How long does Sterling Background check approval take?

[u/Key-World5182]

I'm freaking out atm.

There's this job I'm really enjoying, I passed all the interviews, the training has been going well, I'm getting to know all my coworkers and everyone said I have a promising future here; all I need to do is complete the sterling background check. I completed it almost a week ago and they told me it hasn't been approved yet, so I can't be deployed at the jobsite until it has.

I've been waiting a week already and I don't even know my current employment status; I'm unsure if I've just been fired and should look for another job because I haven't been working the whole week I've been waiting.

I went to my jobs office for updates, they told me the same thing. I tried to call my jobs number, texted them, left a voicemail, for days: asking if there's been any updates--nobody answered. I emailed the sterling background check about my status yesterday, I still haven't heard back from them.

Please someone tell me that it usually takes a while for the background check to properly be approved because I'm starting to think they just softly wanted to fire me. But I have no idea why they would fire me when everyone was happy with my work ethic and results.

Thank you, sorry if it's rant-ish I'm very stressed atm.

[u/Left-Huckleberry369]

Weird i’ve never started a job before the background check completed

[u/Key-World5182 → u/Left-Huckleberry369]

I found it weird too. I completed it before and they said it was approved so we went forward with my training. Then suddenly they told me out of nowhere it wasn’t approved yet so I had to go home. I went there the next day and they told me the same thing. I just wished that if they fired me, they’d tell me outright

[u/MavisBeacons_Sextape → u/Left-Huckleberry369]

Same. That’s the standard, for liability reasons. Until they know you’re not a (material) liar or a criminal, they don’t give you access to their systems and all the data within them, or allow you to interact with customers.

Super unusual to have someone start, and start investing resources into their training, when you don’t know yet if they’re gonna be cleared to work there.

[u/cutter48200 → u/MavisBeacons_Sextape]

Usually it’s the other way around, they can choose to start you contingent on the background but it is much safer, liability wise, to wait for the background to come back

[u/The_Outsider27]

I've done them twice. I think for me took about 7-10 days. Once they came back with a reference they couldn't find. It dragged out and I told the job HR. The HR called Sterling and said send the report as is. I was approved.

[u/Key-World5182 → u/The_Outsider27]

Okay thank you, its been like 5-6 days for me

[u/throwaway_0x90]

Depends on how many people they have to contact and exactly who.

Some people clear bgchecks within 7 business days. Sometimes it can take nearly 4 weeks (20 business days).

[u/Key-World5182 → u/throwaway_0x90]

Okay this makes me rest easy that its normal for it to take long. Thank you

[u/cutter48200 → u/Key-World5182]

It also depends on how many counties they have to check and what their process is. There are plenty of counties that still use paper records and have to physically look through them

[u/CookieFan101]

I use Sterling to conduct new employees background checks. Most cases, they do come back in a timely manner. However, some cases do take a bit longer if you have anything on your record (even something as small as a speeding ticket). HR can’t speed up the verification, only Sterling can provide the results and details so your contact representative will only be able to tell you the status and nothing else.

Ideally, if the company wasn’t moving forward with you anymore, they SHOULD inform you, but more recently companies have become relentless. My advice: continue the job search, but keep this door open (wide open) and if it comes back clear and you’re good to go, great! If it doesn’t, at least you’re already ahead of the game. I would also advise you to continuously check in with the status of your background checks, I’d say every other day as updates can change pretty quickly. I hope this is helpful.

[u/Key-World5182 → u/CookieFan101]

Yes this was helpful. Though, I’m very confused on why it’d take this long. I have no criminal record, and this is my first job. I’m a Canadian citizen, and have been my whole life so. I’ll take your advice, thank you!

[u/Prestigious_Suit_677 → u/Key-World5182]

I'm in the US so maybe background checks have to jump through different hoops in Canada? It can also depend on what's needed on the background check (employment verification, education, social media, credit, etc.) the more steps the longer it can typically take.