Background checks include information on employment, education, criminal activity, motor vehicle records, drug testing, international screening, and more. Learn more about what shows up in a background check.
Background Checks|
9 min. read |
9/11/2026
4 Reasons to Choose First Advantage for Background Checks
Maureen Lally
Chief Marketing Officer, First Advantage
Key Takeaways
- 61% of hiring professionals saw an increase in candidates who have lived or worked in multiple countries, highlighting the importance of identity verification and background checks on a global scale.
- International hiring has become a priority, with 56% of hiring professionals saying they recruit employees from outside their primary country. This means background check providers need both global reach and knowledge of local requirements and regulations.
- 34% of hiring professionals surveyed cited speed as the most important component of the screening and identity verification process, a clear indicator that protection and performance are dual mandates for employers.
- First Advantage conducts 200M+ background checks annually for 80,000+ customers worldwide, demonstrating the experience and global reach needed for screening today's workforce.
- 90% of First Advantage U.S. criminal screens close in one day, answering the call for speed in a competitive hiring landscape.
In today’s digital world, hiring has become exponentially complex. Remote work and gig-economy positions have made verifying identity and employment history increasingly complicated. Meanwhile, AI and other technologies that can be used to create synthetic identities are more convincing than ever.
Regardless of an organization’s size or how quickly they need to hire, establishing a culture of trust is paramount. And a key to building this trust is identity verification and background check solutions that are efficient, easy to use, and robust enough to provide global reach and cover every stage of employment.
The solutions provided by First Advantage solutions help companies of all sizes mitigate risk, support compliance requirements, and build a workforce you can trust. By balancing a wide range of capabilities and vast resources with seamless integrations and an intuitive, low-stress user experience, the company has created identity screening solutions to fit small, mid-sized and enterprise companies alike.
First Advantage at a glance:
| Global Reach | 200+ countries and territories served |
| Screening Scale | 200M+ background screens performed annually |
| Integration Network | 100+ ATS and HCM integrations |
| Customer Base | 80,000+ customers worldwide |
| Data Resources | 1B+ records in proprietary databases |
| Candidate Support | 24/7 multilingual assistance available |
| Business Size | Supports small, mid-size and enterprise level organizations |
Here are four reasons to consider First Advantage for background checks and continuous screening solutions.
1. Technology that doesn’t trade speed for security
Leveraging the latest technology has always been a hallmark at First Advantage. The past several years, however, have seen an even stronger effort to incorporate automations and integrations that boost speed and efficiency to create a more modern, optimized hiring process. This is a prime concern for hiring professionals; 34% cited speed as the most important component of the screening and identity verification process1 in First Advantage’s 2026 Global Workforce Trends Report.
A global leader in background checks and continuous monitoring, First Advantage has over 100 flexible integration options — including Workday, ICIMS, and Bullhorn — for solutions that easily work with an organization’s ATS and HCM systems. Intelligent automation throughout the process results in fast turnaround times; for example, 90% of U.S. criminal screens close in one day2. And enhanced security technologies make identity verification a quick process, with results delivered in seconds.
The company’s tech environment was also bolstered by its acquisition of Sterling, which was completed in 2024. Not only did this bring in more performance-enhancing technology tools, it also created one of the world’s largest providers of background checks, identity verification, and continuous monitoring solutions. First Advantage now conducts 200M+ background checks annually, has 1B+ records in proprietary databases, performs screening in over 200 countries and territories, and has 80,000 global customers, including 66% of the Fortune 100 and over 50% of the Fortune 500.2
The company’s global solutions are paired with multi-layered security controls and strict governance over internal processes to protect customer and candidate data. This includes a responsible AI framework and documented policies that emphasize transparency, privacy protection, and strict control over data usage.
First Advantage’s tech featured in HRTech Cube
A balance of modernity, seamlessness, and security has led First Advantage to receive multiple awards for its technology, particularly in 2026. In April, the company won HR.com’s Most Innovative Screening Technology award. The following month, Marketplace Risk named First Advantage an honoree in its Risk Solution Provider Excellence Program for screening and background checks. And in July, TIME ranked First Advantage #1 in Background Screening & Identity Verification while placing it on its America’s Best Companies 2026 list.
2. All-around ease of use
An intuitive, low-hassle user experience is a priority for both organizations and their job candidates. When screening workflows are straightforward, HR teams can reduce administrative friction and maintain hiring momentum without sacrificing oversight.
Candidates also benefit from a process that’s clear, mobile-friendly, and easy to navigate; this can improve completion rates and strengthen the overall candidate experience. Additionally, a well-designed platform supports consistency across hiring programs, while accessible guidance and responsive support help resolve issues before they delay onboarding.
Customers regularly mention how easily First Advantage solutions integrate with their ATS or HCM, even when their system is customized. Joe Long, Director of Global Background Screening and Onboarding with Wells Fargo, explains his team’s partnership with First Advantage and how it helped boost company growth:
For candidates, the First Advantage mobile-friendly platform makes the application process less stressful. Identity verification generally takes a few easy steps, and tracking their status in the screening process is simple and convenient. Human assistance, including multilingual help, is available 24/7 to guide candidates through the process.
This streamlined candidate experience can reduce confusion at critical stages, which helps employers improve completion rates and maintain hiring momentum. The platform is designed to support accessibility and clarity, and intuitive prompts help applicants understand what’s required (and whether they’ve left out critical information or steps) without unnecessary back-and-forth. When questions arise, responsive support can resolve them quickly, reducing avoidable delays during onboarding — and strengthening candidate trust from the first interaction.
Listen to the podcast: An FBI Lesson in Verifying Identity
3. Robust background check solutions with global reach
The complexities of international hiring impact companies of all sizes, not just enterprise organizations. Of the thousands of hiring professionals surveyed for the First Advantage 2026 Global Workforce Trends Report:
- 61% saw an increase in candidates who have lived or worked in multiple countries1
- 56% said they recruit employees from outside their primary country1
These complexities highlight the need for a robust solution with worldwide expertise and access to extensive amounts of data.
First Advantage has a wide range of solutions, including digital identity verification, criminal background checks, employment verification, education verification, MVR checks, drug testing/screening, international screening, social media checks and more. This breadth enables organizations to consolidate critical hiring workflows within a single background check provider instead of managing multiple disconnected vendors. This seamless approach reduces hiring complexity, streamlines the process, and creates better transparency for candidates.
This unified approach can also improve operational consistency across regions, roles, and regulatory environments. As hiring needs evolve, employers can scale screening programs more efficiently, whether they’re supporting local recruitment or cross-border talent acquisition. Additionally, access to broad data resources and flexible screening options helps HR and compliance teams make informed decisions with greater confidence. For employers seeking both reach and reliability, this combination of volume, coverage, and screening depth supports a more resilient employment background check strategy.
These attributes allow First Advantage to provide global, end-to-end monitoring that covers the complete employment lifecycle, from initial screening and hiring to continuous monitoring and offboarding. And while the company’s customer base includes high-profile names, small to medium-sized growing businesses can easily leverage these benefits as well, with pricing that includes integration fees, onboarding, embedded automation and compliance tools, and reliable customer.
4. Consistent, award-winning customer and candidate support
In addition to prioritizing the latest technologies for identity verification and background checks, First Advantage has kept people at the forefront. The company has achieved high marks on ClearlyRated.com from both customers (4.3 out of 5) and job candidates (4.5 out of 5), with tens of thousands of reviews mentioning timely responses, extensive knowledge, and the ability to resolve issues quickly.
Customer reviews tell the story:
“My experience was excellent. The representative was patient, understanding, and professional throughout the interaction. Jade took the time to listen, addressed my concerns thoroughly, and made the entire experience pleasant. Their outstanding customer service deserves to be recognized and commended!”
“Always amazing work from your teams!”
“Feedback from Frist Advantage is always fast and we did not have any issues with everyone who assisted our employees using the helpline.”
See a comparison of top background check providers
Meanwhile, candidate reviews reflect an application process made easier when help was needed:
“The CSR that assisted me did a great job in handling the task of making an appointment at another clinic in the area for the same day as my original appointment. He went above and beyond the call of duty.”
“Very pleased with the short wait time to speak with an agent.”
“10! He was a great help and stayed on the line with me until everything was done.”
Click.Chat.Call® by First Advantage balances self-service options, live chat, and telephone support to promote a premier experience for customers and candidates alike. Users have access to live specialists during extended workweek hours, a file status tool, and a vast library of guides, customer cases, articles, and more.
The strategy has resulted in an elevated customer experience, with First Advantage winning multiple 2026 Stevie® Awards for its multilingual customer support, customer service department/individual performance, and customer service innovation.
A proven and trusted leader in background checks
With an increasingly global and digital workforce, verifying identity and qualifications — at time of hire and throughout employment — is crucial for a trusted workforce. The right identity verification and background check solutions help you truly know who you’re hiring. It provides a seamless, secure, and user-friendly experience for your candidates and your company. And it protects your organization over time.
You don’t have to be a global company to access background screening that meets these qualifications. First Advantage options can be tailored the needs and budgets of small businesses, mid-sized companies, and enterprise organizations.
Contact us to see how you can leverage their industry-leading solutions at your organization.
Know your people™
Frequently Asked Questions
What do background checks typically include?
What is identity verification?
Identity verification checks confirm a person is who they say they are. This is best performed before a background check (and can be done as early as the first interview) to save time and mitigate identity fraud risk. Learn more about how identity verification works.
Does First Advantage serve small and mid-sized companies?
Yes. While First Advantage serves Fortune 100 companies worldwide, the company’s technology, ease of use, and pricing help small and medium-sized companies grow their business while mitigating risk. See how First Advantage’s solutions work for companies of different sizes.
What are the top background check providers?
Top providers include First Advantage, Checkr, HireRight, Accurate, and Verified First. See a comparison between these companies to better select your provider.
Will First Advantage work with my company’s ATS?
Yes. The First Advantage integrations team will work with your organization to assess requirements, scope the project, and support implementation. Learn more about our approach to building seamless global integrations.
Table of Contents
About First Advantage
Along the candidate journey HR teams choose First Advantage for consistent screening, fast verifications, and support of compliance regulations.
- 200M screens annually
- 1B+ records in proprietary databases
- 200+ countries and territories
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1 First Advantage 2026 Global Workforce Trends Report
2 First Advantage, as of 12/31/2025
This content is offered for informational purposes only. First Advantage is not a law firm, and this content does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Information in this may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.
Readers of this content should contact their own legal advisors concerning for their particular circumstance. No reader, or user of this content, should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information in this content. Only your individual attorney or legal advisor can provide assurances that the information contained herein – and your interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation. Use of, and access to, this content does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader, or user of this presentation and First Advantage.
