6 Ways to Find Out Where Someone Works

Learn where your friend works

Finding someoneā€™s workplace can be important in various instances. For example, letā€™s say you’re approached by a fundraiser. To avoid a donation scam, you must confirm they actually work for the charity they claim to represent.

Similarly, you should verify where telemarketers and door-to-door salespeople work before handing over your credit card details to purchase their products or subscriptions. Or you may simply want to know where the friend you haven’t seen for ages is employed.

But what are the most reliable options for discovering this information? Keep reading to learn more.

How to Find Out Where Someone Works

Of course, the easiest option is to ask the person directly. But sometimes people lie about their work background for various reasons. So, you may want to find details yourself to get an accurate picture.

Here are the top techniques that could help you in such instances.

Ask the Company’s Human Resources Department

When you already have some details about the current employer of the relevant person and simply want to confirm they work there, you can reach out to the companyā€™s HR department.

A small-scale enterprise may not have an HR team. In that case, it would be a good idea to contact the business owner.

To maintain confidentiality, businesses usually provide limited information about current and past employees. But many will disclose whether the person in question works there and, if so, their job title.

Now, some HR personnel wouldn’t share employee information. But donā€™t let this deter you. If you can contact a few of the companyā€™s employees, you might still find useful details.

Checking the employerā€™s website is another option.

Use a Search Engine

Search online to learn where a person is employed

For many people, search engines are the go-to resources for finding any type of data online for free. They can be invaluable for discovering employment information, too.

A Google search, for instance, can unearth data from the depths of the internet to find relevant search results in a split second.

The platformā€™s SERPs can include a variety of online sources, from social media and blogs to company websites and press releases, increasing the chances of finding someone’s place of employment.

All you need to do is type in [personā€™s full name + the word ‘job’] into the search engineā€™s search bar and hit inter. To narrow down the search, add more details about the person, such as their location or anything else you know.

Search on People Lookup Sites

Data aggregators like Nuwber are in the business of finding people data online. They deploy advanced technology to source a range of public records to help with your information searches.

They can find contact details, such as a person’s address, phone number, and email. Other information can include social media profiles, names of coworkers and associates, and even criminal records.

Nuwber lets you discover where someone works using a personā€™s full name, address, phone number, or email, and also has a few critical advantages over simple searches on search engines. For instance, it can make your online search for public records hassle-free by compiling the relevant details into a concise and easy-to-review report.

A Google search, on the other hand, will only yield matching links, and checking each one could take a considerable amount of time.

However, it’s important to note that you’re prohibited from using the information you find on Nuwber for employment decisions or professional purposes.

Browse Social Media

According to estimates, 72.5% of Americans have a social media presence, which means that networking platforms can be a helpful resource for finding someoneā€™s employment details.

LinkedIn, a professional networking site with 211 million US users, is the first place to start.

User profiles on this platform generally take the format of a resume, but with more options to showcase achievements, interests, affiliations, and other information that could help professionals network and attract opportunities.

At the most basic level, users display their company name, job title, work responsibilities, education, and employment history, including former employers, employment dates, and positions held.

In addition, some people list their phone numbers and emails, too.

Searching LinkedIn is straightforwardā€”type in the first and last name of the relevant individual into the search bar and refine the search results using company name, location, and other filters.

If you canā€™t find a matching profile, go to the employerā€™s business page and check who else works at the company. This would help you identify a mutual friend or connection who could provide more information.

Apart from LinkedIn, you can also check social media profiles on Instagram, Facebook, and other networking sites. All these platforms offer free search services and are excellent places for your information search.

Hire an Employee Background Check Service

If you’re a hiring manager looking to verify someoneā€™s employment history and references, an internet search is mostly prohibited and, in some cases, unethical. 

An employment background screening company can help search and confirm a candidateā€™s work background faster with greater accuracy, saving you time, money, and hassle.

Their services are legally compliant and can range from online public record retrieval to liaising with various organizations for manual searches.

These background checks can produce invaluable information, including details about employment history, credit history, criminal records, and drug screenings.

Turn to a Private Investigator

Find accurate information about someone's place of work

If you’re not in a position to do your own background searches, consider a PI to do the work for you. People usually turn to this option when all the other ones have been exhausted and havenā€™t brought any results.

Private investigators’ services, however, are fairly expensive. So, ensure you check reviews and references before hiring one to find out where someone works.

To Wrap Up

When you need to find someone’s place of employment and work history, there are several reliable methods you can use to speed up the process.

The simplest way to check whether someone works at a particular company is by reaching out to its HR department.

However, not every employer discloses employee information. So, if this route doesnā€™t produce the details you require, you might want to search online.

People search sites and free resources, such as search engines and social media, can help find public records quickly and anonymously.

For hiring purposes, we recommend a specialized background check service that could facilitate legally compliant screenings. For more critical information needs, hiring a PI could also be worthwhile.

FAQ

Can an individual conceal their employment details on the internet?

There’s nothing preventing people from fabricating or hiding their job information on social media profiles, personal blogs, and other online platforms.

However, you can often identify such cases by reviewing the details you find for discrepancies in employment dates and similar data.

Reaching out to the HR department of the relevant organization is another option to confirm information.

How do I know whether a personā€™s work information I find online is accurate?

The accuracy of data depends to a large extent on the source you use.

For instance, search engines donā€™t verify information and simply retrieve content from indexed web pages based on keyword relevance. Therefore, what you find on them may not always be up-to-date, complete, or correct.

Nuwber, however, verifies information to ensure the accuracy of its search reports. So, the platform is in a better position to provide more factual data.

Is it legal to search someoneā€™s employment details online?

The current data protection laws donā€™t prohibit individuals or organizations from accessing publicly available information. This includes government databases made available to the general public and what people voluntarily publish on their social media profiles and other online sources.

As a result, you can discover a variety of personal data through public recordsā€”from an individualā€™s personal assets and mortgages to details about family members and friends.

Digging into all these without a valid reason isn’t necessarily unlawful. However, intruding into someoneā€™s privacy is certainly unethical.

What other work information can I find online apart from someone’s place of employment?

An online search allows you to discover a range of work-related details, especially with regard to an individualā€™s employment history. This can include details about previous employers, job titles, work responsibilities and accomplishments, salary details, and dates employed.

In some instances, searching someoneā€™s criminal history could also be necessary when, for example, you intend to hire them for a senior position. Employee background check services can give you access to criminal offenses, lawsuits, arrests, and similar data.

When am I prohibited to run a search on Nuwber to learn where someone works?

Nuwber can’t be used by employers to evaluate the suitability of a candidate or current employee. This includes pre-employment background checks, demotion, promotion, or termination of employees.

It’s also prohibited to use Nuwber to screen domestic workers and at-home aids such as gardeners, babysitters, nannies, etc.

If you’re aiming to evaluate professional services, such as screening doctors, coaches, teachers, tutors, or anyone else, using Nuwber is also not allowed.

In all of the above cases, hiring an employee background check service is the only option.

Eugene Kirdzei
Eugene Kirdzei

Chief Technical Officer at Nuwber
With nearly two decades of experience in the IT industry, Eugene possesses comprehensive knowledge across his professional field, including in data management, data protection, and information search. Through his writing, he aims to provide valuable insights and practical advice on how to safely explore the online environment and leverage digital tools to enhance people’s lives.