#JobOffer #BackgroundCheck #StartDate #HRAdvice #CareerDecision
Congratulations on receiving a written job offer with a start date! It’s totally normal to feel a bit paranoid or anxious about the background check process, especially if you’ve never been through it before. In this article, we’ll discuss whether you should wait for the background check to clear before giving notice to your current employer or if it’s safe to proceed with your new job.
🔍 Should I Wait for the Background Check to Clear?
1. **Understanding the Contingent Offer**: When a job offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a background screen, it means that the offer can be rescinded if any red flags are raised during the check. This step is a standard procedure for many companies to ensure they are hiring individuals with integrity and honesty.
2. **Online Advice on Notifying HR**: Many individuals suggest asking HR to notify you when the background check clears before giving official notice to your current employer. This approach seems like a prudent move to avoid any potential issues.
3. **Potential Delays in Background Checks**: It’s important to consider that background checks can sometimes take longer than expected, and it’s not uncommon for them to last past the start date. If you choose to wait until it clears, you might have to negotiate a later start date with your new employer or provide less than the standard two weeks’ notice to your current company.
4. **Your Clean Record**: If you have a clean record and have been honest throughout the interview process, you’re likely to pass the background check without any issues. It’s still a good idea to stay informed about its progress to avoid any unnecessary delays or misunderstandings.
🌟 Career Decision: To Give Notice or Wait?
1. **Communication with HR**: It’s important to communicate openly and transparently with the HR department. You can politely ask them to keep you updated on the status of the background check without sounding accusatory or anxious. Remember, this is a routine process, and you have the right to inquire about it.
2. **Balancing Both Jobs**: If waiting for the background check to clear means a potential delay in your start date, you’ll need to weigh the pros and cons of asking for a later start or giving less notice to your current employer. It’s a delicate balance, and your decision should be based on your specific circumstances and the relationship you have with both companies.
3. **Deciding When to Give Notice**: While it’s tempting to want to get everything sorted out before giving notice, it’s also important to be mindful of your current employer’s needs and the professional courtesy of providing ample notice. If the background check process is just a standard formality, it may be reasonable to proceed with giving notice.
✅ Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the decision to wait for the background check to clear or proceed with giving notice to your current employer ultimately depends on your individual circumstances and the company’s policies. It’s perfectly normal to feel a little uncertain during this process, but remember that transparency and clear communication can go a long way in navigating this situation.
As you navigate through this process, remember these key points:
– Understand the contingent nature of the offer and the purpose of the background check.
– Approach HR with respect and professionalism in your request for updates.
– Consider the potential impact on both jobs before making your final decision.
Ultimately, trust your instincts and make the decision that feels right for you. Best of luck in your new role! 🌟
First, negotiate the offer. Second, when signing the offer tell them you need to give two weeks notice so want to start the background check immediately.
Sign the offer but let them know that you will give 2 weeks notice after you are notified that the background check has cleared
My current job did this. I know my background check is spotless, but I told them I would not give my 2 weeks notice until everything came back and it was clear to proceed
You giving notice to current employer is much more about the current employer than new. In short, when you give notice , what do you think will happen?
Do you have to give notice? Or is it so you don’t “burn a bridge?” Will they term you immediately? If you are in US, employed at will, they could term you the minute you put in notice, and your health insurance ends as well as paycheck. Can you afford that?
Finally, there is the low but a chance the offer could be rescinded. Do you think you’ll be able to rescind your notice or not? Also, do you have any time off scheduled in January?
Personally, I wouldn’t give notice until Jan 8.
If you have a signed offer letter (signed by you and the new employer) and know that your background check will be clean, you should be able to move forward.
My current job did this. I asked them to complete the background check before I put in notice. (You should ask this) In my case they said they couldn’t because the background check would contact my old employer (They didn’t). I was packing up my stuff to move to the new city for the job and they said there was a warrant for my arrest for failure to appear to answer a possession of cocaine charge. (I have never been arrested) I delayed my leaving for a day and started making calls. I called the local precinct. “Come on down and we’ll talk about it ” No thanks
I finally got someone in the DA’s office to tell me it was someone with the same name but different birthday and race. I called the company the next day “So what’s the verdict, Guilty or Innocent?” She was very defensive. “Don’t report for work on Monday ”
I left my old city. I had given notice and had my last day. After I arrived they had cleared up the background check and I started on Wednesday, missing new hire orientation. To their credit, they paid me for the two days I was told not to report.
But, really, OP, try to get them to complete the background check
Never give notice until all contingencies are passed. If that delays your start date, that’s on your new employer. Tell your new employer that you will give notice when the background check, and any other contingency, comes back.
If there are any contingencies on my offer, I don’t give notice. So I recommend asking them to move your start date until 2 weeks after the background check. I’d be shocked if this is the first time they’ve received this request.
I just got screwed out of working for a month because my background check didn’t come back in time. Orientation was on a Saturday, background didn’t come back until the following Tuesday, next orientation isn’t scheduled for another month. Definitely wait.
If there’s nothing of concern in your background check, you should be fine. Our company does this all the time.
Background checks will only discredit you if you are a criminal typically. If you have nothing to hide then you have nothing to fear.
I’ve been down this road a few times and I let the hiring team know that I won’t give my two weeks notice at my old employer until all contingencies are off the table. For me, that’s usually been a background check and a drug test. Something as simple as a false positive on the drug test or a clerical error could cause the offer to be withdrawn.
Never give notice to a company you are leaving before the new position has committed to paying you in a way that can’t be rescinded.unless you plan to return to the company you are leaving within a few years it is almost never a benefit to give notice.
You don’t quit last job till you are onboarding new one
In short, wait for the positive bg check.
Take the job. You have nothing to fear. Give notice but only if you are OK with being let go immediately.
You are probably overthinking this!
This “background screening” stuff is standard verbiage and unless you know that there is a dark stain in your records (e.g. an arrest, conviction, etc.), you should not be worrying about adjusting your starting date or whatnot. You don’t need to concern yourself with the dates, this is something for the HR to figure out, plus they already have plenty of time! Heck almost a month?! All my past offers followed the same procedures and the shortest notice I had was 1 week, the longest was 2 weeks!
I guess the question is, do you have a dark stain in your records?! If so, then yeah, Do not submit your notice yet till the screening is cleared!
Its common for them to trip up by evaluating information from a parent with the same name.
It’s ok to sign the offer just don’t give notice until the background check is complete and you know all is good
Recruiter here. Always wait until the background is completed. Best instance I can give is the background company having delays. Especially around the holidays. Maybe the municipality they are checking is closedfor the week of Christmas to New Years.
You wouldn’t quit your job without something definitely lined up. Though the background is assuredly clean with your history. That 1-2 weeks without a job could be costly to some.