Dear Deibie,
We have conducted hundreds of background checks for various profiles of candidates, ranging from officers to VP level, across various industries in many parts of cities, towns, and mini-metro locations over the past five years.
We do not differentiate the process between pre-job offer or post-job offer when carrying out the investigations. It is a question of final results and the time involved in the process. The higher the level of personnel or their responsibilities in the job, the more intensive the verification process is on various parameters.
These days, many outfits are labeling themselves as professional background consultants with questionable credentials or processes. This is an area of investment for clients and honesty for agencies. Whether you call it reference check, background check, or antecedent verification, the final decision is made by the agencies and the HR department of the hiring company.
As a principle, we do not rely on phone calls, SMS, or emails. It would be sad to disclose to the HR fraternity the kind of games played in this process.
Best of luck.
MIRA (V. Rangarajan)