Background check when company was bought out and changed names

9 Comments

1. AnonymousMarch 23,2024 at 12:17PM UTC

   I am not sure how the background check is done since each company does it differently. I would Put the most recent name and title first and then or you can list each one as a different position and write the name of the company at that time and the title you had at that time. It is more time consuming but more thorough. If they are doing a good job at investigating they will learn about all the changes and see it corresponds.

2. AnonymousMarch 23,2024 at 12:17PM UTC

   I'd list the most recent name. When they ask to describe duties, I'd FIRST Indicate "three buyouts under names a, b, c" IMO, it's more important WHAT you did than for whom.

3. AnonymousMarch 23,2024 at 12:33PM UTC

   My prior company was bought while I worked there. When I applied to my current position, I put the name of the new company as my employer and included a line that company x was purchased by company y in xxxx year. Then I talked about the changes in the interview process. Mergers and acquisitions are common enough now that this is not an issue.

4. AnonymousMarch 23,2024 at 1:02PM UTC

   I don't know, but I believe the BG checks only verify employment, not titles, so the title isn't the issue. I have done this by stating the new name and, in parentheses, "formerly [old name]." I fully understand the problem because I worked for 22 years for a company that changed its name and was later acquired by another company. For me, it's never created an issue on a BG check.

5. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 23,2024 at 8:03PM UTC

   Our background checks verify employment dates and titles. Titles is probably the biggest area of discrepancy on the results.

6. AnonymousMarch 24,2024 at 12:21AM UTC

   Thanks, Joan, for the clarification from someone in HR. So, how is the title generally different? Is it just in semantics, or is it more significant?

7. Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistMarch 23,2024 at 8:13PM UTC

   The first thing I would do is check and see if the information you received from the background check company includes a phone number for their customer service. If it does, I would call them and explain the situation and ask them how you should fill out the form.

   If they don't provide customer service, I would list the name of the last corporate entity you worked for and your last title - include the original start date.

   I would not stress too much about this. Are you completing the background check because you're getting a new job? If so, I suggest you get in front of this and have a conversation with your recruiter and explain the situation. I have discrepancies come up on background checks all the time and I have never not passed someone. As long as they have a reasonable explanation, I'm going to clear it.

8. AnonymousMarch 25,2024 at 3:46PM UTC

   This just happened to me! I have two companies on my resume that have been purchased by others, so I have them listed as CURRENT COMPANY (formerly X company) on my resume. One company I had mentioned in the interview process, because they had been bought while I was there, but the other was just recently purchased, so I was concerned it would be a problem. Last year, I started a new position, and they did an extensive background check and they never asked for any info, and I just completed a job search and am starting a new position, and it was the first time I had to fill out any info on previous jobs ever, so I just gave them what I had. I start next week, so they either had what they needed or they were able to figure it out.

   I also did google searches of the old companies, just to see, and it was a pretty smooth route to get to the current ones, so these companies probably have even better ways to get current info!

9. AnonymousApril 2,2024 at 4:42PM UTC

   Use the most recent company name and the most recent title and the full dates of employment for all together. Request a copy of the report from the 3rd party background check company and also if you can find a phone number for them call and ask for a manager and explain this to them. Also if need be write an email to the person who requested the background check explaining that the company has changed hands 3x and the dates are all inclusive from hire date to today. Then wait. You should be fine.