Actalent: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

Actalent's roots trace to 1983, when entrepreneurs founded Aerotek to support the growing talent needs of the aerospace and defense industry, with an early focus on contract engineering staffing. Aerotek expanded steadily into additional industries and specializations, including laboratory and clinical services, and later gained further specialized expertise through the integration of EASi, an engineering and sciences services company founded in 1981 (with one source citing 1991) that Allegis Group acquired in 2005.

In early 2020, Aerotek realigned its operations into three distinct business units reflecting its core areas of expertise. In July 2021, Allegis Group formally separated these units into independent operating companies: Aerotek (focused on industrial, manufacturing, logistics, and construction staffing), Aston Carter (professional staffing, established as a distinct brand in 1997), and Actalent, which combined Aerotek's former engineering and sciences division with EASi to form a dedicated engineering and sciences services and talent solutions company. At launch, Actalent served more than 4,500 clients with roughly 5,000 internal employees and 27,500 engineering and sciences consultants placed in the field.

Actalent is headquartered in Hanover, Maryland, and operates as part of Allegis Group, a global leader in talent solutions. The company has continued to grow its presence, including expanding its scientific and clinical business under the Actalent brand across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in 2022, and has been recognized as a leader in industry assessments of U.S. engineering contingent staffing services. Actalent's own internal workforce includes recruiters and account managers who match consultants with client projects, while the larger pool of engineering, scientific, and clinical consultants placed through Actalent work on-site or remotely for a wide range of client companies across industries such as aerospace, defense, biotechnology, and healthcare.

Company culture and employee programs: Actalent emphasizes building long-term, trusted relationships with its consultants, positioning itself as a career advisor that helps consultants achieve personal and professional goals through each project placement, rather than simply filling short-term roles. The company describes its mission as being "the bridge between people and what is possible." Benefits, project types, and advancement opportunities can vary depending on the specific client engagement, so candidates should confirm exact details with an Actalent recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Staffing and talent solutions companies, including Actalent, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

Actalent is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for engineering and scientific staffing firms, particularly given that many consultant placements involve work in regulated industries such as aerospace, defense, or clinical research.

The hiring process through Actalent typically includes an application, an interview with an Actalent recruiter and potentially the client company, and a background check prior to placement. Specific requirements can vary depending on the client and role, particularly for defense-related or clinical positions.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-placement background check for a role sourced through Actalent may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws and specific client requirements, particularly for defense or clinical roles, may extend this timeframe.

Hiring and placement decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, its relevance to the role, and the requirements of the specific client company, with defense-related placements potentially subject to additional federal security requirements. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Actalent or its client companies may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application through Actalent or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.