What are Education Verification Checks?
An Education Verification Check is a process carried out by employers or organizations to make sure that the education details provided by an individual are true and correct. It’s like a background check, but specifically for a person’s schooling history.
So, say someone applies for a job and they list that they have a master’s degree from a certain university on their resume. An Education Verification Check would involve the employer contacting the university to confirm that the person really did get that degree.
The aim of this is to maintain a level of trust and honesty. It helps avoid situations where people might make false claims about their education in order to get a job or gain an advantage. It ensures that only qualified people are chosen for roles that require certain education levels.
What is Education Verification Check also called?
The term “Education Verification Check” can be known by different names, depending on the context or the organization involved. Some other terms that essentially mean the same thing include “Education Background Check”, “Degree Verification”, “Diploma Verification”, or “Education Confirmation”. These terms all refer to the process of checking a person’s educational background to confirm it’s accurate. This can involve reaching out to schools, colleges, or universities to verify the information that a person has provided about their education.
What is the purpose of education verification?
Education verification serves a critical role in ensuring integrity and transparency during the hiring process. In specific fields, certain degrees or qualifications are crucial for performing job duties effectively. By verifying an applicant’s educational background, employers ensure that candidates have honestly represented their qualifications. This allows employers to make informed decisions, reducing the risk of hiring someone unqualified for a role, which could lead to subpar job performance, training difficulties, and potential reputational damage to the company.
How to run Educational Background Check on Myself
If you want to run an education background check on yourself check read our post How to run an Education Verification Check?, here is a shorter simplified version. It’s like doing your own mini investigation. First, you would need to get in touch with the educational institutions you attended. This could be your high school, college, or university. You’d ask them for your records, which should include what you studied, which degree you got, and when you were a student. Doing this helps you confirm the information that you have given to potential employers, ensuring that everything matches up correctly.
How often do companies check education?
The frequency of educational checks can greatly vary from one company to another. It often depends on the nature of the job and the company’s policy. If a job requires specific degrees or certifications, employers are more likely to verify every applicant’s education. For example, companies hiring for positions in fields like engineering, medicine, or law will almost always check candidates’ educational qualifications. However, for roles where specific education isn’t crucial, companies might not conduct education verification checks as frequently.
How do employers verify education?
Employers use various methods to confirm an applicant’s work history. This typically involves reaching out to the past employers listed on the candidate’s resume or application. The hiring company may ask about the applicant’s job title, job duties, employment dates, and performance. This process helps employers validate the information provided by the applicant and gain insights into their capabilities and work ethics. It also aids employers in predicting a candidate’s future performance and suitability for the role. In some cases, employers might also use third-party verification services to conduct these checks more efficiently.
When employers want to verify a person’s education, they typically follow a certain process. Let’s break it down:
- Permission: First, the employer will often ask the candidate for permission to contact the educational institutions they’ve attended. This is usually done during the application or interview process.
- Contacting the Institution: The employer then reaches out to the school, college, or university listed on the candidate’s application. They may do this through a phone call, email, or through a third-party verification service.
- Requesting Information: The employer will ask the institution to confirm the candidate’s educational details. This might include the degree or certification earned, the major or field of study, and the dates of attendance or graduation.
- Receiving Confirmation: The institution will then provide the requested information back to the employer, confirming or correcting the details the candidate provided.
This way, employers can ensure that the education information a job applicant provides is truthful and accurate, ensuring the person has the qualifications they claim to have.
Do employers usually verify education?
While it varies depending on the job and the company, for roles that require certain degrees or certifications, verification of education is more common. Employers want to ensure that the person they’re hiring has the necessary qualifications for the role. For example, if a position requires a professional degree such as law or medicine, employers are almost certain to verify that the applicant has the appropriate education. Even in less specialized roles, some companies might still perform an education verification check as a standard part of their hiring process to maintain honesty and integrity among their employees.
Do employers check transcripts?
Again, whether employers check transcripts depends on the job and the company. Some employers may request transcripts to verify the courses you’ve taken, your grades, and your degree. This is more common for positions that require specific skills or knowledge that would be reflected in your coursework. It’s also more common for jobs that are being filled by recent graduates who may not have a lot of work experience yet. In these cases, your academic performance could provide an indication of your dedication, work ethic, and knowledge in the field.
How do employers verify GPA?
Most of the time, employers don’t check a candidate’s GPA. They’re usually more interested in your abilities, experience, and overall suitability for the role. But if they do want to verify your GPA, they’d likely do it by asking for an official transcript from your school. This would usually only happen in fields where academic performance is considered indicative of job performance, or in highly competitive industries where even small distinctions among candidates might matter. Some graduate or professional programs might also check your GPA if high academic achievement is a requirement.
Do employers care where you went to college?
Whether an employer cares about the particular college you attended largely depends on the field and the individual company. Some industries or firms might value degrees from certain prestigious institutions more than others. However, in many cases, what you can do—the skills and experience you bring to the table—matters more than the name of the institution you attended. Some employers might also look at your college experience as an indication of your ability to succeed in a particular environment, your network of contacts, or your exposure to diverse ideas and experiences. But overall, a positive, can-do attitude, relevant skills, and a strong work ethic are often just as, if not more, important than the specific college you attended.
How to pass education background check
Passing an education background check is straightforward if you’ve been honest about your education from the start. Here are some simple steps to follow:
- Be Honest: Always provide accurate information about your educational background. Don’t make up degrees or certifications you don’t have or change the dates you attended school.
- Know What You’ve Shared: Make sure you’re familiar with what’s on your resume or application. Remember what you’ve said about your education so that you can give the same details if asked.
- Provide Detailed Information: Give complete details, like the full name of the institution, the degree you received, your field of study, and the dates you attended.
- Prepare Your Documents: Keep your certificates, diplomas, or transcripts handy. You might be asked to show them as proof of your education.
- Stay Calm: Don’t worry if a potential employer says they’re doing an education background check. It’s a normal part of the hiring process and doesn’t mean that they’re suspicious of you.
Remember, the key to passing an education background check is honesty. If you’ve been truthful about your education, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
How Long Does Education Verification Take
The duration of an education verification can depend on several factors. It often depends on how quickly the educational institutions respond to the request. Generally, it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. If the school’s records are not easily accessible or they have a high volume of requests to handle, it may take a bit longer. It’s also worth noting that international checks might take more time due to different time zones or language barriers.
Failed Education Verification
Failing an education verification check means that there’s a discrepancy between the information you provided and what the educational institution has on record. Maybe you mentioned a degree that the school has no record of, or maybe the dates of your attendance don’t match up. Failing this check could jeopardize your job application as it may lead employers to question your honesty and integrity.
How to Dispute a Failed Education Background Check
If you think there’s been an error in your education background check, the first thing to do is identify where the mistake lies. You should get in touch with your school and request your records. If the school’s records are incorrect, you might need to supply proof in the form of diplomas or transcripts. If the mistake lies in the background check, you should contact the company that ran the check and provide them with the correct information. They have an obligation to investigate and correct any errors.
What Happens When You Dispute an Education Background Check
When you dispute an education background check, the company that ran the check is required to look into your claim. This could involve them re-checking their own records or contacting the educational institution for clarification. If they discover that there was indeed an error, they will fix it and update your report. This process can take up to 30 days. If they don’t find an error, the report will remain unchanged. However, if you’re not satisfied with the result, you can ask to add a statement to your report explaining your perspective.