whether personal or professional—may not align with the names listed on official records, making it essential to account for all name variations during the verification process.
Delays can occur when employers, educational institutions, or agencies take time to respond to verification requests, which in turn extends the overall background check process.
The response time often depends on the volume of inquiries these organizations handle, which may slow down the process further.
Delays in the reference verification process can occur when references are unresponsive.
This may happen if they miss an email or call, or if they’re navigating a particularly busy period at work. To help avoid such setbacks, candidates should choose references who are likely to be available and responsive during the screening process.
A comprehensive nationwide database containing all the information desired for a background check does not yet exist.
Screening providers depend on researchers and agencies to get a comprehensive background check on a person.
If these offices are closed unexpectedly due to bad weather, requests will remain unanswered.
Background check regulations vary by location, which adds an extra layer of quality assurance—especially when a candidate has connections across multiple jurisdictions.
For instance, a person living in one state and working in another may be subject to different regulatory standards. Navigating these complexities while maintaining full compliance is essential.
Screening agencies leverage expert knowledge to evaluate each report carefully, ensuring that only accurate, compliant information is delivered to you.
As a candidate, you can take action to simplify the hiring process. You can help the employers in conducting background checks more effectively.
You must provide precise information, quickly address requests, and actively manage your background check. This will help you minimize the chances of delays in the pre-employment screening procedure.
Here is how to speed up the hiring process –
Employers require precise identifying details to perform background checks. Mistakes, such as transposed numbers in your birth date, cause discrepancies and hold-ups.
Omitting essential information, like your Social Security number, delays the procedure. To avoid such issues, verify all your details before submitting them.
Employers might ask for more details at different stages of the hiring process. You must respond promptly to avoid delays.
Examining your documentation before applying for jobs is crucial. It will help you identify and address any potential issues in advance.
It allows you to correct any inaccuracies. You even get time to prepare your explanation for what you need to clarify.
If a background check takes longer than anticipated, reach out to your recruiter or hiring manager.
You should always check the status of the background check and ask for an update. Make sure you have submitted all required information or documents.
You must send a follow-up email if you haven’t received a response after a week. You should also be patient, as background checks may take a while.
Background checks may require more time than expected. It is usual not to get prompt updates. Worried about how long it takes to receive a background check? You can start by reaching out to your recruiter or hiring manager. You can always ask about the progress of the background check.
Did you get any update after a week? It is perfectly okay to send a follow-up email to your recruiter or hiring manager.
Background checks can be complex and time-consuming, especially when there are delays in reaching former employers or accessing court records. It’s important to remain patient and understand that the process may take longer than expected.
Some expert background check services may provide an Applicant Center. Here, you can upload your documents and provide the necessary information to speed up the process.
Now, you have a detailed idea of how long a background check takes. Understanding background checks is crucial, and it helps you carry out the hiring process seamlessly.
Whether you are an employer or a candidate, you must be well-informed about transparency and accuracy in the screening process. A typical background check for employment might take longer, depending on a wide range of factors.
SRA screening background check ensures the reduction of unnecessary delays and speeds up the process.
We offer professional screening options to meet your business needs. Immediate background checks and accurate results help you make informed hiring decisions.
When all is said and done, a background check can be pretty involved, and its proper completion is not as simple as pushing a button or accessing a mega database. At SRA Screening, timeliness and accuracy are top priorities, but there will always be times when completion dates are extended a little further than desired.
Our experience implements advanced technology and delivers thorough background checks in 48-72 hours.
At SRA Screening, we bring you specialized packages or custom screening workflows that meet your requirements.
Reach out to us and invest in a stronger and more secure workplace!
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