Waiting to hear back after a background check can be a stressful time. You’ve made it through the interview process and received a job offer contingent on clearing the background check. Now you’re left wondering how long it will take and if any issues will pop up.
The good news is that in most cases, no news is good news. Background checks rarely uncover issues that cause a revoked job offer. Still, the waiting period leaves you anxious and concerned. How long should you wait before following up? Here’s a look at typical timelines and steps to take while you wait.
How Long Do Background Checks Usually Take?
Most background checks take 3-5 business days to complete. Some can take up to a week or slightly longer. Here are some of the factors that influence turnaround time:
- Depth of the background check – More extensive checks involving employment verification, education confirmation and professional reference interviews take longer.
- Responder availability – Getting responses from previous employers, schools or references can cause delays.
- Legal compliance – State and federal laws regulate what background screening companies can check and how records can be accessed. Compliance reviews add time.
- Company protocols – Some employers run checks internally while others use third-party vendors. Their processes differ.
- Applicant’s history – International records, multiple states/counties of residence or checks requiring manual research slow the process.
As you can see, there are many dependencies that make it impossible to give an exact timeline. The important thing is that for most standard checks without complications, 5-7 business days is reasonable.
When to Follow Up on a Background Check
A good rule of thumb is to follow up after 7 business days if you haven’t heard back. This gives enough time to complete most checks while also demonstrating your continued interest in the role.
When following up, first contact your recruiter or hiring manager via email. Keep the tone polite and professional. You can say something like:
“I wanted to follow up regarding the status of my background check. I’m very excited about the opportunity to join your team at [Company] and am happy to provide any additional information needed to expedite the process.”
This shows you’re eager to get started while also giving them a chance to respond if there are any pending items on their end.
If you don’t hear back within 2-3 days, it’s appropriate to send one more follow-up email or place a phone call. Be sure to get the name and contact information of the person or department handling your background check during the interview process so you know specifically who to contact.
Reasons Why a Background Check May Take Longer
While most checks are completed quickly, there are some circumstances that can add time to the process:
Manual verification of previous employment
If the background screening company is unable to automatically verify your employment history through databases such as The Work Number, more manual legwork is required. They will have to reach out to HR departments and wait for someone to respond.
Delayed responses from schools
Academic records often take longer to verify, especially if you attended smaller colleges and universities. Screening companies send transcript request forms that must pass through various campus departments.
International records
For applicants who have lived, worked or studied abroad, background checks become much more complicated. Companies have to navigate local laws, language barriers and availability of records.
Re-verification needed
Sometimes a piece of information can’t be fully verified on the first try and re-verification is needed. This adds time as companies double check the data.
Legal compliance reviews
Background check companies need to comb through results to ensure they are compliant with federal laws like FCRA as well as any state or local regulations. This legal review process can take a few days in itself.
So while most checks wrap up in under a week, there are plenty of reasons why yours may take longer. The most important thing is staying in polite communication with the employer so they know you’re excited to start once it’s complete!
What to Do While Waiting for Background Check Results
The waiting period after a job offer and before official hire can feel like forever. Here are some productive ways to spend your time while your background check finishes processing:
- Learn more about the company – Study their website, social media, press releases and news mentions to get up to speed on products, policies, company culture and leadership team.
- Research your new role – Understand your core responsibilities, performance metrics and critical skills needed to ramp up quickly.
- Wrap up other job searches – Withdraw from consideration for other roles and cancel upcoming interviews to focus on your new employer.
- Tie up loose ends – Give proper notice at your current job, return company property and organize personal contacts.
- Plan your transition – Line up childcare, transportation and living arrangements if relocating for the new opportunity.
- Get your finances in order – Adjust 401k allocations, notify credit card companies of upcoming address changes and budget for new expenses.
Staying focused on preparing for the first days in your new job helps the waiting period feel productive. Just be sure not to make any major purchases or irreversible decisions until that official start date is confirmed!
Potential Background Check Results and What They Mean
While you won’t usually get detailed results from your background check, there are a few potential outcomes once it’s completed:
Check comes back clear
This is the most common scenario. If there were no issues, the employer will move forward with onboarding and finalize your start date. A clear background check means everything checked out fine.
Check reveals discrepancies
Sometimes a check will uncover discrepancies between what you reported on your job application versus what shows up on the actual reports. Common examples include short gaps in employment, position title variances and timing mix-ups on graduation dates. These are often minor and you’ll have a chance to explain.
Negative or incomplete information appears
If any negative or incomplete information shows up, such as criminal records, employment termination or inability to verify education, the employer must take adverse action procedures. This involves sharing the results with you and giving you a chance to refute anything incorrect.
Check flags areas needing clarification
Instead of outright negative results, the check may just reveal areas needing clarification or additional documentation. Just cooperate promptly to provide this information.
Job offer is rescinded
In rare cases, an especially poor background check can lead to a revoked job offer. This usually only happens if you lied on your application or serious offenses showed up without adequate explanation.
While most checks proceed without issues, keep these potential outcomes in mind as you wait anxiously for the results!
What to Do if Your Job Offer is Rescinded
Having a job offer rescinded after you thought you had the position secured is devastating. While rare, it does occasionally happen if background checks reveal deal-breaking issues. Here are some tips if you face this worst-case scenario:
- Ask for clarification – Politely ask for details on why the offer was revoked so you understand what went wrong.
- Review the background check report – You are entitled to view a copy of the consumer report under federal law if an adverse action was taken.
- Fix any incorrect information – If you notice errors on the check like wrong dates or mistaken identity, start disputing them.
- Explain your side – Mitigating circumstances or additional context might influence the employer to reverse the decision.
- Request alternatives – In cases unrelated to dishonesty, ask if a compromise like probationary period or delayed start date could preserve the offer.
- Reapply down the road – Depending on the reasons for rescinding, reapplying in 6-12 months may be an option after you fix any issues.
- Move forward positively – While incredibly disappointing, focus energy on finding another great employer aligned to your goals.
Having an offer fall through because of a background check feels lousy, but it’s not the end of the road. Take constructive steps to understand what went wrong, repair any damage and get back on the path to an exciting new career opportunity.
Mistakes to Avoid While Waiting for Background Check Results
The waiting period after the background check can be precarious. Be careful not to make these common mistakes candidates often make:
- Announcing your new job publicly – Hold off on announcing the new job offer on social media or telling your network until you clear the background check and formalize an official start date.
- Giving notice at your current job – Wait until the background check clears before giving notice to your boss. You don’t want to be left unemployed.
- Burning bridges – Maintain positive relationships with your current employer even after giving notice. You never know when you may cross paths or need them as a reference.
- Beginning relocation steps – Don’t sign a new apartment lease, put your house on the market or book moving trucks until your job offer is set in stone after the background check.
- Purchasing office attire – It’s fine to shop around but hold off on making expensive new work wardrobe purchases until your start date nears.
While it’s tempting to leap into your exciting new opportunity, exercise patience to avoid missteps during this precarious waiting period.
Questions to Ask the Employer About Your Background Check
If your background check seems to be taking longer than expected, it’s reasonable to reach out to the employer with some polite questions to better understand the status. Here are some appropriate questions to ask:
- – What is the typical time frame for background check results to come back?
- – Do you see any pending items or issues on my report so far?
- – Do you need any additional information from me to expedite the process?
- – Will I receive a copy of the background check report you reviewed?
- – Is there someone else in your organization I should follow up with directly regarding the status?
- – Is there an expected decision date for making my hiring official?
Phrasing your inquiries professionally demonstrates your continued enthusiasm for the role while also giving you valuable insights into the process. Most employers will appreciate your desire to get started!
Conclusion
Waiting after a background check produces plenty of anxiety and uncertainty. But in most cases, no news is good news. As long as you took care to provide accurate information during the hiring process, the check is simply a formality and will come back clean.
Maintain open communication with the employer, look for signs of delays and use the waiting period productively. If you run into any issues, address them promptly and professionally. With a little patience, before you know it the process will wrap up and you’ll be ready to start an exciting new job opportunity!
