Authorizing background checks

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
With some of the online applications I'm doing, it is necessary to agree to employment and education checks and consent to data being transferred overseas. While, i would agree to providing references on request, I do not wish my employers to be contacted without my knowledge.

If you are in HR, what is the rationale for this request and is it acted on,and what information are they looking for?

Is there any way around this, or must I consent if I want to apply for the job?

Same for data transfer - not happy about that, but seems no choice as I assume many of the data processing companies are overseas.

2
Data overseas is probably just because the company recruiting software holds its data elsewhere.

Typically companies do background checks etc only at the end of the process (it's time consuming and costly so not done for each candidate).

Also typically companies would not randomly contact people but as you for references.

I understand your discomfort but not sure there is a way around it.

Obviously the above is no guarantee but this is what I have seen.

3
The "data overseas" thing is probably just because their job system is cloud based and the data is not guaranteed to remain in Switzerland, I wouldn't worry about that for reputable companies.

I've never seen the checks one just as a blanket statement, they've always had a line saying they will not contact employers without permission for this very reason.

4

It seems they want to collect the permission during the application process...

5
Had this and we agreed that they would only contact previous employers. Which was ok for them.

6

How did you manage this? In the online application there is a box to click that you agree to this - I haven't tried to complete the application without doing so, but I suppose it's a necessary check.

7

Sent them an email and had this confirmed.

8

If you are recruiting for a job that requires a serious background check, then in makes since to filter out people who for one reason or another will not pass such a check.

The reason for the data transfer issue, may either be because they store the data at a foreign data site or they use a research firm based outside of Switzerland.

As for the content it varies, if a financial institution then it may cover:

- Education

- Employment

- Criminal Record

- Social media

- Financial

9
It should be clearly stated what information may be gathered. If not, ask for it before you agree.

For instant, I've went through such background check made for FAANG. The only data they were allowed to to check was:

- education certificate

- start date, end date, job title of every position from the CV.

When employer was not responding, and for those who went out of business, I provided some papers redacting them (covering with black rectangles) to leave only the essential: dates, names, signatures.... I was allowed by the terms to cover what I deemed private information and for me all of that was private