Definition
Background check — A background check is the process an employer runs to verify facts about a candidate before finalizing a hire, using public records, prior employers, and sometimes third-party verification services. Common components are a criminal record check, employment history verification, confirming a claimed degree or certification actually exists, and, in roles handling money or sensitive access, a credit check. Industries like healthcare, transportation, and finance often layer on additional checks tied to specific licenses or regulatory rules. In the US, checks run through a third-party consumer reporting agency are governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which generally requires an employer to get written consent before running a check, and to follow a specific adverse-action process, giving the candidate notice and a chance to respond, before deciding not to hire based on something the check turns up. Rules vary by state and country beyond that baseline, and this is general information rather than legal guidance. A background check is usually run after a candidate has already received a conditional offer, since it's a final verification step rather than an early screening tool.
Background checks are the most common condition attached to a contingent offer, alongside reference checks and drug screening in some industries. A clean check confirming what a candidate already disclosed is the expected outcome most of the time, and something unexpected turning up is the exception the adverse-action process exists to handle fairly.
Frequently asked questions
When does a background check happen in the hiring process?
Usually after a candidate has already accepted a conditional offer, since it's a final verification step rather than something run on every applicant earlier in screening.
Does an employer need consent to run a background check?
In the US, checks run through a third-party service generally require written consent under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, along with a specific process if something on the report leads to an offer being withdrawn. Requirements vary elsewhere.
What's the difference between a background check and a reference check?
A background check verifies records: criminal history, employment dates, education. A reference check is a conversation with people the candidate has worked with, focused on how they actually performed.
Related pages
Bring real signal into the offer stage
Intervieux's screening interviews and scored reports give employers concrete performance data going into an offer, ahead of whatever a background check confirms afterward.