a work question?

Question

this company has told me for 8 weeks now that i have a job, but still have not yet hired me, there waiting on a background check. my question is why would a company lie to a person like this, isnt easier just to say the truth at this point? do you think this is some kind of practical joke? i guess my question is what are the reasons they would be doing this??

its just a regular job, not state or govgernment. i have asked them outright do i have the job, and they keep saying that i do, very confused at this point?

Answer 1

If you don't trust them, move on.

Unless it is some kind of high security background check, it shouldn't take that long. You didn't say what kind of job it is.

Answer 2

A play answer!!! ;)

Seriously, though, nobody "lied" and nobody is playing a "practical joke" on you (of course, for all we know, you're pulling a prank on us by making up this whimsical story, but I'm sure that isn't the case!). ;]

These days, many jobs require a background check of some kind (e.g., drug test; criminal background; gov't security; etc). Most such jobs may tell a prospect that they will be hired, contigent on passing such tests. Unfortunately, some of these tests may take a while; drug tests can be days or weeks; criminal and security checks could take days, weeks, months, and even years!

Although some companies will immediately employ someone while awaiting the results of these tests, some prefer to "wait". While this might seem "cruel" to some, keep in mind that they are spending their money on the test(s) (very few employers make employees pay for such, as it could be considered a "scam" to get money, without having any tests performed).

You didn't say whether you received a notice in the postal mail about your being "hired". If you received nothing in writing, then, for all anyone knows, your paperwork got lost in the shuffle (I once sent a cover letter and resume to a prospective employer who didn't contact me until a month later, claiming that they loved my background, but they lost the papers until that day!)

Regardless, eight weeks is a VERY long time. The best you can do is contact the employer (preferably, the person or people you interviewed with whom, presumably, you would be working), and POLITELY ask about your job status (don't be surprised if they forgot about you; it happens!). Again, for all we know, you may have completely misheard or misinterpreted what they said, and, by now, they may have even found a more suitable candidate).

In any event, you should continue looking for another job. If you find one, great! If the original company calls you and says that they're ready for you, you now have a choice! Isn't that great? If you never hear from the original company, again, then you'll have only wasted a couple of months. In the meantime, you got experience interviewing, right? Some people would do anything just to reach *that* point!

FWIW, I was in a similar situation. I passed the interviews (personnel, technical, and brief security check (I had to bring my passport, etc, to the interview)), and was told that I would be hired, but I would not be allowed to do any work until my full gov't security clearance came through. After just one month of doing nothing on the job (everything requires a clearance at this non-gov't company), I gave up and found something else (the true shame of that experience is that I had been cleared to Top Secret three times in the past (and within just a couple of weeks!), but, unfortunately, wait times for gov't security clearances have skyrocketed since "9/11". That's why many job ads state something like, "current clearance required" or "must have had a clearance within the past two years"; it's far easier to transfer an existing "active" clearance (even if you're currently unemployed) than to get a "new" clearance. It's terrible that the companies and gov't don't push people with past clearances to the "front" of the line, so to speak, but, that's the way it is! Needless to say, I haven't had a job requiring a Federal gov't security clearance in over 15 years!

Good luck!

P.S. Your subsequent "detail" states that they "keep" telling you that you're hired. Again, if it isn't in writing (assuming the position, which you seem reluctant to clarify, requires such), it isn't worth anything to you. I would also point out that the word "keep" means that you have asked more than once, but you didn't say how many times. Regardless, you are wasting your time and ours by sitting around moping and fretting and fuming about this. LOOK FOR ANOTHER JOB!!!

Answer 3

It could be that they actually are waiting for a background check to be completed. Although 8 weeks is a really long time to wait, it is the busy holiday season and they may have hired a real cheap firm to do the background check or they may be trying to do that themselves.

It could also be that the company is just so disorganized that they either never did the background check or lost it. I have seem companies where lost documents, forgotten orders, misfiled items are normal. Then the question is would you really want to work for a company that treats you like this. What will happen when it is time for that first raise?

That being said, it is time you start looking for another job. Start interviewing again. If you are offered a job, then call this company and tell them that you have a job offer and that you must know their intentions. Personally, I would not want to work for someone who strung me along for 8 weeks, it shows that they are inconsiderate of your needs. Good luck.

Answer 4

Employers want to make sure that a potential employee's background check comes out ok before hiring them. i.e. A company wouldn't want to hire a bookkeeper who recently declared bankruptcy or was previously convicted of embezzlement. They are not allowed to fire you for it though. Sounds like this company is trying to make sure that you have A clean record before hiring you. Not sure if theyre allowed to tell you that you have the job and then not follow through though. Sounds like the manger wants to keep you but hr is saying that they need to wait for a background check to be finished.

Answer 5

If the company is larger than 50 to 100 people, then you have run into HR, or upper management.

The manager or director wants to hire you, but they are running into delays from [stupid] HR policies, or possibly they are waiting on a higher level sign-off, and the person has not given the okay yet.

Answer 6

Me too? Gosh, I am sorry. Maybe they are waiting for approval... for their budget...someone on vacation? I would dig for more details. You deserve at least that! How are you paying for Christmas?

Answer 7

they are dragging you along while they try someone else out first if that person don't work they will call I have seen this happen.