Background checks have become one of the most important steps in the hiring process.
Employers want to ensure that they’re hiring the best possible candidates and often turn to background checks to get a better sense of an applicant’s history.
So, how long does a pre-employment background check take? The answer is not set in stone since it depends on the type of background check being conducted.
For example, a simple criminal background check can often be completed in a matter of days.
In contrast, a more complex check that includes an investigation into an applicant’s employment history may take weeks or even months.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how long a typical pre-employment background check might take and some of the best and quickest background check companies that can help you get the information you need.
How Long Does A Pre-Employment Background Check Take
As we mentioned, employers often rely on background checks as part of their hiring process. But how long does a pre-employment background check actually take?
The answer to this question can vary depending on several factors, including the position you’re applying for and the company’s internal policies.
For example, an education-based organization might want to conduct a more extensive background check on an employee who will be working with children, while a company with less sensitive data might not feel the need to do such an in-depth check.
However, in general, we’ve found that most background checks take around one to five business days to complete.
Some background checks don’t even take that long and can be done in as little as a few hours.
Having said that, the history of every person is unique, and a number of factors might impact the background check’s turnaround time.
For example, if an applicant has a common name, the background check company might have difficulty pulling up the right information. In this case, it could take longer to get the results you’re looking for.
Also Read: Does Debt Show Up On Background Checks?
What Are The Common Reasons For Delay?
There can be many reasons for a delay in receiving your background check results, although it’s usually due to something related to the employer.
For example, the check request forms might be either erroneous or incomplete, or the applicant did not sign the job application.
The employer might also want to wait for the results of a drug test before running the background check, or they might be waiting on references to get back to them.
The Best And Quickest Background Check Companies
There are many different background check companies available that can provide you with quick results.
However, most of the information in such services is typically inaccurate or not as comprehensive as you might need.
That being said, there are a few companies that do offer comprehensive and accurate background checks, and we’ve listed some of them below.
- First Advantage
Because of its quick results, First Advantage is one of the best companies for conducting pre-employment background checks.
You won’t need to get in touch with candidates yourself because the company manually contacts them if any further information is required.
First Advantage offers background checks for local companies and international organizations in the great majority of nations and territories.
Most reports are completed within 24 hours, and the company offers a wide range of services, such as criminal record checks, educational verification, and employment history verification.
- GoodHire
While a qualified applicant will cost you extra to hire, GoodHire offers one of the most thorough background check services. It also offers the typical criminal background history check.
You can also get additional reports that contain information like the subject’s credit history, proof of identity, and even motor vehicle records.
GoodHire is FCRA-compliant, and reports are typically completed within a few hours.
- AccurateNow
Small businesses can benefit from the affordable background check services offered by AccurateNow, a part of Accurate Background. It is one of the best pre-employment screening tools for small businesses.
AccurateNow offers FCRA-compliant services, and you can request a wide range of reports, such as criminal records, credit reports, and even a worldwide watch search.
With reports being completed within 24 to 48 hours, AccurateNow is an excellent choice if you need quick results.
Wrapping Up
So, how long does a pre-employment background check take? It really depends on the employer and the applicant, but it usually takes one to three days to receive the results.
However, there are a few companies that can provide you with quick and accurate results.
You May Read: Backgroundcheckme Review
Amit is a young entrepreneur who specializes in background checks. After completing his high school certification, Amit spent half a decade trying different background check services. He has worked for several background screening firms and gained valuable industry experience.
Amit is the founder of BestBackgroundCheckSite.com, where he helps all its users navigate complicated decisions about their personal lives and careers.