What is Employment History Verification

By Dini Rengganing Suci

During the hiring process, the majority of employers do background checks. A background check may include questions about work history, education and certifications, financial information, and criminal history, depending on corporate policies. Because the employer wants to know that you can do what you say you can do, job history verification is critical. The company will double-check the accuracy of the information on your resume or job application, as well as your list of references.

What Is Included in Your Employment History?

Your work history includes all of the firms you’ve worked for, as well as your job titles, dates of employment, and salaries received at each of them. The employer or the organization they hire to verify employment will confirm details such prior employers, dates of employment, job titles, salary earned at each position, and reasons for leaving. Employers may not be able to ask about your previous pay or wages depending on where you live. Salary history prohibitions have been adopted in several states and municipalities, prohibiting employers from asking job candidates about their former income.

Why You Shouldn’t Lie About Your Employment History

When applying for a job, it’s crucial to be open and honest about your work experience. Lying about your experience and certifications can catch up with you sooner than you expect. According to a CareerBuilder poll, 75% of hiring managers have discovered an applicant who lied on their CV. That’s not surprising, given that 93% of respondents in a ResumeLab survey said they knew someone who falsified on their résumé. The majority of individuals who stretched the truth were punished: 35% were not hired and 30% were fired. Even if you think another term better describes your responsibilities, don’t change your job title. Instead, outline your responsibilities using the right keywords, and be ready to show off your accomplishments in cover letters and interviews.

Choosing Employment and Professional References

Employers use a variety of methods to confirm your employment history. The employer will most likely ask you to provide one reference for each past job, and they will contact those references. In addition to work references, the employer may also request other personal or professional references. When potential employers require references, many job seekers don’t give much attention to who they would use as references. Because the focus is generally on drafting resumes and cover letters, researching companies, and preparing for interviews, the candidate’s choice of references is frequently overlooked. Here are some pointers for selecting references that will help the hiring manager pitch your candidacy:

1. Choose people who can provide you with positive references: Those who will make the best recommendations for you are the best ones to ask. This entails choosing coworkers who are familiar with your work and have expressed a favorable opinion of your abilities and skills.
2. Don’t Make the Boss the Center of Attention: You don’t have to choose past bosses, especially if they aren’t aware of all of your successes or if you aren’t confident that they will speak well about you. Former coworkers or superiors from different departments who are familiar with your work might sometimes provide the finest recommendations. The goal, once again, is to surround yourself with people who are aware of your talents and abilities and who will compliment you.
3. Locate a sufficient number of references: In general, you should choose three to five references—people who can speak highly of your achievements, work ethic, talents, education, performance, and other qualities. The majority of references for experienced job applicants should come from previous bosses and coworkers with whom you worked closely in the past, though you may also choose to include a personal (character) or educational (mentor) reference. In addition to professors and personal references, college students and recent grads should have numerous references from internships or volunteer work.

Verifying Employment History

The firm may do an employment history check before or after you accept a job offer. If it’s after that, the offer will be conditional on your employment history matching what you’ve told the employer. In a major company, employment verification is usually handled by human resources or payroll, however some companies use third-party verification services instead. Employers can be assured that you have all of the experience and qualifications indicated on your CV by checking your employment history. If there is a disagreement between the information you gave and the information collected through the verification procedure, the employer may give you an opportunity to explain yourself—or the employment offer may be withdrawn.

FAQs

What is employment verification on a background check?

Employment verification is a sort of background check that searches for discrepancies between an applicant’s information and their real work history. There are laws and regulations that limit the information you can use in your hiring process, just as there are for any other background check.

Why Are Employment History Background Checks Important?

Background checks on a job applicant’s employment history can show whether or not they have the abilities required for the position they’re applying for. Confirming a candidate’s work history can support (or refute) assertions of relevant experience and responsibilities in industries that are important to the recruiting organization. It’s uncomfortable to consider hiring someone who fabricates or exaggerates their employment history, but the ramifications extend beyond individual character concerns. The public exposure of CEOs with forged resumes has harmed the reputations of big firms and government agencies, and hiring an unqualified worker on the basis of forged credentials at any level of an organization may expose the company to legal risk.

What can be asked during employment verification?

An employment verification typically verifies a candidate’s title, employment dates (start and end), wage history, and job responsibilities. As municipal regulations restrict these types of questioning, salary-related questions are becoming less common.

How do companies verify previous employment?

A background check verifies your prior jobs and confirms that you possess the abilities that an employer seeks. A prospective employer will call your past employers directly to verify the veracity of the occupations and dates of employment listed on your application to check your credentials.

How do I find someone’s employment history for free?

• Employment History Search by SSN (Social Security Number).
• Home Page of Intelius.com.
• Home Page of USsearch.com.
• Home Page of Peoplerecords.com.
• Home Page of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners.

Where can I get my work history for free?

Visit your local Social Security Administration office or go to https://www.ssa.gov/ to acquire a copy of your non-government employment/pay history.