| Employment history verification is essential for | | | | just feel a little bit nervous about the person you |
| many reasons. Job applicants may lie on their | | | | are interviewing, you are advised to have a |
| resume to cover up previous employment | | | | professional carry out full employment history |
| problems, and even periods of imprisonment that | | | | verification, and even a criminal record |
| they obviously do not want to reveal in an | | | | investigation. These are not tasks that can be |
| application for a new job. You are obliged not only | | | | given to an employee untrained in the techniques, |
| by law, but morally, to make as sure as you | | | | and the job is too important to your company to |
| possibly can that your employees are not harmed | | | | hesitate on. A full employment background check |
| through your employment of an unsuitable | | | | should be carried out because you have a duty of |
| candidate. | | | | care to your workforce. |
| Your verification procedure should detect any | | | | If the position offered demands a certain level of |
| false dates of employment provided, any | | | | management experience or seniority, then a few |
| exaggeration of positions or responsibilities held | | | | applicants will be tempted to exaggerate their |
| and the possibility of fictitious employers being | | | | previous employment. There are many recorded |
| named. Why does this happen? Why do some | | | | instances of candidates for senior positions |
| candidates feel it necessary to fabricate their | | | | falsifying their resumes in this way, and being |
| resumes or CVs in this way? It is, in fact, not all | | | | offered the position only to be found out at a |
| that uncommon, and there have been some | | | | later date. This type of falsification is stupid |
| prominent cases reported in the press. Let's | | | | because you will eventually be found lacking in the |
| examine some reasons why people do this. | | | | skills you should have had were your claims true. |
| A very common reason for stating false periods | | | | You must carry out a full employee background |
| of employment with specific companies is to hide | | | | check on all applicants to whom you are |
| dismissal for inappropriate behavior, violence to | | | | considering offering a job. The law requires that |
| other employees or theft. Any one of these could | | | | you take all steps to avoid negligent hiring, and |
| provide a good reason for finding an employer | | | | failing to carry out employment history verification |
| guilty of negligible hiring, and this itself introduces a | | | | checks is regarded as employment negligence. |
| problem. While it is essential that you identify | | | | The cost to your company can be crippling if |
| these applicants, the previous employers might be | | | | someone you hired went on to injure another |
| loathe to provide details to you that could indicate | | | | employee, or even just steal from them. |
| them to have been negligent. Sometimes only a | | | | Sometimes other employers can be difficult when |
| professional investigator can get to the truth of | | | | asked for employment history, but if you provide |
| these situations. | | | | them with a completed release of information |
| Another reason is to hide a period of conviction, | | | | form they should have no grounds for refusal. A |
| so someone released from prison can be | | | | professional can deal with this, since they do it |
| confident of finding employment quickly. It is | | | | every day. In fact, frequently, just asking the |
| easier to provide a fictitious employer, or extend | | | | candidate to sign the release form when they |
| the period of the previous employment. Such | | | | make the application is sufficient to put them off. |
| temptations can be irresistible to a person | | | | If an applicant refuses to complete such a release |
| desperate to find employment. | | | | form, then don't employ them. The same should |
| If questioned on the reasons for the job changes | | | | apply if previous employers refuse to provide full |
| indicated on the resume, an applicant can provide | | | | employment histories, and in such a case you |
| a change of state or county, or even the desire | | | | should inform the applicant why they are not |
| for advancement, as a reason. They all sound | | | | being considered for the job. |
| plausible, there having been plenty of time for | | | | You must carry out a suitable and sufficient |
| rehearsal of the story! Both of these excuses, or | | | | employment history verification to meet your |
| reasons, are common and are difficult to disprove | | | | own legal obligations, and you can have no |
| if previous employers are loathe to provide full | | | | excuses for failing to do so. You can try to do it |
| employment details. This is particularly true of lies | | | | yourself, or have one of your employees do it, |
| told regarding positions of responsibility. Many | | | | but you are better advised to employ a |
| employers will agree to provide employment | | | | professional in employee screening to carry out a |
| dates if pushed, but no more. Not even | | | | professional job for you. You will then be able to |
| severance details. | | | | sleep well at night without worry. |
| If you feel that something is not ringing true, or | | | | |