How Do You Verify Employment?

Verifying employment is important because it provide potential employers with information that can help them make a hiring decision. There are several ways to perform this task. An employer will verify employment to confirm that the information on a potential employee's employment application is valid and legitimate. If a company makes a hiring mistake because employment was not verified it could cost a company time and money when you eventually have to correct the mistake. Verifying employment can help uncover any attempts, by a potential employee, to hide information. Employment can also be verified by landlords, mortgage companies, and any other institution or company that is relying on your income and employment to be valid in order for them to extend you credit or residency

Employment verification is best done by calling a candidates previous employer and ask for the human resource department. You should ask the person answering if you can verify employment because you are considering this individual for possible employment opportunities. They will ask for your name, position, and the company you are calling from before proceeding. Most companies will only release certain information such as the individual's title, position, and dates of employment. They normally will not give you any specifics such as responsibilities, performance on the job or any other intricate details. Giving out too much information can subject a previous employer to lawsuits and legal action.

If a potential employee has filled out an employment application and signed it, this provides the potential employer with the authorization to contact previous employers. Sometimes the potential candidate will be required to sign an additional form authorizing his previous employer to release employment verification information. If a background check is done some companies that are used for this service will perform the verification process, for all employer's the applicant has listed on his application.

Once employment is verified the potential employer is able to see if there are any variances with the dates listed on an application. This process forces applicants to explain the gaps in their employment history. Some people will not give truthful information on their employment applications such as dates of hire, position, responsibilities and other information. Just by uncovering one piece of information which is not valid you may be able to uncover other information through the verification process.

Any one giving out false information will not be hired or they will probably be released from their job if some of the information does not check out. Applicants can request that certain employers not be contacted during the employment verification process. This can probably set off some red flags. If someone is still working for an employer then that is an understandable request.