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Employment Verifications,
Employment History Checks, and
Work History Verifications


What are Employment History Checks and Work History Verifications?

Prior employers are contacted to verify an applicant’s job title, tenure, and salary claims. We ask about the applicant’s reasons for leaving and eligibility for rehire. We also ask if there are problem areas that a prospective employer should be made aware of.

Are Professional Reference Checks and Employment Searches the Same as Employment History Checks and Work History Verifications?

Professional Reference Checks and Employment Searches are sometimes erroneously called Employment History Checks or Work History Verifications. We usually refer to Employment History Checks and Work History Verifications as simply Employment Verifications.

What are the Sources for Employment Verifications?

Most employers verify employment through their Human Resources or Payroll Departments. Some employers use third-party verification services. A few use the office manager, owner, or former supervisor.

What are the Benefits of Employment Verifications?

Prior history is a good predictor of future performance. This search verifies title, tenure, and salary claims. Reasons for leaving and eligibility for rehire are confirmed. Potential problem areas may be revealed. The Employment Verification helps confirm whether the applicant has the experience needed to succeed in the job. It also provides an opportunity for prior employers to share their views of the applicant as an employee.

Because of the frequency of exaggerated and fraudulent employment claims (see Background Check Statistics), this search is a good test of an applicant’s honesty.

Even when prior employers only verify minimal information, employment verifications are a critical and essential element in building a defense against negligent hiring claims.

What are the Weaknesses of Employment Verifications?

There are no guarantees that a prior employer will respond to a request to verify prior employment, or that a prior employer will respond in a timely manner. Those employers who are willing to respond are often not willing to answer every question. Many organizations have policies governing what information may be disclosed regarding prior employees, while others have policies not to disclose anything. Some organizations use third-party verification services but do not provide all the necessary information to these third parties for a thorough verification.

Employer contact information provided by the applicant may be fraudulent. Employment verifications are best done "through the front door." Contact information for prior employers should be located independent of the applicant, ensuring that the employer claimed is the actual employer.

How Long Do Employment Verifications Take?

Most employment verifications are returned in 1-3 business days. However, because these searches depend upon the prior employer, they occasionally take much longer. Some prior employers are very difficult to locate, and some simply respond very slowly. Patience is important when doing prior employment verifications because turnaround time can vary widely. Sometimes requests for prior employment verification must be mailed. In these cases the searches are marked complete in our tracking system with the note, "WILL UPDATE WHEN INFORMATION ARRIVES." We will continue to attempt to contact the prior employer, but we won't hold up reporting the rest of the background check for this search.

Can I See a Sample Employment Verification?

Yes, click Sample Employment Verification.

What is Our Recommendation for Employment Verifications?

We strongly recommend contacting each prior employer for the last seven years. Verifying prior employment claims is an essential element of a thorough Comprehensive Background Check. Employment Verifications should be conducted for all employees.

Are Employment Verifications Available Internationally?

Yes, International Employment Verifications are available. For more information, click International Employment Verifications.

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