Why Employment Verifications are Crucial for Your Business
Job candidates naturally want to look their best when applying for positions, and while many are quite honest about their work history and experience, some applicants may embellish their job titles or adjust dates to hide gaps in employment. Checking this employment information can be a tedious but necessary part of the hiring process.
What Can You Learn from Employment Verifications?
During the employment verification process, you will find that most employers are reluctant to provide anything more than title and dates of employment. In many cases, it is company policy to not disclose details of work history, reason for termination, or job responsibilities. But even confirmation of these details can tell you a lot about your applicant, especially if they don't match.
Job Titles
Many candidates will expand their job titles to be something that sounds a little more impressive, for example, a restaurant server who provides the job title "Dining Liaison". Other times, job titles are accurate but lacking the details you may need, for example, "Clerk I".
Dates of Employment
Applicants with gaps in their work histories may adjust dates of employment to hide those missing periods of time.
Most Important Reasons to Perform Employment Verifications
Screening job candidates to check the employment details they provide on applications is an easy and important way to help you weed out less desirable candidates. Employment verifications can help you:
- Hire the most suitable employees — You'll be able to choose from those who've been fully honest, and those who may have undersold or, more likely, oversold themselves.
- Gain insight into applicants' personalities — Is a candidate a straight-shooter, one who exaggerates a little to sell it, or one who blows things out of proportion?
- Reduce your risk of negligent hiring — Does a hidden gap in employment represent something problematic?
Many employers have handed personnel files to third parties for the verification process. These third parties charge fees when requesting verifications and will only supply title and dates of employment. Fees will vary depending on the company the employer utilizes.
At Employers Reference Source, Inc., we can simplify and improve your hiring process by making sure you have the information you need to properly evaluate job applicants. Contact us today to learn more about our employment verification checks and other background screening services.
