How to verify a job applicant's employment history
February 24, 2016
2014 Harris Poll study showed that:
- 55% of job applicants exaggerated their past job responsibility
- 42% of job applicants altered their dates of employment
- 34% of job applicants gave false job titles
Source: HireRight 2015 HireRight Employment Screening Benchmarking Report[/caption] Similarly, 86% of respondents to the 2015 HireRight Benchmarking Report indicated that verifying employment revealed candidates who lied on their resumes or applications. There’s no question – employers need to verify the past employment history of job applicants. It provides valuable background about a potential employee’s work habits, attitude and integrity. Here’s how you go about it. Ask for permission You can’t do background checks without informing applicants. Before you begin, request written permission from the candidates to verify their employment history, education, and anything else that you think is pertinent to the job. If you’re not able to reach past employers, or if the candidate denies permission to contact them, you’re still able to ask for supporting documentation such as W2 and pay stubs. Identify your questions Once you have the permission, create a list of reference-checking questions that you want to ask former employers. Here’s a list we like, but be sure to tailor the list appropriately to your specific industry and job vacancy. Know what to avoid To protect yourself from discrimination lawsuits, know what to avoid while performing employment history checks. Avoid questions related to religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and anything else that you can’t ask the candidate in person. Even if a HR personnel volunteers with such information during your checking process, stop the other person from revealing anything that you cannot use lawfully. Does this sound daunting? We’re happy to help! Get in touch with us today and learn how your organization can implement an employment verification program.]]>You May Also Like
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