How can I follow up on a background check?

[SeductivePig]

My future employer said they'll hire me contingent upon a background check last Thursday, I want to follow up on that and see what's going on tomorrow afternoon - what can I ask over email without putting pressure on them?

Edit: The recruiter just called asking how long it would take to relocate, if I had a car since there's no housing within walking distance of the office, and whether I needed to give 2 weeks notice for my current job. She told me she would get back to me by the end of the week with an offer if everything clears.

Does this sound like the background check is done?

 

[AreaCode707]

Give a call and just note that you have not received the background check form and wanted to know when you should expect it. I'd give it another day or so but you can follow up in a pretty timely manner; usually once the say they want to bg check you they turn the initial request around pretty quickly.

 

[SeductivePig]

Give a call and just note that you have not received the background check form and wanted to know when you should expect it. I'd give it another day or so but you can follow up in a pretty timely manner; usually once the say they want to bg check you they turn the initial request around pretty quickly.

What do you mean? I filled out the paperwork when the recruiter called me for an interview, she left me voicemail on Thursday saying they were going to proceed with the background check.

Unless you're referring to the form I get from the company as a copy of the checks that they did; I didn't ask to receive a copy of those.

 

[SeductivePig]

bump

 

[JSt0rm]

you should want a copy of what they see. What if there is some mistake and some shit on your background you dont know about?

Like the time you touched that 16 year old girl?

 

[Printer Bandit]

do you know that the ATOT threads turn up in background checks?

 

[SeductivePig]

I'm just asking for a way to ask my recruiter about what's going on at this point in the hiring process without sounding like I'm putting pressure on them.

 

[Printer Bandit]

I'm just asking for a way to ask my recruiter about what's going on at this point in the hiring process without sounding like I'm putting pressure on them.

let them do their job and maybe they'll offer you one in return.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Give it a week.

Any checks that you authorized last Thursday will get get requested until Friday.
Simple research ones will take 1-2 days depending on what they are digging for.

Intensive can take a week or more.

They are spending money on you - let them get their $$ worth. Pushing can raise a flag that there is something you do not want them to find

 

[sjwaste]

Government, government contractor, or pure private sector?

 

[Anubis]

depending on the depth of the check it can take anywhere from a week to a month, last one i had done was 2 weeks

 

[EagleKeeper]

Government, government contractor, or pure private sector?

I am guessing that this is a private employer.

Had it been a clearance issue, he would have had to fill out plenty of paperwork in advance

 

[SeductivePig]

The recruiter just called asking how long it would take to relocate, if I had a car since there's no housing within walking distance of the office, annd whether I needed to give 2 weeks notice for my current job. She told me she would get back to me by the end of the week with an offer if everything clears.

Does this sound like the background check is done?

 

[Tsaico]

I am guessing that this is a private employer.

Had it been a clearance issue, he would have had to fill out plenty of paperwork in advance

And they start calling the people you listed in your background...

As for protocol, I don't see what is wrong with just telling exactly what you told us. "I know the final step is the background check, and I don't want to seem overbearing, but I am really eager to start a new job with your organization. I am curious as to the length of the process, and any insight into the issue would be most appreciated. Thanks again."

Most people think if they sound too pushy, then you won't get the job. I assure you, if they liked you, this won't be bad. If a generic question was enough to bump you out of being hired, they were pretty cool to you being hired in the first place. If this is a big place, they are used to these kinds of questions, if it is a small place, then the hiring person who would be offended by this sort of question isn't someone you would want to work with.

 

[Phoenix86]

You are over-thinking this, just thank them for the interview/opportunity and ask what the expected turn around time on the background checks is.