If you need to find someone for legal or personal reasons, knowing where they work might be quite useful. A search is sometimes conducted for personal gratification, while other times it is conducted to locate a person who owes a debt. However, you may be concerned about the legality of the situation.
It is sometimes done to ensure that a person is who they claim to be, especially when starting a new relationship. It’s vital to note that any search performed using the options below should only be used for personal purposes. Searching for employment information for professional purposes is governed by a different set of rules. There are numerous limits to apply if you need to know how to find out where someone works as part of an official check.
However, you can lawfully find work history by using the following information.
How to Find Out Where Someone Is Legally Works
There are a number of different ways to lawfully search for information on a person’s employment for personal reasons, such as checking out a blind date, or for work reasons. The option you choose to use will be determined by a variety of factors, including the reason for your search and your budget. But as you can tell, paid choices are more likely to produce results than free ones. It makes them an excellent choice for extreme personal inquiries like litigation or child support issues. However, a free option can satisfy simple personal curiosity, with the caveat that the information found may not be totally accurate.
#1. Hire a Private Investigator
Hiring a private investigator is one of the simplest ways to find out where someone works. A licensed investigator will have access to resources and industry knowledge that will enable them to quickly (and legally) provide you with information about someone’s present employment situation.
You should be aware that if you employ a professional, they will not be able to track somebody from a private location. All of their searches will take place in public areas. Furthermore, if the investigator discovers evidence of a crime, they are responsible for sharing the information with local law police.
An online search can usually be used to locate a private investigator. However, you should do as much research as possible into their practices and reviews before hiring them. Hiring a private investigator that does not adhere to the law might rub off negatively on you and the information gathered.
Read Also: HOW TO GET CHARGES DROPPED BEFORE COURT DATE: Flawless Steps That Work
Meanwhile, the cost of employing a professional investigator is the most significant disadvantage. Most services aren’t cheap. This means that you may end up spending a lot of money. In 2022, the average hourly rate for a private investigator is around $50. And, depending on the state and expertise of the person hired, this price may rise or fall.
But while $50 per hour may not seem like a lot, you must consider the length of time it would take an investigator to do the job. As previously stated, one of the most significant factors to consider while making a decision is the purpose of your pursuit for information. If the information is for legal purposes, it may be worthwhile to invest the extra money to verify that it is of high quality and obtained properly. If you’re looking for a job history for a personal reason or out of curiosity, you might be better off going with a cheaper, or even free, service.
#2. Perform a Name-Based Search on the Internet
In the process of learning how to find out where someone works, you’ll discover that there are a slew of free, public sites where you can conduct online name searches (though it’s best if you find someone’s middle name first). Using a search engine to type in the person’s name is one of the simplest approaches.
Public records, including employment records, may be helpful in some instances. Many websites, similar to an online phone book, include databases containing public information such as a cell phone number or current address.
If you are unable to locate employment information using your initial search, you can always do another using the new information obtained. While the authenticity of these internet databases cannot be guaranteed, they are always a good place to start. On the other hand, if you don’t know the person’s name, you could discover how to find someone’s name for free using their phone number.
Use Social Media
Another popular way is to use social media sites like Facebook or LinkedIn to find information. Employment information is likely to be included in a public profile. LinkedIn will most likely be the most beneficial in terms of employment history, with the name and state of employment likely to be listed. It’s crucial to remember that, as with other name-based searches, the information may not be up to date.
Anyone who loves their privacy, on the other hand, may be more difficult to locate. Any results discovered will be hampered by social media privacy settings.
If none of the preceding methods work, a level 1 background check is the only way to guarantee a successful internet name search.
#4. Lookup Information in Government Databases
If the person in question works for the government, you might be able to find out more about their employment by searching a government database. Government employees’ identities, job titles, and wages are often deemed public documents.
Some states (like Vermont, Virginia, Washington, South Dakota, and Tennessee) have an online search engine that reveals information about an employee based on a short name search. Unfortunately, not all government employment or state employee information, such as information on brand new employees, will come up when using these search options. Furthermore, you will only benefit if you are familiar with the state or branch of government where the individual works.
Any information gleaned from the searches should be used with caution and in line with the law. It’s also crucial to understand that the only way to get completely valid job information is to use a legal warrant or an approved background check. Any inquiries concerning acquiring legal documents like a warrant should be referred to a lawyer.
The Most Convenient Method to Find Out Where Someone Works Is to Hire a Private Investigator
A licensed private investigator is skilled at locating pertinent facts. They can legitimately conduct investigations in order to gather the best evidence. Investigators work with databases and have extensive surveillance and investigation experience. In other words, they can quickly obtain the information they need lawfully.
If they can gather evidence in cases involving missing persons, unfaithful spouses, security checks, and so on, they will undoubtedly assist in determining where someone works.
Investigators work on a variety of cases while adhering to the law. For your reference, here are some things that private investigators can and cannot accomplish if you decide to engage one:
- Private investigators are bound by laws that differ from one state to another and from one country to another. They have the authority to arrest the accused if they discover any evidence of a crime.
- Investigators have the ability to conduct investigations in public locations.
- They are not allowed to trespass on private property such as houses, buildings, or other structures.
- Investigators are not permitted to force their way into people’s homes.
- They can get information that is publicly available on the internet.
- They are unable to gain access to someone’s online account.
The Costs Of Hiring A Private Investigator
When a private investigator is hired to work on a case, the costs might be rather high.
You might just hire a private investigator to do all the legwork for you. After all, it’s their job to find a missing person! With a private eye, though, you can hit a huge stumbling block: their services are expensive.
Some private investigators work on a retainer basis, which means you pay upfront for work that will be completed later. You’ll need to pay for items like mileage, surveillance, and an hourly rate. Furthermore, most PIs want a minimum amount of working hours.
Depending on how much work your PI has to do to figure out where someone works, you could be looking at a minimum of $750 just to figure out where they work; especially for experienced and professional PIs.
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has enacted a number of policies that restrict how and why information about someone can be accessed during a job search. This is intended to protect the employee from information that could jeopardize their job prospects, particularly if it was collected without their knowledge.
Why Would You Care About to Find Out Where Someone Works?
The reasons for wanting to know about someone’s employment status vary and are likely to be based on personal or legal scenarios, such as:
- Obtaining confirmation of the information from a new boyfriend
- Trying to locate someone who can help you collect an unpaid bill
- Getting to know a new roommate or acquaintance
- Trying to identify due to a lawsuit or child support
- Curiosity about a distant relative or a friend
Except for those involving a desire to commit a crime of some type, most motives for seeking to find employment information are lawful.
Legal Note
Information gathered cannot be used to spy on or stalk a person. The information gathered while learning how to find out where someone works cannot be used to conduct a crime. You could face criminal penalties if you obtain information about someone’s workplace and use it to spy on or stalk them. Stalking and harassment charges differ based on the state in which they occur (like South Carolina, South Dakota, etc).
Furthermore, you can’t use information you get from a search to harass, blackmail, or otherwise make someone uncomfortable during a visit to their workplace. It should only be used to pique your interest or to assist you in searching down people to see if you can settle a debt or respond to a lawsuit. If you have any doubts regarding the legality of your specific search aim, you should consult an attorney.
Can a Social Security Number Be Used to Find Out Information About a Person and Their Employer?
You may believe that if you have someone’s social security number, you may track down their work information this way. This isn’t always the case. When a social security number is entered directly into an online search, it usually yields no results. By disclosing the person’s social security information to possible hackers on the internet, you may end up causing extra problems for them.
To find the right information about someone having a social security number, go to the US Social Security Administration’s website. This search tool isn’t open to the public; only registered employers and permitted third-party tools have access to it. If you engage a third-party firm to do the employment check for you, you may be able to search using your social security number. This will have its own set of costs and, maybe, legal ramifications.
Other Options for Locating Someone’s Workplace
Go Through Your Social Media Profiles
Typically, public information is available on social network accounts. Almost everyone has a social networking account these days. On social networking networks such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, you can learn about the person’s work status.
Search the Database of Government Workers
As earlier mentioned, there are various government regulatory websites where you can look for employee information in the licensing section. Some insurance regulating bodies keep track of their agents’ job status and keep a list of them.
Inquire of References
In order to locate your answer and verify the facts, you can call references such as friends, or relatives. However, in order to avoid violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you must obtain formal clearance from the person before contacting references.
Conduct Research on the Internet
You should start your search on the internet. You may use famous search engines to look for something specific, but locating it is difficult. If you use a general search engine, you’ll have to put in some time and effort to get relevant results. Some people are easily searchable on Google.
Provider of Online Data
Consumer lending applications, proprietary sources, financial headers, contributory record account headers, and credit reporting agencies are all sources of data for the data provider. However, you must ensure that the data provider is legitimate and that all processes are legal.
Conclusion
People want employment-related data for a variety of purposes, including child support collection, theft investigation, fraud investigation, and periodic background checks. However, keep in mind that you must obtain information in a legitimate manner to avoid facing legal action.