How Employers Do Education Verification in Social Screening

Making sure candidates actually have the qualifications they claim is a key part of hiring. Education often plays a big role in job decisions, so employers need to check these details before moving forward. But how do they do this, and why is it so important?

Why Do Employers Verify Education?

Verifying education helps employers ensure they’re hiring qualified, trustworthy candidates while minimizing legal and reputational risks:

• Matching Skills to the Job: Employers want to be sure candidates have the right knowledge and skills for the role. Checking education helps them find the right fit.
• Protecting Company Reputation: If someone is hired without the right qualifications, it can hurt the company’s image and performance.
• Following the Law: Some jobs, especially in healthcare or finance, require certain degrees by law. Employers need to check these to stay compliant.
• Avoiding Fraud: Sometimes candidates exaggerate or make up their education. Verification helps catch this early.

How Do Employers Verify Education?

Employers use a mix of direct outreach, trusted services, and digital tools to confirm a candidate’s academic credentials:

Direct Contact with Educational Institutions:
One of the most common ways employers verify education is through direct contact with educational institutions. Employers submit an education verification form to the registrar’s office with the candidate’s name, dates of attendance, and degree earned. This method ensures an accurate education background verification.

Using Third-Party Verification Services:
Many companies rely on specialized education verification services. These third-party verification services have established relationships with educational institutions and can quickly and efficiently verify credentials. By outsourcing this task, employers streamline the education verification process.

Checking Online Databases:
Some universities and educational institutions maintain online databases where employers can verify degrees and certifications. These password-protected databases require authorization for access but can significantly speed up the education verification check.

Reviewing Transcripts:
Employers may request official transcripts from candidates to verify their coursework and grades. Transcripts offer a detailed record of a candidate’s academic performance and confirm the accuracy of their educational claims.

Background Check Companies:
Background check companies often include education verification as part of their comprehensive screening process. These companies have access to various databases and resources to verify a candidate’s educational background, making the process quicker and more reliable.

Social Media and Professional Networking Sites:
While social media sites like LinkedIn can provide insight into a candidate's educational background, they should not be used as the sole source of verification. Employers may cross-reference the information found on these platforms with official records or third-party verification services.

What Methods Do Employers Use to Check Education?

To ensure academic credentials are accurate, employers rely on a variety of verification methods, including:

• Contacting Schools: One common method is reaching out directly to the educational institution, usually by sending a form to the registrar’s office with the candidate’s details. This ensures the information is correct.
• Third-Party Services: Many companies use outside services that specialize in education checks. These services have contacts with schools and can verify credentials quickly, saving time for HR teams.
• Online Databases: Some universities have secure online systems where employers can check degrees and certifications. These require authorization but can speed up the process.
• Reviewing Transcripts: Employers might ask candidates for official transcripts, which show the courses taken and grades received.
• Background Check Companies: Many background check providers include education verification in their packages. They use various resources to confirm degrees, making the process more reliable.
• Social Media and Professional Networks: Employers cross-check information on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook etc.

Is Social Screening Changing Education Verification?

Social screening adds another layer to the process. Instead of only checking with schools or third-party services, employers also look at a candidate’s online presence. This can include LinkedIn, Facebook, and other platforms where people list their education.

• Spotting Inconsistencies: If a candidate’s resume says one thing but their LinkedIn profile says another, that’s a warning sign.
• Faster Checks: Social screening tools can quickly scan multiple platforms, saving time compared to manual checks.
• Wider View: Employers get a more complete picture of a candidate’s background, including any inconsistencies.

What Education Details Are Usually Checked?

Employers typically look for the following during education verification:

• Degree earned (Bachelor’s, Master’s, etc.)
• Major and minor fields of study
• Dates of attendance
• Graduation date
• Accreditation of the institution

What Challenges Do Employers Face?

While education verification is important, employers often encounter several hurdles during the process, including:

• International Degrees: Verifying education from other countries can be tricky. Employers may need to use global verification services.
• Time Constraints: Manual verification can take a while, especially for large companies.
• Privacy Laws: Employers must follow privacy rules like FERPA in the U.S. when accessing education records.
• Closed Institutions: If a school no longer exists, verification can be difficult. Sometimes, alumni associations can help.

Social screening can help with some of these challenges by providing quick cross-checks and highlighting inconsistencies that might otherwise go unnoticed.

How Does Technology Help?

Tools like Phyllo’s social media screening tool make it easier for employers to cross-reference a candidate’s online claims with their official records. While these tools don’t directly verify degrees, they can spot red flags and help prevent fraud. Employers can quickly compare what’s on a resume with what’s visible online, making the process more efficient.

Enhanced transparency: Employers gain a clearer picture of a candidate's public persona and professional consistency.

Time-saving: Automated tools streamline the screening process, reducing the need for extensive manual checks.

Improved decision-making: With more data points available, hiring managers can make better-informed choices.

Risk mitigation: Early detection of inconsistencies or red flags helps protect organizations from potential reputational damage.

Customizable filters: Tools can be tailored to scan for industry-specific keywords, certifications, or behaviors.

Why Is Education Verification Important for Employers?

Education verification helps ensure that candidates have the qualifications they claim, enabling employers to:

• Make better hiring decisions
  
• Protect their company’s reputation
  
• Stay compliant with industry regulations
  
• Reduce the risk of credential fraud

Common Questions About Education Verification

1. Do employers verify degrees?
Yes, most employers verify degrees to confirm that candidates have the educational qualifications they claim.

2. Will companies check my degree during hiring?
Yes, many companies include degree verification as part of their standard background check process.

3. Do all jobs require degree verification?
Not all, but jobs in regulated industries like healthcare, finance, or law typically require strict verification of academic credentials.

4. How do employers verify a candidate’s education?
Employers may contact the educational institutions directly or use third-party verification services to confirm degree details, dates, and accreditation.

5. Does a background check include education history?
Yes, most comprehensive background checks include education verification to confirm the authenticity of degrees and schools listed on a résumé.

6. What education details show up in a background check?
A background check can reveal the type of degree earned, the institution attended, graduation date, and sometimes the field of study.

7. Is degree verification really necessary?
Yes, especially for roles requiring specific qualifications. It helps employers avoid hiring based on misrepresented or false information.

Conclusion

Verifying education is a critical step in the hiring process, ensuring candidates possess the necessary qualifications and protecting the company’s reputation. Using a combination of direct verification, third-party services, and technology allows employers to efficiently and accurately confirm a candidate’s educational background. With the rise of education verification services and background check education verification, employers can streamline the hiring process, reduce the risk of fraud, and make better-informed decisions. In an era where qualifications matter more than ever, taking the time to verify education is a worthwhile investment for any organization.

‍