Human Resource Blog

Verify past employment with KBR in Iraq

Has anyone been able to verify past employment for applicants that worked for KBR in Iraq? KBR states that they do not keep records for these employees as they were contract laborers.

We do not have any experience with that specific employer. However, we do have experience verifying work history for independent contractors. Part of the dilemma is that the worker was not an employee — he or she was a independent business owner and KBR was their client. So you cannot go through the usual channels (such as HR) to verify work history. HR generally deals with employees only.

However, the contractor did have a contact at the client firm, and someone approved the invoices he or she submitted and paid those invoices. Normally businesses keep payment records for 5 to 7 years, for tax reasons. You may need to go through Accounts Payable to verify the billing history. In addition, the independent contractor should be able to give you the name and contact information of the person at KBR that he or she reported to, or the person who approved the invoices. If the contractor cannot supply such a reference, that would be a big red flag that either they did not work for the company, or they know their work was unsatisfactory.

The exception would be if the contractor performed top secret work — obviously, in that case the client firm would be hesitant to disclose information. But hopefully if that were the case, you would not be getting info on the internet!

Readers, does anyone have another suggestion on how this employer can verify past work history?