Automate Background Check and Verification Document Uploads to ATS

Implementation: Step-by-Step Technical Walkthrough

Step 1: Generate Screening Report in Your Platform

Before uploading documents to the ATS, prepare screening reports, verification documents, or assessment certifications in a standardized format that provides clear value to recruiters and hiring managers reviewing candidate profiles.

Document Preparation Best Practices:

Clear, Descriptive File Naming:
Recruiters should understand document contents without opening files. Use naming conventions that identify document type, candidate, and completion date:

• "BackgroundCheck_John_Smith_2025-01-15.pdf"
• "DrugScreening_Sarah_Johnson_2025-01-14.pdf"
• "ReferenceCheck_Michael_Chen_2025-01-13.pdf"
• "TechnicalAssessment_Emily_Rodriguez_2025-01-12.pdf"

Step 2: Prepare Document for Upload

Convert your screening report into a format compatible with Knit's attachment API. The API accepts file data as base64-encoded content, enabling document upload without requiring temporary file storage or public URLs.

File Type Classification:

While Knit's attachment API supports file type specification, several ATS platforms don't honor the fileType parameter. Implement clear file naming conventions to ensure document identification regardless of type parameter support.

Supported file types (not all platforms honor these):

• RESUME
• COVER_LETTER
• OFFER_LETTER
• NOT_SPECIFIED - Default for screening reports

Step 3: Attach to Candidate Profile in ATS

Upload the prepared screening document to the candidate's application in the ATS using Knit's unified attachment API. The same API call works across 18+ ATS platforms without platform-specific code.

API Endpoint: POST https://api.getknit.dev/v1.0/ats.application.attachment.add

Supported Platforms: Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle Cloud HCM, SmartRecruiters, TeamTailor, Breezy, Workable, Bullhorn, Ashby, UKG Pro Recruiting, Zoho Recruit, JazzHR ATS, Recruitee, Oracle Taleo, Loxo (18 platforms)

Request Example:

{
  "applicationId": "app_123456",
  "fileName": "BackgroundCheck_John_Smith_2025-01-15.pdf",
  "fileType": "NOT_SPECIFIED",
  "fileContent": "JVBERi0xLjcKCjEgMCBvYmogICUgZW50cnkgcG9pbnQKPDwKICAvVHlwZSAvQ2F0YWxvZwog..."
}

Key Data Models and APIs Reference

Component	Description
Add Attachment to Application API	POST https://api.getknit.dev/v1.0/ats.application.attachment.add - Upload documents to candidate applications in ATS systems. Accepts applicationId, fileName, fileType, and base64-encoded fileContent. Supports 18 platforms.
File Type Parameter	Specifies document category: RESUME, COVER_LETTER, OFFER_LETTER, NOT_SPECIFIED. Use NOT_SPECIFIED for screening reports, background checks, and verification documents. Note: 8 platforms don't honor this parameter.
Zoho Recruit Restrictions	Only accepts document type attachments (NOT_SPECIFIED fileType). Rejects resume, cover letter, and offer letter types. Enforces one attachment per application maximum—attempting to upload multiple attachments fails.
Base64 Encoding	Documents must be base64-encoded for API transmission. The fileContent parameter accepts base64-encoded file data, eliminating the need for temporary file hosting or public URLs. Standard base64 encoding works across all supported platforms.
Candidate Attachments Model	Retrieved via ats_candidates sync. Includes fileType, fileName, createdAt timestamp, link, downloadLink (preferred for reliable access), and attachmentContent (base64-encoded).

Wrapping Up: Eliminate Document Upload Bottlenecks

Accelerate Time-to-Hire with Instant Document Delivery
The gap between "background check completed" and "recruiter sees the results" can add days to your hiring timeline when documents sit in screening platform dashboards waiting for manual download and re-upload. Automated document attachment eliminates this bottleneck—verification reports appear in ATS profiles the instant they're generated, enabling same-day offer approvals for cleared candidates.

Ensure Complete Candidate Documentation
Scattered screening reports across email attachments, background check vendor portals, and recruiter file folders create compliance risks and incomplete candidate records. When every verification document automatically attaches to the correct ATS profile with standardized naming and timestamps, you maintain complete audit trails that satisfy regulatory requirements and internal documentation policies.

Handle Platform-Specific Quirks Automatically
Different ATS platforms implement attachments differently—some honor file type parameters, others ignore them; Zoho Recruit limits one attachment per application while others support unlimited uploads. Knit's unified API abstracts these variations, but your implementation should handle platform-specific restrictions gracefully with clear error messages and fallback workflows.

Support 18+ ATS Platforms with One Integration
Build document upload workflows once using Knit's attachment API, then instantly support background check delivery to Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, and 18+ other ATS platforms. Add new ATS integrations without rewriting your core screening report delivery logic.