Table of Contents
- What is Colorado employment verification?
- What does Colorado employment verification show?
- How to verify employment in Colorado
- How much does employment verification cost in Colorado?
- How long does employment verification take in Colorado?
- Run employment verification in Colorado with Checkr
- FAQs about Colorado employment verification
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Employment verification is a standard part of the hiring process in Colorado. Employers use it to confirm a candidate’s past job titles, dates of employment, and work status, which can help them make informed decisions before extending an offer. This guide covers what employment verification in Colorado includes and how the process works. We’ll also look at how long it typically takes, how much it can cost, and which laws employers need to follow when conducting employment verifications.
Key takeaways:
- Colorado employment verification confirms past employers, job titles, dates of employment, and employment status that’s reported by a candidate
- Employers and authorized third-party services use verification to compare job applications with info from prior employers or trusted data sources
- Employment verification is an option for both private employers and state or local government agencies in Colorado
What is Colorado employment verification?
Colorado employment verification is the process of confirming a candidate’s past work history, including employer names, job titles, dates of employment, and employment status. Employers compare what a candidate reports on their application against records from prior employers or other reliable data sources.
Both private-sector organizations and Colorado state and local government agencies use employment verification as part of their hiring process. The process is typically completed before an employer finalizes a job offer, though timing can certainly vary.
What does Colorado employment verification show?
A Colorado employment verification report confirms factual details about a candidate’s prior work history. The specific fields returned on the report depend on what the former employer is willing to share and how the verification is requested.
Common information included in a verification report includes:
- Dates of employment: Start and end dates at each employer
- Job title(s) held: Official position names as recorded by the employer
- Employment status: Whether the candidate worked full-time, part-time, or as a contractor
- Eligibility for rehire: Whether the former employer would consider rehiring the candidate
- Reason for leaving: Included by some employers, but omitted by others based on internal policies
Some employers confirm only basic facts, like work dates and job titles, due to company policy or concerns about liability. Employment verification is separate from a criminal background check, which covers a different set of records entirely.
How to verify employment in Colorado
Employment verification in Colorado generally follows a straightforward sequence. However, the specific method may vary a bit based on employer size, available sources of data, and the role that’s being filled.
Step 1: Collect candidate consent and information
If you will be using a consumer reporting agency to perform the verification, written authorization from the candidate is required before contacting any previous employer. This protects both the employer and the candidate under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the federal law that governs background screening practices. Even if you want to perform the verification yourself, many former employers will refuse to confirm employment history unless you have secured prior written consent.
Gather the following information from the candidate before you start the verification process:
- Full legal name
- Names of previous employers
- Dates of employment at each employer
- Job titles held
Step 2: Contact the previous employer or use a verification service
There are several ways to check a candidate’s employment history in Colorado:
- Direct contact: Call or email the candidate's former HR department to request that they confirm the candidate’s previous employment details.
- The Work Number: This is an Equifax-operated database that many large employers use to store and share employment records. The Work Number is the primary vendor for Colorado state employee verifications.
- Third-party screening platforms: Services like Checkr's employment verification manage outreach to former employers and data sources, reducing the manual work involved.
Step 3: Confirm details and document the results
Once you’ve received a response, check the core facts in the report against what the candidate gave you. Keeping dated records of your requests and any responses you received can help you comply with internal policies and any applicable compliance requirements.
How much does employment verification cost in Colorado?
The price of an employment verification check varies based on the method you use, as well as the provider.
For employment purposes
Employment verification pricing depends on the approach you take:
- Direct contact: No direct cost for you as the requester; typically the financial cost falls to the previous employer through the staff time that’s required to send employment information.
- The Work Number: Typically charges per verification request, with costs starting at $69.75 per report.
- Third-party screening platforms: Background check services, like Checkr, often offer employment verification. Checkr’s employment verification add-on starts at $12.50 per check.
See Checkr’s full pricing page for our current options. Third-party pass-through fees may apply separately.
For personal use
Individuals can run a background check on themselves through Checkr’s personal background check service for $29.99. This report includes a Social Security number (SSN) trace, national criminal search, global watchlist search, and sex offender registry search—the same types of records many employers review. You can also purchase our employment history add-on to learn what potential employers may see on your report.
How long does employment verification take in Colorado?
Employment verifications may be completed day-of or within a few weeks, depending on the method you use and how quickly former employers respond.
- Automated database sources like The Work Number often return results the same day or within hours.
- Reaching out manually to former employers by phone or email typically takes two to five business days, and longer during holidays or periods of high hiring volume.
Checkr tracks outreach attempts and completion timestamps in real time, so employers can monitor the status of a verification without following up manually.
Run employment verification in Colorado with Checkr
For employers managing hiring across multiple roles or locations, a screening platform like Checkr can simplify the verification process—from candidate consent through documented results. Get started with Checkr to run employment verifications and background checks for your team.
Hire faster with modern employment verifications
FAQs about Colorado employment verification
How do I get employment verification from a previous Colorado employer?
Contact the former employer’s HR department directly, use The Work Number if the employer participates in that database, or work with a third-party screening service like Checkr that will manage outreach on your behalf.
Can a Colorado employer refuse to verify past employment?
Colorado employers are not legally required to respond to employment verification requests, though many of them will confirm basic details like dates of employment and job titles.
How far back does Colorado employment verification go?
There is no state-mandated limit on how far back employment verification can go in Colorado. Many employers verify the past seven to ten years of work history based on the requirements of the role and typical industry practice.
What is The Work Number and how is it used in Colorado?
The Work Number is an Equifax-operated database that stores employment records for many large employers. It is the primary verification vendor for Colorado state employees and returns results automatically without requiring employers to manually reach out to HR departments.
Disclaimer
The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.
About the author
Checkr is the data platform that powers safe and fair decisions. We’re a technology company that helps our customers assess risk, modernize hiring, and cultivate trusted relationships in their workplaces and communities.
