Companies have procedures in place for how they handle Employment Verifications.
A majority of companies use a third-party system, like The Work Number, Experian, and Thomas and Company. Others require verifications to be in written form and require a signed release from the candidate that must be faxed or e-mailed. Some companies are able to provide verbal verification. Compare the information the candidate provided with what is provided from the company.
Things to watch out for:
Candidates sometimes provide longer employment than they actually worked. This could mean they do not recall the start date or that they are being deceitful and stating longer employment than actually worked.
Watch for candidates providing a job title that is higher or superior to what the company actually verified, For example, Senior, Lead or Manager.
Be mindful of candidates who provide current or past employment with companies that are closed as these are hard to verify through trusted methods. Candidates will sometimes provide a cell phone number for the company which can be impossible to verify, or they will provide a contact that states they are a former employee of a company.
If a contact reaches out to provide verification before a verification request has even been sent to the company, that is a red flag.
Listen carefully to voicemails left with verification information from phone numbers that cannot be identified as belonging to the company.
Candidate-provided phone numbers must be researched before they can be trusted. The phone number may be for a friend, co-worker, or family member. Verification data should only be accepted from human resources or payroll staff who currently work for the company.
If a candidate provides employment documentation, like a W2 or Paystub, keep in mind that these items can be forged. Watch for spacing, bolding, font sizes, font type, and grammatical errors.
Always approach employment verifications with caution and a critical eye. Ensure all information is verified through legitimate channels and be aware of common tactics candidates may use to misrepresent their work history. Diligence in the verification process helps protect the integrity of your hiring decisions.
