How to get employment verification for past 25 years?
Asked by MissDeviance
My husband is applying for a job with the county school system and they are asking for WRITTEN verification of the jobs he has held for the past 25 years, and it's up to him to get it, and his salary is dependent on such verification. Half the companies went out of business, and other supervisors have moved on to new jobs. He calls their HR departments and they won't give out that kind of information... EVEN TO HIM... about his OWN work history! Is there other any place you can go to get such work history information on someone? Is this the most bizarre policy ever? They say it is because of all the security issues related to education now. He's just going for an I/T job, not a teacher! Does this mean any time anyone our age leaves a job we better get a written transcript on the way out the door in case we run into this in the future? He may have to turn the job down because of this, because there's no way he's taking 1/2 salary for undocumentable work history. ____________ W2's -- Yes he specifically asked them if that would do (I was surprised to learn that he's kept all of them since his first job ever, even in HS!) And his Corp Income tax returns (he worked as his own 1099 contract programmer for the past 7 years too). Nope, not enough they said. Good to know about the 7 years retention rule. That's a really good point, and he confirms that's what he has to do for his own corp paperwork. He's going to talk with them tomorrow and let them know how ridiculous their requirements are. I mean, he agreed to criminal background check and is even getting fully fingerprinted as part of the employment requirement. But this is just bizarre! (And if he doesn't take the job, he says he's going to question what their HR person earns a salary for. Isn't verifying employment part of thei job?) Maddening! By this measure, God help all us if gov takes over health care.

Best Answer:
Would assume that he has W2-s for the last 7 years at least because of tax records which I think would be the most relative concerning salary requirements. List the companies that went out of business after/during his employment, I owuld also give them the names and phone numbers of the HR rep at the companies that won't provide info and let them have a try at it. If you belong to your local church (religious group) ask your clergy to provide him with a character reference. Also you may want to try an on-line search agency to see what they can come up with. Good luck Another approach if he fails with the HR person is to contact the local school suprintendant and schedule a meeting with him/her and discuss the matter.

Good grief! I've never heard of such a screwy policy (that it is a school system therefore government run ... makes it that much more likely!) I would think if he can find copies of his tax forms, those might be adequate to prove his employment. I can't recall exactly - I'll see if I can find out - but I *think* at least back to 7-10 years if he requests copies of his own employment, the companies have to give it to him. I'm not sure that companies would have to keep much work history beyond 7-10 years. It really is strange. Most private companies take job verification upon them selves. I've never seen someone required to provide their own documentation. I suppose, if he is seriously interested in this position, he could try and hire a company that does background checks and pay for it himself. But, that seems extreme. He might have better luck (on Microsoft templates, I think there is a form to release background verification ... ) if he were to do such a form and fax it to previous employers. About companies that have gone under - again, the records must be kept - there has to be a way to get verification for a certain amount of time. Best of luck!
Answered by tigglys

how bizzarre is that... well have a look here http://www.job--listings.info there's a site in there and they write resumes for people, perhaps they know what to do since that's what they do for a profession. Good luck
Answered by moaatimo

I hope you keep your W-4 statments. Thats where I turn every time I need a new security clearence.
Answered by usmc4hire

This is a hassle.... The only thing I can think of is- if you have your tax forms maybe he can use that? I thought maybe the W2s you get at the end of the year as they will show all requested info. Just a thought. Hope this helps. -Shell
Answered by SomethingIntense