All we know for sure is that the job application asks you to confirm that you’re legally allowed to work in the United States and that they will also confirm your identity.
Despite that, expect that SWIFT will do a more comprehensive background check. Because they support the banking industry they need to ensure that the people they hire are trustworthy. So, a criminal record is something they’re going to look at closely.
Here’s some important information about background checks:
In some states, a background check only covers the last seven years. Those states are:
- California
- Colorado*
- Kansas*
- Maryland*
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire*
- New York*
- Texas*
- Washington*
(* sometimes certain pay or salary bracket positions require one.)
Furthermore, in a small number of states, not guilty verdicts aren’t considered. Check them out here:
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana (limited check)
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
Be advised, however, that in most states your entire record will be looked at. This includes not guilty verdicts. Here’s the list of the states where this applies:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- DC
- Delaware
- Florida
- Idaho
- Indiana (extensive check)
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Company ratings
On glassdoor.com there are more reviews — 196 to be exact. Here, people gave the company 3.3 out of 5. Only 54% said they’d recommend it to a friend, while 74% approved of the CEO.
Here are the most common pros and cons people gave:
- Pros were work-life balance and great colleagues.
- Cons were lack of appreciation from management and high staff turnover.
As you can see, there’s very little independent feedback about the company online. Take the company ratings for what they’re worth, and be ready to form your own opinion.
What felonies will SWIFT not hire
SWIFT didn’t give us the names of the charges that would immediately prevent them from hiring you. The next section will cover the ones that you will certainly need to explain.
What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?
If you have felony convictions related to fraud or theft, in particular, you may have a difficult time getting hired. Working for the company means that you’re in a position of trust, and Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication doesn’t want that trust abused by staff who steal information or money.
The company recently launched a new fraud and cybercrime prevention service for their clients. This explains how serious they are about protecting their member banks from the risk of criminal activity.
In addition, it may be a problem if your criminal background is for assault or other violence-related offences. SWIFT will want to know that this behavior is in the past. They want to have faith that their employees can work as part of a team and also be able to resolve customer issues calmly.
Does SWIFT hire sex offenders?
There’s no evidence of them hiring sex offenders, actually, but neither is there evidence of them refusing to. We’re really not sure on this one.
Does SWIFT drug test?
We’re not sure. Even so, it’s best to be on the safe side and be prepared that you may be given a drug test.
Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!
Do you have firsthand knowledge that can help our readers?
What can you tell us about how to get hired at Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication?