Amazon is one of the biggest employers in the US so it makes sense you might be interested in working there, as they can offer several different positions to work.
However you also might be doing some research into the pros and cons, and what you need to be hired, and one of the things that pop up is a background check.
If you want to know every detail about Amazon’s background check policy and how long do they take, you’ve come to the right place!
How Long Does Amazon Background Check Take?
After you submit your application form you’ll go through a background check at Amazon, which can take up to four weeks, but you can still ask for updates before that in order to avoid confusion and clear up any doubts.
It normally takes about 2 weeks but there are a few things that may delay the background check.
If you’d like to know more about the process keep reading, you might find some helpful information!
Why Is My Background Check Taking So Long At Amazon?
Even though most Amazon background checks take around 2 weeks there may be some reasons as to why it could take longer than that.
- Sometimes background checkers might need some additional information from you, in which case they will contact you in order to complete the process.
- Some employers take longer to reply for background verification.
- If there is some other reason for the delay and you are not notified, reach out to ask what the problem is.
What Information Does Amazon Checks?
Most of it is the same background check you would have to go through at any type of job application, still, knowing more about it is always useful and keeps the mind at ease
Work History
Amazon will check your work history from the last seven years and some other details such as, who hired you, how long did you work there, and what was the reason for terminating your contract.
Studies
The background check will include which schools, colleges, and universities you’ve attended.
Financial Information
As a part of contributing to Amazon as a company, a credit and financial history check will also be necessary.
References
During the job application, you need to include a list of references that will vouch for you as an employee.
Keep in mind that they may ask you for more details during the background check.
Criminal Record
This is one of the most important parts of the background check since most of the time being charged with felonies in the past seven to ten years can lead to being rejected almost instantly if the rest of your information isn’t above the rest.
Amazon has hired people with a criminal record, as long as they see some potential and value you will get hired, it will just be a bit harder and you’ll go through a more rigorous process than most people.
Drug Test
Every candidate that has good chances of being hired will go through a drug test that will detect the use of drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and cannabis.
So when an applicant sees “Amazon awaiting screening results” status, it means, the company is verifying and doing behind the scene work such as background checks, the performance in the screening test, qualification check, and all the mandatory factors essential for the job profile is taken into account.
This process can take from a few days to at least a week until the results are announced to the applicants.
Check out: How To Know If You Failed Amazon Drug Test
What is Amazon’s Interview Process Like?
While the process may vary depending on the job and the department, there are some aspects that are always present and may give you a general idea about how it works.
- First, every candidate will have up to four phone screenings, each on a different day and lasting about 40 to 60 minutes. Sometimes you’ll be notified if these screenings will be through Chime, which is Amazon’s conferencing platform, however, the decision on whether it’s video or audio-only will fall on the employer’s hands, so be prepared for anything
- After passing these screenings you’ll go to an interview with a few people, although the number of people varies depending on the job. These interviews are normally on-site, however, due to Covid-19, they sometimes decide to use Chime as well.
There are two types of interviews you’ll have to go through, screening interviews and loop interviews which will roughly go as it follows
Screening Interviews
The screening interviews will mostly be about your past experience and gauge your skills as a potential hire.
This will be your first interaction with them so you should prepare accordingly. Some people say that they prefer to “test the waters” with the screening interview, but you should prepare for both regardless of gossip and general advice.
Loop Interviews
These types of interviews will test your skills through a few interviews with different people, you could be interviewed by someone working in the same department you’ve applied to, and other times it could be someone that works in an entirely different area.
These mixed interviews will be more thorough and will test your adaptability, communication skills, and more, so it will go beyond just asking about your past experience and jobs.
Some sessions will have you interviewed by 3 staff members, others up to 7, so make sure you are prepared for a long day of showing off in the most professional way possible.
In case you want a few more tips on the subject click here
Want to learn more about Amazon? Read these posts to learn if Amazon employees get free Prime and do you get paid for personal time off at amazon
Conclusion…
Almost every job nowadays requires some degree of background check, and if you’re confident with your past experiences, and good references, then it shouldn’t be a long wait, assuming two weeks isn’t too much to wait for a job interview.
Just keep in mind some companies are more strict than others and the process will slightly change depending on the job, as for Amazon, just remember to have all the details they might need and keep track of time as you may need to get in contact if it takes too long, and if it does, it’ll probably be worth it, so be patient!