candidate background checks - experience and advice needed?

Jane_B

Not sure if anyone can help but I am getting a bit frustrated and confused with a candidate background check company and need some advice.

I was offered a new job 2 weeks before xmas, and was told as part of the requirements I needed to go through a candidate background check. This company only gets references from HR departments, not line managers (which is who I typically use for employment references)

They sent the request for info off straight away to the respected HR departments and haven't heard anything back so have put my references down as unverified until I can send them my first and last payslip and contracts for all my previous employment. This is where I am getting into a pickle, since I don't have most of this, some of these roles go back 10+ years so I don't still have my first and last pay slip, or contract for that matter.

Has anyone else on here had experience with these candidate check companies as I am now getting into a panic as to whether this will cause me to not get the job after all (my 'new' company doesn't come back until Jan 11th so I can't check with them yet)

The issue is I still need to hand my notice in, but don't want to if this issue will lead to me not getting the role, do you think I should continue to hold off handing it in (thus delaying my start date) as I don't want the embarrassment of handing my notice in to only say in a couple of weeks time actually I need to stay

TIA

Comms69

Jane_B wrote: »

Not sure if anyone can help but I am getting a bit frustrated and confused with a candidate background check company and need some advice.

I was offered a new job 2 weeks before xmas, and was told as part of the requirements I needed to go through a candidate background check. This company only gets references from HR departments, not line managers (which is who I typically use for employment references)

They sent the request for info off straight away to the respected HR departments and haven't heard anything back so have put my references down as unverified until I can send them my first and last payslip and contracts for all my previous employment. This is where I am getting into a pickle, since I don't have most of this, some of these roles go back 10+ years so I don't still have my first and last pay slip, or contract for that matter.

Has anyone else on here had experience with these candidate check companies as I am now getting into a panic as to whether this will cause me to not get the job after all (my 'new' company doesn't come back until Jan 11th so I can't check with them yet)

The issue is I still need to hand my notice in, but don't want to if this issue will lead to me not getting the role, do you think I should continue to hold off handing it in (thus delaying my start date) as I don't want the embarrassment of handing my notice in to only say in a couple of weeks time actually I need to stay

TIA

Definitely DO NOT hand your notice in.


It's not embarrassment you should be worried about, but your employer simply refusing to retract your notice.


Unfortunately there is no concrete answer to your question; your possible employer has a procedure, if you cannot satisfy that procedure they may decide not to employ you. Alternatively they may decide that they have sufficient references / evidence from part responses.

Undervalued

Jane_B wrote: »

Not sure if anyone can help but I am getting a bit frustrated and confused with a candidate background check company and need some advice.

I was offered a new job 2 weeks before xmas, and was told as part of the requirements I needed to go through a candidate background check. This company only gets references from HR departments, not line managers (which is who I typically use for employment references)

They sent the request for info off straight away to the respected HR departments and haven't heard anything back so have put my references down as unverified until I can send them my first and last payslip and contracts for all my previous employment. This is where I am getting into a pickle, since I don't have most of this, some of these roles go back 10+ years so I don't still have my first and last pay slip, or contract for that matter.

Has anyone else on here had experience with these candidate check companies as I am now getting into a panic as to whether this will cause me to not get the job after all (my 'new' company doesn't come back until Jan 11th so I can't check with them yet)

The issue is I still need to hand my notice in, but don't want to if this issue will lead to me not getting the role, do you think I should continue to hold off handing it in (thus delaying my start date) as I don't want the embarrassment of handing my notice in to only say in a couple of weeks time actually I need to stay

TIA

Handing your notice in without an unconditional offer is a significant risk.

OK, taking any new job is a risk as you have little employment protection for the first two years and can be "let go" just by giving contractual notice. However handing in your notice, which you have no automatic right to retract, is a bigger risk than most people would take.

bap98189

10+ years ago. They are crazy asking for information that old.

After that length of time, the companies you worked for should have destroyed any record of you working there.

Jane_B

Thank you everyone, I was just getting a bit worried as after getting my offer via email (subject to satisfactory references) they asked if I would be ok to start on the 4th of Feb (which is not going to happen now since I have 6wks notice)

I wouldn't mind so much if I were applying for a role which I would expect to have this level of checks, but I do not so its a bit baffling for me, I have never had an issue just giving the contact info of my last few line managers but hey ho the wait will continue

t0rt0ise

Have they asked for ten years? When I went through one of these they wanted three years information. Check with them how much they really want.

Jane_B

t0rt0ise wrote: »

Have they asked for ten years? When I went through one of these they wanted three years information. Check with them how much they really want.

They want proof of everything on my CV which includes a position from 10 yrs ago) its an anti application fraud measure apparently, making sure you're not lying about working somewhere - which I understand but specifically requesting a HR reference is whats getting me stuck, I keep in good contact with all my old managers so they'd be able to give confirmation of my employment dates in days if only they'd allow it.

The company I have been offered a job from is large and from speaking to their HR team before XMAS they don't have the function to check references in house, which is why its all done by this candidate checking company (a standard process across all countries) who as they aren't the employer have no reason to wiggle on requirements.

I am hoping that if the referencing can't be completed they will see what they can do, as they are very keen to get me started and the HR team said they would be willing to overlook any discrepancies in the references if they cropped up to speed along the process - so fingers crossed

theoretica

Once people are back and dealt with a bit of the email backlog after the New Year you could call the HR departments from your old employers and check they have got the request, if/when they will be replying to it, and if they haven't got it who it should be addressed for the attention of.