Obtain Free Employment Verification of Someone

Finding out whether someone is employed may require an official letter or a call to the human resources department. Your method of choice should depend upon your intention to employ the person and an available list of references. Regardless of your reason, you should never have to pay for a full background check.

Steps

Using an Employment Verification Letter

  1. Understand what a verification letter is. An employment verification letter is a letter from a past or current employer verifying the length of employment and the employee’s position. The letter can also include salary information.
    • The letter should be official. That is, it should be written on company letterhead and include the phone number, email address, and mailing address of the company.
    • An official letter prevents the employee from faking the verification letter.
  2. Ask for a letter. In your job advertisement you can state that you require an employment verification letter. Or, you may choose to request this letter during the interview process.
    • Request that letters be mailed in a sealed envelope directly to you.
    • You can always call the employer if you have questions.
  3. Accept a character reference as a substitute. A character reference is like an employment verification but includes more information. Specifically, the person writing the character reference also gives his or her impressions of the applicant as a worker, evaluating abilities and skills.[1]
    • This letter should also include information about how long the employee has worked at the current job and therefore is a good substitute for an employment verification letter.

Calling Employers Listed on a Resume

  1. Ask for references. It is standard when advertising a job to ask applicants to include a resume and references. Typically, at least 2 references from the applicant’s most recent jobs is standard.[2]
    • You may also ask for a contact number for every company the applicant has worked for.
    • You can also ask that references be listed on a separate sheet of paper and include a mailing address in addition to a telephone number.
  2. Call each reference. Ask about employment type, dates, and anything that may recommend the person for the job.
    • If someone lists an employer for whom they do not provide a reference, try to find the phone number of the employer and call. Confirm that the person worked for the employer.
    • Be advised that many employers will not give either a positive or negative reference. Therefore, all you may be able to do is confirm dates of employment.
  3. Call the human resources department, if needed. Sometimes you cannot reach the direct supervisor or the boss of the potential employee. In those situations, you may have to call the company’s human resources department (HR) in order to verify employment.
    • You may have to perform an Internet search to find the phone number for human resources. Alternately, you might call the company’s main number and ask to be transferred to HR.

Using a Social Security Employment Report

  1. Request an Employment Report. You should ask the applicant to get a copy of his or her “Social Security Earnings” form. This form is available from the federal government.
    • The applicant will have to pay a fee for this report. However, this option could be preferable if the applicant does not want potential employers contacting his or her current employer.
    • A certified, itemized statement currently costs $192.[3]
    • The applicant can find the application for the report here.
  2. Allow the person to black out sensitive information. The employment information is available in the detailed report, and the person may choose to remove totals or their social security number. You should notify the applicant that they are allowed to black out this information.
  3. Review the copy of the earnings report. Make sure that the applicant’s stated work history matches up to the employment on the report. After reviewing, keep the report in a secure location or return it to the potential employee.

Things You'll Need

  • Resume
  • List of references
  • Employment verification letter
  • Social security earnings report
  • Fee

References

  1. ↑ http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/01/12/the-ins-and-outs-of-providing-references
  2. ↑ http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/01/12/the-ins-and-outs-of-providing-references
  3. ↑ http://www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ssa-7050.pdf
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