Pre-Hire Welcome Canada

Process overview

What Can You Expect?

You will receive your formal offer letter via email. Please save a copy of your offer letter for your records.
You will be asked to formally accept the offer.
You will be provided with an overview of the next steps to secure your employment clearances, work eligibility, and additional information to help you prepare for your first day at work.

Who Will You Hear From?

A member of the talent acquisition team will contact you with your written employment offer.
Once your offer is accepted, you will be assigned a New Employee Administration (NEA) Analyst. The NEA Analyst is your primary contact who will guide you through this process.

What Action Should You Take?

Sign and email back to the talent acquisition team the following: your offer letter, HR sign-on forms, background check consent form, federal and provincial tax forms. Please also include a photo of two government IDs and a copy of your diploma. If you will be receiving a company car, complete as well the Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) form and request a Driving Record from your local government bureau.
Note: Please sign all documents with either a wet signature, mouse signature or in the DocuSign style (i.e. not a digitally typed name).
Note: When filling out the MVR form, please write your name exactly as it appears on your driver’s license (for example in Quebec: LAST NAME FIRST NAME).
Thoroughly review the information contained in the email “Welcome to Merck,” sent to you by your NEA Analyst.
Bookmark this Pre-Hire Welcome website so you can reference it throughout your onboarding experience.

What Can You Expect?

At Merck, we utilize a Global Background Check program to conduct background screenings on newly hired and rehired employees.
This program helps us make informed, quality hiring decisions to support our business needs while adhering to local laws and regulations.
The contingency check comprises of a background screen (such as a criminal check, education verification and driving record evaluation if applicable).
This process typically takes 7-10 business days to complete.
You will be notified once you successfully complete all required pre-employment contingencies.

Who Will You Hear From?

Your NEA Analyst will guide you through the pre-employment contingency check process.
First Advantage (FADV), our pre-employment contingency vendor, will contact you directly via email (“Request for Information”) to facilitate the screening.

What Action Should You Take?

Log into the First Advantage “Direct Advantage” system with your unique Application ID in order to register and create your password.
Please submit all required information into First Advantage’s Direct Advantage system within 72 hours of receipt of the email.
Workday will ask also ask you to “Update Government Identifiers, Personal Information and Diversity Information.” Please complete this task as well.
Note: We recommend you do not notify your current employer until these contingencies have been met and we contact you directly to confirm.

How long will the background check take?

On average, it will take 7-10 business days. It may take longer if you are undergoing a driving record evaluation.

I’m having issues with my FADV account and profile (locked out, inputted incorrect information etc.)
FADV’s help desk will be happy to assist you.
You can reach them by:

Please first try accessing the chat tool located at the bottom of the home page to get assistance from the Profile Advantage team.
Phone: 1 800 888-5773
Email: Client.Services@fadv.com
Support Hours: 8am to 8pm Eastern Time

Will they contact my present or previous employers?
No, they should not. When completing your profile, please ensure to select "Do not contact current employer." They may still ask you to provide the contact information of your employers, but they will not contact them.

The link to begin my background check does not work. What should I do?
The link expires after 3 days. Contact your NEA analyst for assistance.

My background check is taking a longer time to process than I had hoped. Given my original start date, I will not have enough time to give in my notice of resignation. What should I do?
The start date written in your offer letter is tentative. After you pass your background check, we will reconfirm the start date and adjust to a date that is feasible for you.

What Can You Expect?

After we’ve been given clearance to proceed, the NEA Analyst will send you an email stating your “Confirmation of Offer & Start Date,” detailing that you have cleared your background check and can submit your resignation (if applicable) to your current employer.
Please note that your Education Verification may still be continuing in the background. You may still have forms to provide the FADV as they try to contact your school.
You will be asked to reconfirm your Start Date, which will be submitted to the Hiring Manager for approval.
Once the start date is confirmed and approved, the Recruitment Coordinator will send you instructions of the critical onboarding tasks to do prior to your first day

Who Will You Hear From?

Your NEA Analyst will advise of your background check completion & confirm your start date.
Your Recruitment Coordinator will provide instructions for actions to take prior to your first day.

What Action Should You Take?

Within 48-72 hours after you confirm your start date, you will receive an email from Workday to update your Workday profile.
Update your personal information and complete the onboarding tasks. You will be required to upload your SIN card/SIN document, upload a Government ID (Drivers’ license or passport), enter your Date of Birth, and present your home address.
Note: If you’ve misplaced your SIN card, you may take a screenshot from your Canada Revenue Association (CRA) online account. Please ensure the CRA logo, your name, address and complete SIN number are fully visible. You can find this in the “Proof of Income Statement.” Tax Forms are not eligible.
Note: The email from msd@myworkday.com will include the login information to access your employee account in Workday. After changing the temporary password for a new password, please make sure to write it down or save it securely for your future use. If you forget your new password before starting to work, please email your Recruiter for assistance and allow at least 48 hours for a password reset, OR contact the IT Help Desk at 1 877 428 8588 if you need a password reset after you start working.

Preparing for your first day

On behalf of all of us, welcome on board!

Accepted a job with Merck?

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Our Awards

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Beware of hiring scams. Review our Applicant Notice.

This careers website is intended for Residents of the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. Residents in other markets, please visit our MSD Careers page. Information on this site is for the purpose of presenting career opportunities at our organization and give our audience a view of our culture, diversity and growth opportunities. Our Company is an equal opportunity employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran, proudly embracing diversity in all of its manifestations.

We are looking forward to having you join our team

Helpful resources

Process overview

Preparing for day one

Process overview

Preparing for your first day

On behalf of all of us, welcome on board!

Accepted a job with Merck?

Our Awards

Connect with us on social

Beware of hiring scams. Review our Applicant Notice.

Your journey herestarts today

We are looking forward to having you join our team

Helpful resources

Process overview

Preparing for day one

Process overview

Preparing for your first day

​​​​​​​​​​​Excited to start but don’t have all the answers?

Every new hire experience is different.​​​​​​​Reach out to your manager and/or New Employee Administration (NEA) consultant to learn more.

On behalf of all of us, welcome on board!

Accepted a job with Merck?

Our Awards

World’s Best Employer

World’s Best Employer

100 Best Companies — Top 10

100 Best Companies to Work For

Best Places to Work

Top Employer

Best Managed Companies

Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being Award

Workplace Health Achievement Award

Global CEO Cancer Gold Standard

Human Rights Campaign’s Best Places to Work

Gender-Equality Index (GEI)

Connect with us on social

Beware of hiring scams. Review our Applicant Notice.

Your journey here
starts today

Excited to start but don’t have all the answers?

Every new hire experience is different.

Reach out to your manager and/or New Employee Administration (NEA) consultant to learn more.