As an employer, it is absolutely imperative to verify a potential candidate's work history due to the high number of false work history claims. An applicant's work history will provide you with a good idea of his future performance and will confirm whether or not he is adequately qualified for the position you are offering. There are two ways to gather a person's work history.

Why Employment Verification is Important

Falsified information about educational and employment history is on the rise. Studies show that 23 percent of employment verifications raised serious red flags, while as many as 39 percent of all background checks had at least one suspicious element. The number of negligent hiring lawsuits has also increased. When an employee's actions hurt another person, the employer can be held responsible for them. This is one of the most important reasons for verifying work history. In addition, federal and state laws require background checks be conducted for certain jobs. For example, most states require criminal background checks for anyone who works with children, the elderly or disabled people.

Contact Previous Employers Listed on the Candidates Resume

The simplest way to verify employment history is to contact the previous employers listed on the candidate's résumé. If the contact information isn't included on the résumé, you will need to request this from the potential candidate. Once you have the contact information, you can either call the previous employer or mail a form requesting verification of dates of employment, job title, salary and eligibility for rehire. Compare this information to the information provided by the candidate. Though this is the easiest and most cost effective way of requesting work history information, it is not always the most reliable.

Obtain Work History with Online Verification Services

The most reliable method for obtaining work history and other background information such as criminal records and education credentials is to use an online background verification service like Intelius.com. Enter the candidate's name, address, birth date, and Social Security number. Select the type of background search you prefer. You can choose employment verification only, or you can add a criminal and educational background check as well. Depending on the type of information you request, you can pay anywhere between $20 and $60 for the report. Intelius gathers its information from data sources such as departments of correction, administrative offices of the courts and county governments. The company's information includes Social Security number verification, address history, criminal database search and nationwide registered sex offender search.

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Intelius.com: Employment Background Check

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