Want a Faster Job Offer? Help Me Help You
If you're job hunting, chances are a background check is part of the deal. That means someone—usually overworked and juggling a million different things—will be trying to track down your past employment details. And guess what? You can either make this easy for them (and yourself) or let it become an unnecessary headache.
This week, I got two employment verification requests. Both were absolute messes.
The first? A voicemail from an offshore company asking me to verify employment… for someone with only a first name. No dates, no company name, and it came from a random phone number on March 6th. When they finally called back, on March 10th, (and I actually answered, which is rare for unknown numbers), they provided a last name—but this person worked for me over five years ago, off and on for years. I had no idea what dates and job title they used on their application, and I definitely didn’t have that info handy. If I hadn’t picked up, this could have sat in voicemail purgatory for who knows how long, further delaying their hiring process.
The second request? Another vague voicemail asking me to log into a website to verify employment dates. While the first and last name were provided, I lacked context. No way to know what dates or job title they listed, unless I possibly go to their LinkedIn profile which may or may not have the same information they submitted. No easy way for me to verify anything quickly. So I had to email the person and ask. Further delays and more time and work for me...
Here is what the verification looks like when I log into the website:
So, job seekers, I’m begging you: help me help you.
Help all of your previous managers help you!
Please consider your previous manager's UX for the love of all mankind.
How to Make Employment Verification Painless
If you want to make sure your background check goes smoothly (and doesn’t get stuck in someone’s over flowing email spam or voicemail box), do this one simple thing: give your former hiring managers a heads-up before the background check company reaches out.
Here’s a quick, easy email template you can send them:
Subject: Heads Up: Employment Verification Request
Hi [Hiring Manager’s Name],
Hope you're well! I’m in the process of applying for a role at [Company Name] as a [Job Title], and as part of the hiring process, they’ll be conducting a background check.
The background check company, [Company Name], may reach out to verify my employment with you. On my resume, I listed my title as [Job Title] and my dates as [Start Date] to [End Date].
Would you prefer they contact you via email or phone? If so, please lmk which email address or phone number I should provide.
I appreciate your help and want to make this as quick and painless as possible for you. Thank you!
[Your Name]
Why This Matters
It prevents unnecessary delays – If I don’t answer unknown calls (which I usually don’t), your verification request might sit there for days.
It makes sure the details match – I don’t have your employment dates memorized. By giving me a heads-up, you ensure I’m confirming the right information.
It keeps me from wasting time digging for records – The faster I can verify your employment, the faster you move forward in the hiring process.
It shows you’re proactive and professional – This little step makes a huge difference in how smoothly your job application moves along.
Final Thought: Don’t Let a Missed Call Hold Up Your Job Offer
Your hiring process shouldn’t hinge on whether or not I decide to answer an unknown number. A simple email can mean the difference between a quick verification and an unnecessary delay. So, do yourself (and your past employers) a favor—give us a heads-up.
Help me help you. Help us help you. Seriously!
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And that’s a wrap!
We try to alternate between a theme and UX/UXR jobs, events, classes, articles, and other happenings every few weeks. Thank you for all of the feedback. Feedback is a gift, and we continue to receive very actionable input on how to make Fuel Your Curiosity more meaningful to you.
What do you think? We're constantly iterating and would love to hear your input.
Stay curious,
- Michele and the Curiosity Tank team
PS: Have you every really thought about the UX of your previous manager in the hiring process? What do you think about it now? Hit reply to share your feedback!
