In Europe do businesses use external companies to do background checks on potential hires like in America?

I'm an American in the US. Just wondering because I was filling out a job application and they always seem to want background information and stuff. It's sort of annoying.

It depends on the job role and the company of course, but it is normal that info (e.g. educational qualifications, work experience etc) is checked. For roles which are in the public domain or something like security then yes checks are most certainly made. These checks can be very extensive.

However for an average job in an average company there is not usually an external company making the checks to my knowledge (although granted Europe is a big place and it might help if you narrow it down to a country as the practices are not necessarily the same for the whole Europe)

Hi!

I am currently in Norway (Europe) on vacation with my Scottish aunt so I asked her (she is a economic controller of a big firm). She said that for regular employees background checks are only made related to whether the education/references you are having on your resume is correct. Usually they only check relevant work experience... if it is a job related people (kids in particular), taxi drivers, education, security and financial matters (like working in a bank) criminal background checks are done by the Police.