Clearances and HR Review

Ecclesiastical Clearances, Background Checks, and References

After the finalist has been chosen for the position, the next step in the hiring process is to obtain an ecclesiastical clearance, background check, and at least two employment references.

For applicants who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, BYU prefers to hire qualified members of the Church in good standing. Interviewing or hiring a non-member applicant requires vice president approval.

After selecting the desired candidate to be hired, change the applicant's workflow status in YJobs to "Submit for Clearance Checks." This will generate the appropriate email notifications to begin the clearance check process.

Background checks are conducted by a third-party provider and may take two days to fourteen days. Please plan accordingly.

When the ecclesiastical clearance, background check, and two or more required reference calls are complete, notification will be sent to the area HR consultant to then determine the appropriate wage/salary. General wage/salary calculations based on the pay level for the position, work experience, and education of the applicant. The area HR consultant will contact the department to discuss wage/salary.

For further questions regarding ecclesiastical clearances and background checks, please contact Staff and Administrative Employment at (801) 422-3563.

Reference Calls

Reference calls are a great way to gather past behavior and performance information about a potential employee by personally contacting previous employers. At least two reference checks must be completed for full-time and 3/4-time hires who are not currently employed by the department. It is the responsibility of the hiring department to make these calls. Letters of recommendation are not considered reference checks.

Reference Call Summaries are submitted through the online form in the Manage Applicants - Staff/Admin section of the Staff Employment Portal. Click on the reference notes icon located on the right side of the applicant's row.

There are two aspects of a reference call:

1. Records Check to verify information about dates of employment, job titles, salary information, licenses, etc.
2. Position Match Check to confirm the applicant's work habits, personality, and personal character. Inquiries may include communication skills, performance, time management, work ethic, and weaknesses.

An employer MAY NOT request any information about the job applicant from:

• Family members
• Other sources not supplied by the job applicant.

Calling a Previous Employer

Prior to the conditional offer being made, the employer may inquire about the following from a previous employer:

• Job functions and tasks performed
• Quality and quantity of work performed
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Professional behavior
• Attendance record
• Weaknesses or problems
• Other applicable issues which do not relate to disability

If an applicant has a "known disability" and has indicated he or she could perform the job with reasonable accommodation, the previous employer may be asked about accommodations which were made.

Remember, do NOT inquire about:

• Disabilities
• Illnesses
• Worker's Compensation History

YJobs Tip

Change the workflow states of non-interviewed applicants (never to be considered) to “Not Hired – Sends Email.” This can be done daily, even with the posting open.