Applicants can enter the background check stage in two ways.
Manually: after an interview or another step, you can move them into this stage and choose to send or skip the background check request.
Automatically: if automation is enabled, applicants who pass the previous stage are moved automatically, and the background check request is sent via automated message.
Once sent, applicants receive a link to complete the check through Sterling. You can track progress and results under the Background tab in their profile.
š” For comprehensive answers to common questions about Sterling's background checks, including account access issues, legal requirements, and the screening process, please visit Sterling's Client FAQs.
Starting a background check for an applicant
Find applicants in the background check stage
Applicants in the Background Check stage appear in a different tab on the Applicants page, depending on where this stage falls in your hiring process:
Applications ā If the Background Check stage is before any Scheduling stage
Interviews ā If the Background Check stage is between two Scheduling stages
Offers and hires ā If the Background Check stage is after the last Scheduling stage, or it is the Offer or Hiring Complete stage, or comes after it. Any applicant marked as hired will also appear in this tab, regardless of stage type
This placement follows system rules that categorize applicants based on hiring stages. Your company can customize these tab names, so you may see different names. If youāre unsure where an applicant is, check the Applicants page and navigate through the tabs accordingly.
Start a background check for an applicant
Go to Team View, then Applicants.
Find the applicant in either of the three tabs ā Applications, Interviews, or Offers and hires.
Select the three-dot menu ā¢ā¢ā¢ next to the applicant, then Move to stage.
Choose the background check stage.
Leave Send background check request to applicant? turned on to send the request (it's on by default), or turn it off to skip it. Then select Move.
If you choose to send a background check request, the request will follow the automated message you set up in the Background Check stage of your hiring process. If you turn it off, the applicant will be moved to the Background Check stage without receiving a background check request.
View applicants' background check results
Go to Team View, then Applicants.
Find the applicant in the tab for their current stage.
Select their name to open their profile, then go to the Background tab. It appears once a background check has been sent. Here, you'll see the applicantās background check details, including Report Adjudication, Report Result, Report Status, and Report Includes Canceled Screenings.
If more information is needed, select the Open link next to Dashboard to view their report directly in Sterling.
Select the Open link next to Report Download to download the report. This link only appears for users with the View full details (background check reports and SSNs) permission.
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When the results are ready, Workstream notifies everyone with access to the applicant's position who has turned on When a background check is complete in their notification settings. It isn't limited to the person who started the check.
Find out what the background check statuses mean
Sterling tracks a Report Status and a separate Report Result. Clear and Consider appear as results:
Clear: These scores mean that there was no derogatory or discrepant information found
Consider: These scores would mean that some derogatory or discrepant information was found