Is your background check provider right for you? 3 areas to assess
Ready to run background checks the modern way?
The right background check partner can help you speed and streamline your screening process. However, not all background check solutions provide the functionality you need to easily manage and scale your background check process.
Use this guide to determine whether your background check provider offers the platform capabilities, turnaround times, and screening options to make your background check program successful.
1. Features and functionality
Features and functionality are the true differentiators between one background check solution and another. It’s important to evaluate which features will increase your team’s efficiency and productivity, speed the background check workflow, and automate processes so you can screen and onboard candidates faster.
Use this list to determine whether your provider offers these valuable features:
ATS and HRIS platform integrations: Reduce manual workflows, automate steps, and speed your screening process by adding a background check solution to your current ATS or HRIS platform.
Background check API: Support a strong brand experience, while improving efficiency and managing compliance while making it easy to order screenings and view results.
Robust customer portal: Get increased visibility into report progress, estimated delivery times, and status alerts for all of your background checks by logging in to a customer dashboard.
Bulk ordering capability: Save time and scale your hiring process by requesting screens for multiple candidates and large groups at once to quickly kick off the screening process.
Mobile-optimized candidate experience: An easy-to-use, mobile-optimized workflow allows candidates to login, provide consent, and view results on their smart-phone, which reduces delays and speeds turnaround times for you.
Candidate comments: Make it easier to conduct individualized assessments with a provider that offers a built-in step that enables candidates to add context about their results directly to their background check.
Adjudication support: Filter records from candidate reports that aren’t relevant to the role and easily initiate the adverse action process when necessary.
Multiple location support: Centralize billing for background checks while supporting screening workflows across multiple office locations; capabilities should include organization-wide and local office administrators with user access.
Report capabilities: Get more insight into your screening program’s analytics like volume, candidate conversion, and fairness with detailed graphs and reports.
Ongoing alerts: Get notified of changes to your workers’ records with real-time alerts for select screenings to minimize risk and protect your brand.
2. Efficient turnaround times
Longer than necessary turnaround times can result in delayed hiring, leaving positions unfilled which affects your bottom line. Worse, slow background checks create bottlenecks which can cause you to lose your candidate to a competitor.
Find out what your provider’s average turnaround times are for these common background screens:
| Common background screening | Target turnaround time |
|---|---|
| National criminal search | Same day |
| Sex offender registry check | Same day |
| Global watchlist search | Same day |
| County criminal search | 1 business day |
| Driving record (MVR) check | 2 business days |
| Education verification | 2 business days |
| Employment verification | 3 business days |
| Drug testing | 3 business days |
Checkr leads the industry with some of the fastest background check turnaround times because of our real-time, proprietary data network and extensive partnerships with court researchers. In fact, 97% of customers say our turnaround times are faster than the competition.
3. Comprehensive screenings
Running the right checks for your company’s industry, locations, and job types will help you make the most informed hiring decisions. At the same time, running the wrong checks can leave you exposed to risk.
Your background check provider should offer a wide range of screenings, with transparency pricing and options for customized screening packages to meet your unique business needs.
| National criminal search | Employment verification |
| State criminal search | Education verification |
| County criminal search | Professional license verification |
| Federal criminal search | Sex offender registry check |
| Federal and county civil search | Global watchlist search |
| Motor vehicle record (MVR) report | Employment credit report |
| Drug testing | Occupational health assessments |
| International background checks | Healthcare sanctions check |
Partner with Checkr for fast, smooth, and safe background checks
Checkr makes employment screening more efficient so you can easily scale your hiring. Our modern background check platform helps you reduce time, human error, and bias with robust features, fast turnaround times, and numerous screenings to meet your business needs. Our fast, accurate, and comprehensive background checks give you the competitive edge to fill open roles quickly and confidently.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my background check provider is still meeting my needs?
Ask whether your current provider delivers consistent turnaround times, offers transparent pricing without hidden fees, and provides responsive customer support. If you're experiencing delays, unexpected costs, or difficulty reaching your account team, it may be time to explore alternatives. A quality provider should scale with your hiring volume and adapt to your evolving compliance requirements. Learn more about what to look for in a background check partner.
What turnaround time should I expect from my background check provider?
Most background checks should complete within 1-5 business days for standard packages. If your current provider consistently exceeds this timeframe, you may be losing qualified candidates to competitors who move faster. National criminal searches typically return same-day results, while county searches can take a week. Delays that go far beyond industry standards suggest that providers are using inefficient processes or outdated technology. Explore modern background screening solutions that prioritize speed without sacrificing accuracy.
Should my background check provider integrate with my existing HR systems?
Yes, seamless integrations with your ATS or HRIS are important for efficient hiring workflows. If you often have to enter candidate information manually or toggling between multiple platforms, you're wasting valuable time and increasing the risk of error. Modern background check providers offer native integrations that automate data transfer, trigger screenings automatically, and sync results directly into your systems. Checkr has multiple HR integrations that can help streamline your hiring process, including background checks.
What compliance support should my background check provider offer?
Your provider should actively help you navigate the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as well as Ban the Box laws and state-specific regulations. If you're uncertain about adverse action procedures or individualized assessments, your provider isn't offering adequate guidance. Look for partners who provide built-in compliance tools, regular updates on regulatory changes, and dedicated support teams. Non-compliance can result in costly lawsuits and reputational damage.
Are hidden fees a sign I should switch background check providers?
Hidden fees are absolutely something to consider background check providers. Transparent pricing is fundamental to a trustworthy partnership. If you're discovering unexpected charges for rush processing, customer support, or report revisions, your provider isn't operating in good faith. Quality providers offer clear, upfront pricing with no surprise fees. Hidden costs add up quickly and make budgeting difficult, especially for high-volume hiring.
How responsive should my background check provider's support team be?
You should receive timely responses—ideally within hours, not multiple days. If you're struggling to reach your account manager or waiting extended periods for answers to urgent questions, your provider isn't prioritizing your business. During high-volume hiring periods, responsive customer support becomes even more critical. Look for providers that offer multiple support channels, dedicated account teams, and comprehensive self-service resources. Learn more about Checkr's approach to customer support.
Can my background check provider scale with my hiring needs?
Your provider should accommodate your fluctuating hiring volumes without slowing your service. If you experience slower turnaround times or reduced support quality during peak hiring seasons, your provider lacks the infrastructure to support your growth. Scalable providers offer bulk ordering capabilities, flexible pricing tiers, and consistent service regardless of the number of checks. Growing businesses need partners who scale with them.
What reporting and analytics should my background check provider offer?
Robust reporting tools help you track key metrics like average turnaround time, completion rates, and the frequency of adverse action. If your current provider offers limited visibility into screening data, you're missing opportunities to optimize your hiring process. Modern platforms provide customizable dashboards, automated reports, and actionable insights that inform better hiring decisions.
Is it worth switching background check providers?
If your current provider falls short on speed, transparency, compliance support, or customer service, switching can significantly improve your hiring outcomes. Migrating your background check process to a modern provider typically includes support and dedicated onboarding from the customer service team. If you can’t decide whether to switch, consider the long-term costs of inefficient screening—lost candidates, compliance risks, and wasted staff time—versus the benefits of a strategic partnership.
If your background check process isn’t working for your business, schedule a demo with Checkr to explore your options.
Disclaimer
The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.
About the author
Sara Korolevich serves as checkr.com’s editor and content manager. In this role, she produces educational resources for employers on a broad range of screening topics, including background check compliance and best practices. She also writes about Checkr’s company and product news to keep customers updated and informed.
