Do Background Checks Show Employment History?

Evelyn Sanderson - April 24, 2025

In today’s job market, it’s more important than ever for employers to do their due diligence and verify the information that job candidates provide on their resumes. Among the most important of these things to verify is a person’s employment history.

You’ll find that there are a number of different ways employers can verify your employment history, the most common of which is just to contact your previous employers directly. However, that’s not the only way. Some employers can and do also use employment verification services or databases.

In this article, we’ll explain if background checks show employment history and also go through the ways that hiring staff will typically verify this information.

What Background Checks Verify

Background checks can verify a lot of different things about you, including your personal information, criminal history, education history, and employment history. This information can then be used by companies to make decisions about whether or not to hire you.

If you’re applying for a job, your employer will run a background check to make sure that the information you’ve provided on your resume is accurate. They may also want to see if you have any criminal convictions that could be relevant to the job. The same goes for landlords who want to screen potential tenants; they’ll be making sure that you don’t have a history of evictions or property damage.

These days, there are many different companies that do background checks, both online and offline. Some of these will only have basic background checks that include your criminal history. Others, though, have more comprehensive background checks that also include your education history and employment history, which will probably be the ones being used if you’re applying to a big company.

If you’re worried about your background check, which is perfectly natural, there are a number of things you can do to prepare. First, make sure that the information on your resume is accurate. Second, be aware of your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). 

The FCRA gives you the right to know what’s in your background report and to dispute any inaccurate information. We recommend using a background check site like Information.com to see for yourself what exactly shows up on your profile and check for any conflicts or inaccuracies before your potential employer sees them.

How Background Checks Verify Employment History

There are a couple of different ways that employers can verify your employment history once they see an overview of it. The most common way, as we discussed, is for them to just reach out to your previous employers directly and ask them to confirm your job titles, dates of employment, and reasons for leaving.

Another way that employers will verify your employment history is through an employment verification service. These services have databases of information about people’s employment history. Hiring managers will typically search these databases to find information about your previous jobs.

Employment verification services are usually more accurate than contacting previous employers directly because they have access to a larger database of information. This is also a faster way to do it, as they don’t have to wait for previous employers to respond to your request.

What Information Might Be Included in Employment Verification

When an employer verifies your employment history, they’ll ask your previous employers for a variety of information. Expect this information to include the following (or more):

• Job Titles: The job titles you held at each previous employer.
• Dates of Employment: The dates you worked at each previous employer.
• Reasons for Leaving: The reasons you gave for leaving each previous job.
• Salary Information: Your salary at each previous job.

The specific information that your employer asks for will depend on the type of job you’re applying for, so take this with a grain of salt. For example, if you’re applying for a job that requires a high level of security clearance, your employer will understandably ask for more detailed information about your previous employment history.

In either case, if you’re concerned about the information your past employer will give out to your potential new one, you’ll want to make sure that everything on your resume is accurate in advance. This will help the new employer verify what they hear from your reference and also reduce the chances of any inaccuracies occurring in the first place.

Limitations of Background Checks on Employment History

Background checks are a valuable tool for employers, but they’re not always perfect. There are a number of limitations to background checks, including:

• Time Period: Background checks typically only go back a certain number of years. This means that your employer might not be able to see all of your previous employment history.
  
• Incomplete Information: Previous employers will not always provide complete or accurate information about your employment history. This could be because they’re busy or because they don’t want to get into trouble for giving you a bad reference.
  
• Privacy Restrictions: In some cases, previous employers may not be able to provide certain information about your employment history due to privacy restrictions. For example, they may not be able to provide information about your salary or the reason you left the job.

Preparing to deal with these limitations as a job seeker will involve doing a background check on yourself and seeing what shows up. Based on that, you can verify if any details need to be disputed on the check or updated on your resume. You’ll also be able to see the time period it’s checking for and make sure that it’s showing all of your relevant experience on the report.

Protecting Yourself When Undergoing a Background Check

Knowing you’re about to undergo a background check can be nerve-wracking, even if you have nothing to hide. Could the system mess something up and show you in a negative light? Maybe it won’t show your best achievements?

These are valid concerns, but they’re not a significant problem in modern background checks. Still, there are steps you can take to ensure a smooth process, just in case. First, review your resume thoroughly for any inaccuracies or inconsistencies. We’re repeating this point often because it’s important; even minor mistakes can raise red flags for employers and leave you out of the running for no good reason.

Next, it’s wise to be proactive and anticipate potential issues. Familiarize yourself with common reasons for failing a background check. This way, you can address any concerns upfront, like explaining a minor traffic violation or obtaining written consent from past employers for verification (helpful if you suspect they might not readily provide positive references).

Once you’ve done all of this, you’ll be able to minimize the number of surprises you encounter and demonstrate to hiring managers that you’re transparent and responsible. Being proactive this way will significantly increase your chances of a successful background check and landing the job you know you deserve.

Why Verification Is So Important

There are many reasons why it’s important to verify information beyond employment history; sometimes, you just want to make sure you’re not being catfished. When you’re meeting someone new online, you’ll probably want to verify their identity to make sure that they are who they say they are. This is especially important if you’re considering meeting them in person.

One way to verify someone’s identity easily is to do a background check online. This can help you figure out if they have a criminal record or any other red flags to look out for. Just keep in mind that background checks don’t always provide the whole picture. For example, background checks can’t really show if someone has a history of lying or being manipulative.

If you’re worried about someone’s identity online but don’t want to give up on them right away, there are still a number of things you can do. First, try to verify their information through social media or other online places. You can also ask them to provide you with proof of their identity, such as a copy of their driver’s license, though this might rub some people the wrong way.

Living in a World With Background Checks

Background checks are a necessary part of the modern work and real estate environment. They’re one of the easiest and most reliable ways for people to get insights into a person’s past without intruding or going through too much hassle. That said, it’s still important to approach them with a critical eye because they do have their limitations. It’s important to verify information beyond just employment history. 

By now, you should have a good understanding of the intricacies of background checks. This will help you make informed decisions in both personal and professional relationships with more confidence. For the best results, we recommend using a thorough background check as one piece of the puzzle; combining it with other factors will ultimately paint a more accurate and comprehensive picture of who someone is.