Employment verification and reference checks are a critical part of the hiring process, for they often tell more about a job candidate than a criminal background or credit check. However, outside of providing basic information for past employers and a phone number here and there for employment references, one might not consider the scrutiny his or her information actually endures. With resume indiscretions on the rise, job seekers should be aware of how the information (and which information) they provide will be screened, because any pieces that don’t stack up to what is on paper could result in losing a job opportunity, or, for current employees, termination altogether.
In all honesty, some employers don’t verify any information that employees provide on their resumes, while some analyze every piece, from job titles to dates of employment. Even though some employers don’t want to take the time to make a phone call, doing so is one of the easiest ways to determine a hiring candidate’s level of integrity.
Third-party background screening firms can enhance the employment verification process and provide employers with a comprehensive picture of a candidate’s educational and professional background. These firms can verify every piece of a prospective employee’s information and then some, not only by interviewing previous supervisors to verify basic job details, but also by obtaining information like why the employee left his or her previous position. Firms like Victig can accomplish this amount of research in as little as 24-72 hours. The most common items employers and third-party screening firms verify include:
- Dates of employment
- Position
- Salary
- Reason for termination of employment
- Supervisor references and recommendations
- Academic degrees obtained (including dates of attendance)
- Professional licensing
Ironically enough, the aforementioned items are also the most common pieces of information job candidates falsify on their resumes, so prospective employees should make sure they are accurately completing every detail of their employment history, because the facts are all too easy to check.
While not all employers adhere to the same standard or process in verifying the details of their employees’ professional background, they should be conducting some amount of research. Doing so will encourage job candidates to be more honest on application materials and ensure that workplace environments are saturated with meticulous individuals who treat their careers and personal integrity with respect.
