Background Checks and Job Offer?

[Rabrrita]

Originally Posted by FBJ

I never understood why the background check was done after the job offer because it has the employee sitting at the desk reading for 2 weeks until he/she receives their email and password. Why not complete the background check during the reference process so that the newly hired person would not be bored out of their mind reading all day long.

Just as an FYI:

It's STATE specific for criminal background checks. Most applicants may not know this but each state establishes their own requirements, limitations, and authorizations for criminal background checks. Even within a state, they may have different requirements based on positions. An office worker's criminal check may be restricted to only after they receive an offer, while a teachers must be done during the hiring process and a healthcare worker for the elderly/children must maintain a proactive cleared check on record.

As more and more people complain about "credit checks" and it's negative impact on employment opportunities, state governments responds with regulations. They also may impose some regulation on criminal checks for the average employment candidate. So, sometimes these delayed checks were actually established to protect the employment candidate.

[newJerseyPinky]

Background checks aren't performed until a job offer has been made and accepted, and the hire is provisional until a successful background check is performed. As far as driver's license checks, companies usually only go back 36 months from your acceptance date. As far as criminal, they usually go back 7 years. If they have a strict policy of not hiring due to a DUI/DWI conviction, there usually isn't much you can do. Good luck, and I hope it works out for you.

[FBJ]

Originally Posted by mochamajesty

I work for the government - our background checks are expensive - we check for EVERYTHING. To keep costs down, we only check backgrounds after an offer has been accepted.

And you do not start working until a clean background and drug screen comes back.

Well that was not the case with me since I had to sit in my office and read for two weeks until the background came back clean.

[MLSFan]

I work for the government - our background checks are expensive - we check for EVERYTHING. To keep costs down, we only check backgrounds after an offer has been accepted.

And you do not start working until a clean background and drug screen comes back.

Same way for me as well.