Job offer letter... What is the next step?

Question

I was told to come in and go over the job offer letter. I was offered the position, will they now decide to conduct a background check, check references and verify employment? This was not done before the offer was made, so I'm wondering if they are going to start this process now. It does not make sense to do all of this AFTER extending the offer. Or will I just accept job offer and fill out the regular paperwork to start?

Answer 1

It is illegal to do a background check on a prospective employee. Things like, a credit check and drug screen can only be asked of an employee that has been offered a job and only as a term of employment. IE you have to pass minimum standards to continue on in the hiring process. If you are in a position that you will need to be bonded (some place you handle money or high value equiptment) then they will need to do a full background check to be able to prove to their insurance that you are a bondable employee. If you choose to accept the offer the paper work authorizing this will be included with your hire packet and if a drug screen is needed you will have maybe 48 hours tops to get it done. If a company were to do this before they offered you employment it would then appear to be a discriminatory practice. After the fact though it is a precautionary practice. The have gone through the hiring interviews and selected the best person for the job. Now they can make sure you fit thier minimum ethical standards. If you dont then they will go through the process all over again with the next potential employee. If you read the releases carefully the only thing an employer can refuse to higher you for is failing a drug screen. Basically they cant tell you that your credit isnt good enough for them or that you can not be bonded by thier insurance they can just say that you have been refused the job based on information given to them by "X company" and they have to provide you with the info for the company that provided them with the negative info. If this does happen call this company and find out what they are telling your prospective employers. It may be miss information that needs to be corrected by you. Good Luck.

Answer 2

If you submitted a resume' and or application, they have what they need to do all of those checks. Most companies do the checks up front then offer a job. Just make sure it's an offer you want to take. I hope you have nothing in your background to hide, as it seems you do. Everyone makes mistakes. Some get caught and others don't Good Luck

Answer 3

It makes sense to the company to do those things after the offer. They cost money, and they're not going to waste money doing them for everyone. So go pick up your offer letter and see what it says. If it says contingent on background check, then, yes, they'll do the background check and all that after you accept.

Answer 4

Accept the job offer, sign the letter of offer and find out when you can start work.

Answer 5

If they have already given you the offer, they probably won't do a background or reference check, or at least not much of one. They may do a quick check to see if they catch any obvious lies from you, but chances are slim they will do a deep check at this point.