Matrix Security Watchdog

Reviewing in response to an e-mailed invitation to do so from the site after they 'completed' my background screening. I think the website process automation forms and generated e-mails look quite rough and amateurish. They employ some biometric verification software for passports. It doesn't work with the Firefox/Android combo. It reportedly decided I don't look enough like my passport photo for its tastes. Whilst it's welcome to its opinion on that, the reality is that my passport is indeed both mine and entirely valid. I have never had issues travelling through biometric border gates nor asserting my ID on fin-tech checks before (or since). Security Watchdog then failed to do any follow up actions so my application stalled for 8 days. After that time and at my request my new employer looked into it, realised there was a problem, and cancelled out of the process. You get no feedback about how things are progressing (or rather not progressing) nor do you know the sequence of steps to expect so you are in the dark throughout. Phoning them up wasn't useful. Going back to your referring future employer immediately and insistently if things seem to go quiet would be my advice. The employer view seems to have better visibility into what's going on so they can hopefully spot when the wheels have come off.

From a candidate view it was easy to load up documents but no updates about how your security clearance is going until its been fully complete. Would be useful to know at what stage the process is at instead of waiting to hear untill all complete.

Very professional.Easy process for writing/detailing/confirming.Factual. Concise.System could have had more options available for selecting but plenty comments boxes were available for detailing further, which led to communucation with a person (as required).Thank-you.

Got the job done, eventually. Forms were clear and relatively quick to fill out. Though after application, waiting for approval, took a very long while. Watchdog asks for multiple documents after screening application that have already been submitted, had to clarify my circumstances multiple times. Request of additional documents don’t make sense given my circumstance. Appears to not take into account specific details of each case. Phone responses are swift and concise -so, definitely recommend calling in to clarify as supposed to emailing. Told them my degree was ongoing so I could not provide proof of completion - response was clear and understanding. I had no problems, otherwise.

Process was much quicker and straight forward than I thought it would beAll the information that was required from me was requested from me in an email.The system used to upload all the documents was very user friendly also and we easy to see what I had left to complete.

Initial sheet is straightforward and easy to complete. Process for Additional information was a little disjointed (not clear exactly what was required). However, process for uploading documents into the system was easy and straightforward and the agents assigned to the individual cases provided updates by email & text.

Good to know details are kept secure. However other than that I found the process difficult. 3 times I got repeat emails to fill in what I had already filled in, only to be told when I called to query that I could ignore them as they had what they needed.. then the next day to be told there was technical issues with previous entry which is stressful with your personal documents. So I had to fill it all in again.When I had to speak on the phone to anyone the lines aren't very clear and it didn't really feel like they were listening to the issues I was having as they'd repeat generic advise that I had already called to say I was struggling to do.It just ended up a bit of a headache!I was glad to be finished as it was more stressful then starting the actual job.

In general, the process was good but not excellent:- Initially, the online form seems straightforward. However, when it comes to providing work history information, it doesn't clearly instruct you to list all the periods during which you were not employed, even if they were just transitional phases between jobs. I was stuck there for 2 or 3 days and had to figure out on my own that this was the issue. Communicating with the support team was challenging due to the time zone differences.- After filling out the form, I expected to be contacted only to receive updates on the process and perhaps to provide additional information. However, I was contacted multiple times to request various details for which I wasn't adequately prepared. These requests included bank statements for the periods when I was not working and even for periods when I was employed, in cases where they couldn't reach my previous employer. They even asked for information whose relevance I didn't fully understand, such as my mother's personal details.- They tend not to provide updates on the process unless they need something, at which point they contact you suddenly and press hard for the requested data. They do not consider whether the information can be easily obtained within a few hours or if it may take days. When it takes longer, it's somewhat challenging to reach an agreement on providing alternative documents to expedite the process.In general, I would recommend leaning heavily on your new employer to negotiate and obtain swift solutions, as it sometimes feels that if you attempt to contact and negotiate with them yourself, they are unlikely to respond promptly.

Once information was supplied it was very quick, however you needed information from one company and I didn't know. It was only finding out from one very good employee at my new company what the hold up was, that I could do something about it and get the process moving along quicker. Had I been told about it, I could have emailed my previous employer and had it sorted a lot sooner.