How to get your employment history in the US

Believe it or not, getting your employment history does not require much thought. If you have worked in several places, recalling can be somewhat challenging.

However, you can get information on your employment history through government-approved agencies. This article will enlighten you on employment history and how to get it in the United States.

What is employment history?

how to get your employment history in the us, contact social security administration

A person's employment history is their work history that includes previous places of service or work. Usually, your new employer will require your employment history as part of the hiring process. Information about previous companies, positions held during service, time, and compensation form part of your employment history.

Employers use employment history to gain insight into a potential employee's past and employment verification. It also serves as proof of a person's work experience and qualifications. Discrepancies with information in your employment history can raise a red flag for your new employer. 

Essentially, when your work history is under review, prospective employers look for details like:

  • Any time gap between your past jobs

  • Staying power in your previous jobs. For example, if you have worked with an establishment for less than a year.

  • Discrepancies in compensation rate, etc

These details express your enthusiasm for work and how resourceful you will be to the company.

How to get your employment history in the United States?

own records, a few important things

Here's how to get your work history even if it seems challenging due to working in several places. Mobility of labor also contributes to most people's difficulty in organizing their service history. 

Several ways to get your employment history exist in the United States. Here they are:

Social security records

Social Security records, which the Social Security Administration maintains, provide the most accessible avenue to obtain your personal employment history. Essentially, your employer uses your social security number to ascertain your employment verification in the United States. As a result, it links all your service history together.

Social Security also keeps records of your social security earnings from your income. You can visit the nearest Social Security office to download an online copy of form 7050 or use the view earnings record link provided by the Social Security Administration office.

Alternatively, you can request a paper form by placing an order payable to the Social Security Administration, specifically from the Earnings Record Operations. Other details necessary include but are not limited to your name, SS number, and date of birth.

The Social Security Administration might require a little payment before giving your records. You may be required to pay between $136 for a non-certified statement and $192 for a certified statement, as processed by the Social Security Administration. Usually, a noncertified statement is sufficient unless otherwise needed.

Also, your employment record is linked entirely to your social security number, which is used to create the comprehensive report maintained by the Social Security Administration. You can either submit the generated report to your prospective employer or a demanding agency.

Alternatively, you can use the information on the report to fill out the necessary forms. In addition, your state's unemployment office also provides social security information which you can get at no cost. However, getting your employment history through social security might be difficult if you live in multiple states.

Through your tax returns

Your income tax return, as processed by the Internal Revenue Service, includes tax documents that provide valid information about your previous employment. Also, your W-2 forms and pay stubs contain information about your previous employers.

So, your past W-2 forms include information about the name and address of your previous employer, including your dates of employment. If your tax returns are prepared online, you can view or obtain your IRS transcripts and income transcript from the website or service portal managed by the Internal Revenue Service.  

Alternatively, you can request a wage and income transcript of your previous tax forms from the IRS. The Internal Revenue Service provides detailed instructions about obtaining your tax returns/tax forms, including how to request a tax account transcript.  

By contacting your previous employers

If you are unsure about collating information about your work history over the years, you can contact your former employers. Essentially, the human resources department of your previous workplaces can assist you with getting information about your work history. In addition, your past employers have your exact dates of employment and may even have records of your appointment letters. 

Online records

Using online tools and platforms can significantly ease the process of retrieving your employment history. Many professionals maintain profiles on networking sites like LinkedIn, where their work history, including past roles and durations, is publicly displayed. These profiles often serve as a live resume that is accessible to both potential employers and yourself.

Further, using search engines to input your complete current mailing address alongside your full name can sometimes yield information about previous jobs if they have been listed online, aiding in the hiring process, such as on company websites or news articles. For a more thorough search, consider looking through your own digital archives—emails from previous jobs, digital pay stubs, and employment contracts often reside in email inboxes or cloud storage services.

It's advisable to routinely update your online profiles and digital records. Setting regular reminders to review and refresh this information can save considerable time and ensure accuracy when you need to present your employment history for new job opportunities or official verifications.

How do you get your employment history by checking your credit report?

certified itemized statement, require certified earnings

If you supplied your work information when applying for a credit facility, your credit reports could help you find your employment history. 

You can your employment history through credit reports by using a site authorized by the Federal Trade Commission and ensure that your itemized statement of earnings matches records at the central operations office of the reporting agency to access your credit report, where you might find employment dates and job titles listed under your past employees section.

After viewing your credit report, you can contact the credit report agency where you notice discrepancies, or directly contact the Social Security Administration for detailed records involving Social Security benefits. Examples of credit report agencies include but are not limited to; Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Interestingly, the Credit Report website is the only option the Federal Trade Commission authorizes. 

Final Thought

Your employment history in the United States works with your previous documentation. You should ensure that your information across all platforms, including your LinkedIn profile, is in harmony, and verify that your local tax information and social security benefits are accurately reflected when conducting background checks. You should avoid all inconsistencies with your information and be as honest as possible. Hopefully, this article, by mentioning such a request to access detailed records from the Social Security Administration, provides practical strategies for obtaining your work history in the United States. 

Blog Post FAQ

Your tax records, which include local tax information and a security code, provide the easiest method of getting your service history, especially in the United States. Usually, your tax returns will include your previous employers, earnings, and other relevant information about your last work process.

Your employment history becomes part of your background check depending on who is investigating and why. However, if you have all your data documented, it will most likely be included in your background check, especially for high profiled jobs.

The International Operations Division of the IRS does not provide your complete service history related to non-Social Security-related incomes but can issue an itemized statement of earnings for the required period. Instead, they will give you a wage report when you request it. Your wage report explains your income for the last ten years, and you can request an online wage history transcript through the IRS portal.

Although anyone can tell lies about their personal information, it is wrong to lie about your work history. Eventually, your potential employer might discover your ruse, especially during background checks.

A pay check stub maker can help employees verify employment history by demonstrating a history of earnings from their employers. This digital tool generates stubs in just a few clicks, reflecting accurate income details, deductions, and employer information. This is a common document providing tangible proof of employment history, which can be required during processes such as loan applications or housing rental procedures.