UK Recruitment Glossary
Background Check
In recruiter context
Standard for UK roles above £40k and for any regulated industry (finance, healthcare, legal, public sector). Typical scope: identity verification, right-to-work, employment dates and titles for the last 5-10 years, qualifications verified directly with awarding bodies, references from named contacts, and for some roles a basic DBS or financial-services FCA check. Most checks are run by third parties (HireRight, Sterling, Onfido). Lying about employment dates is the #1 reason offers get withdrawn at this stage — much more common than candidates think. Be precise and consistent across CV, LinkedIn, and application form. Discrepancies under 30 days are usually overlooked; longer ones get queried.
Related terms
Hard Skills
Specific, measurable, technical skills you either have or you don't — programming languages, softwar…
TOIL (Time Off In Lieu)
An arrangement where employees take time off later in exchange for working extra hours, instead of r…
Garden Leave
A period during your notice where the employer pays you but bars you from working.
Umbrella Company
A UK payroll intermediary that employs contractors on behalf of an end-client.