How to check employment records and why?

Why check employment records


Employers check employment records for many reasons. For example, does an applicant's resume look too good to be true? Are the references provided hard to reach, dead, or reluctant to discuss any employment-related issues due to litigation concerns? Want to know what types of positions the applicant has held but are not listed?

How to check employment records


Verification of previous employment records can paint a clearer picture of the applicant's work history.


In addition, you may want to perform a criminal background check to ensure that you are aware of any previous convictions.


With a thorough criminal background check and taking the time to check employment records, you are taking critical steps in protecting your business and its employees from decisions that are made without vital information.


What to expect when checking employment records


Since all people are individuals with their own personal histories, few records searches are identical.


You may not find any information about the applicant at all. This is especially true if the applicant is a recent school graduate and has not yet built a career history.


You may also find that some applicants have a long history, of frequent job changes. This is not necessarily a cause for concern given the transition from lifelong jobs at one company to shorter tenures at many companies.


For applicants with a long history, it is not unusual for applicants to exclude certain employers from their resumes and applications.


This is also generally not a cause for concern as it often only makes sense to highlight relevant work experience.


How to check employment records


In order to verify employment history, you must ask the applicant to fill out a form that gives you permission to verify previous work as well as giving previous employers permission to disclose the information.


Once you have permission, make copies of this document and send it, along with a list of employment questions you want to answer, to the applicant's previous employers. It is not unusual for employers to be upfront about answering questions due to concerns about litigation.

You may need to enlist the assistance of the applicant in persuading previous employers to assist you.


Additional Verify Employment Records Considerations


In addition to sending inquiries to previous employers, you may also want to consider other options.

For example, using a third-party proof of employment firm to handle employment verification tasks on your behalf might be a better option.

These systems consist of huge databases taken from payroll systems and other sources and used by employers to check employment history as well as by creditors to make smart lending decisions.

Criminal background checks and Social Security number checks are smart, too. Not only may you discover that the applicant has a criminal record, but you may discover that the applicant is not in the United States legally which could lead you into trouble with the law.

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