Why Onboarding Delays Happen—And What You Can Do About It

You’ve found the right candidate. They’ve accepted the offer, the team is excited, and everything’s set for a strong start.

Then something stalls the process. What should be a smooth transition turns into a waiting game.

Onboarding delays are more common than most teams expect, and they can be especially frustrating when you’re working with independent contractors. These professionals often juggle multiple projects and time-sensitive opportunities, so slow starts can lead to missed momentum or lost interest.

The good news is that most onboarding challenges are predictable—and preventable—once you know what to watch for.

What’s Slowing Your Onboarding Process Down?

Here are the most common reasons onboarding gets delayed. Identifying these early can help you stay ahead of potential roadblocks.

Background Checks Get Caught in Compliance

Background checks can hit unexpected complications due to local laws. Different states and countries follow different rules. Some require in-person fingerprinting at approved locations. If your candidate lives in a remote area or those offices are backed up, delays are almost guaranteed.

Even digital checks can take longer when local compliance requirements add extra steps, especially at a time when hiring impersonation scams are on the rise. Understanding these differences ahead of time helps you set more realistic timelines.

References Don’t Respond

Verifying past employment often depends on other companies answering phone calls or emails—and not all of them do. Some are slow to respond. Others have closed, merged, or changed ownership.

Because this part of the process relies on people, it’s inherently unpredictable. Incomplete job records can create a chain reaction of follow-ups and delays.

Resume Details Don’t Match Up

Even candidates with honest resumes can run into issues. Slight mismatches in job titles, overlapping employment dates, or unexplained gaps can raise questions during background checks.

These inconsistencies aren’t always serious, but they often require extra documentation or human review, which adds time to your process.

Check Out: How to Attract Top Independent Talent: Tips on Becoming a Client of Choice

How Can We Keep the Onboarding Process Moving?

You can’t control everything, but a few smart steps can keep delays from derailing your timeline.

Set Clear Rules for Exceptions

Not every delay needs to stop onboarding completely. If a background check is nearly finished and only one low-risk item is pending, you might allow someone to start under conditional approval—if your internal guidelines support it. This gives you flexibility while maintaining clear standards across your organization.

Screen Earlier and More Thoughtfully

For contractors or independent professionals, it helps when hiring teams do some early screening. These teams are closer to the role and better equipped to identify issues—like resume formatting errors or unclear timelines—before formal vetting begins. Catching these early can prevent larger problems later on.

Communicate With Intention

Strong communication is one of the simplest—and most effective—ways to avoid onboarding stress. Set expectations early. Let candidates know what steps are involved, what paperwork is needed, and how long each phase usually takes. If a delay does happen, keep them updated. Timely, clear communication helps maintain trust and reduces unnecessary frustration.

Learn More: 7 Ways to Make Onboarding Contractors Easier and Faster

The Bottom Line: Onboarding Reflects Your Reputation

Here’s what’s often overlooked: Onboarding delays don’t just slow things down—they influence how talent sees your organization.

For top candidates, especially independent workers who have plenty of options, a disorganized onboarding experience can signal deeper issues. A smooth, timely process sends a very different message—it shows that your company is prepared, professional, and ready to work with the best.

Need help engaging independent contractors? MBO Partners delivers a wide range of tools and resources for key areas like compliance, contractor experience, and workforce strategy—so you can attract the talent you need with confidence.