How to Track Down Someone’s Employment Information

Thanks to the digitization of data, we can now find information at the speed of light. It doesn’t matter what we’re looking for, whether it’s someone’s phone number or place of employment, there are many resources that store data about individuals.

If someone voluntarily shared their place of work on social media or other online resources, it’s usually very easy to find it. There are also public records that don’t require anyone’s permission to publish data online. Either way, tracking down this information is no trouble.

But what are the most effective methods? Let’s take a look.

How to Find Out Where Someone Works

1. Search on Google

“We know where you are. We know where you’ve been. We can more or less know what you’re thinking about,” said Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google. And this is true. There’s probably nothing that the search engine doesn’t know.

It indexes billions of pages every day. They include forums, social media and website pages, and much more.

Wherever the information about someone’s employment is mentioned, you can find it with a simple click. For this, you need to input the person’s full name and the word “employment” or “work”. If the name is too common, it’s also worth typing in some additional information like city, age, or the name of the company they’re employed at.

2. Check Their Social Media Profiles

It seems like people share everything on social media these days, and it’s not just the food they eat or the hotels they stay at. Some of them also mention their private details, including their place of employment. X, Instagram, Facebook, and in particular LinkedIn are the social media platforms that first come to mind in this case.

On X, Facebook, and Instagram, people may share this information in their bio or stories. On LinkedIn, they break down this information in detail, including their whole work history in some cases.

3. Use People Search Websites

People search websites are resources that provide information about individuals. This information is collected from public records and compiled into reports. It usually includes a person’s age, place of residence, business details, date of birth, contact information, criminal records, and their place of employment.

Depending on the people search website, you’ll need a person’s full name, address, phone number, email address, or social media handle. Type in the information you have in the search bar on the platform you’re using and hit enter.

On some people search engines, this information will be available for free, while others may require a fee or a subscription.

4. Go to Professional Networking Websites

Aside from LinkedIn, there are many professional networking websites where people upload their employment information, mainly to find job opportunities. These websites include Indeed, Glassdoor, Hired, Monster, and FlexJobs, among others.

If the person whose employment details you’re looking for has a public profile on any of these websites, there’s a high chance that you’ll find out where they work through this method.

Apart from this, people usually upload their resumes on such platforms, meaning that you can find their whole work history and other additional details like contact information, achievements, skills, education, volunteer experiences, hobbies and interests, and much more.

5. Access Public Records

Depending on the state, certain public records (like court cases, business registrations, or professional licenses) might provide employment-related information. Some public records can be found online, while others might need to be accesses in person.

If that person owns a business, their name may appear in business registration databases. You can search local business registries, chambers of commerce, or online databases for registered business owners. In some cases, small businesses or self-employed professionals must register with local or state authorities.

You can also check licensing boards that have directories where you can verify a person’s current professional status and workplace.

6. Go Through Freelance Platforms

If you think that the individual is a freelancer or self-employed, you can check platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Behance, where they might list their work and client history.

On these platforms, freelancers are seeking job opportunities and showcasing their work experience, professional background, skills, and the services they offer.

They also receive feedback from their clients for completed projects, which can show you how well they do their job.

7. Read Local Newspapers

Local newspapers, both in print and online, sometimes publish public notices, such as job promotions, business openings, or appointments, which may mention a person’s employment.

If a person does something good, like saves, let’s say, a person or an animal, there can be a human interest story, the type of article that focuses on the positive actions of a person. This article may also include information about them, such as their age and place of work.

8. Ask Your Mutual Contacts

If you have common friends or acquaintances with this person, why not ask them directly? Explain the reason why you need to know where they work and see if somebody knows.

Even if your mutual contacts don’t have or have little information about someone’s place of work, you can find out what they know and then verify it on any resource.

9. Talk to Them Directly

If you’ve tried everything and still can’t find the information you need, the most effective approach is to ask directly. If you know the person well, it may be quite natural, especially if you bump into them at any meeting, conference, or just on the street.

However, if you don’t know each other that well, it may seem a bit intrusive. In this case, it’s better to approach the situation carefully. Introduce yourself, invite them over, and be polite before asking.

Summing Up

Tracking down employment information is important for both personal and professional reasons. It usually doesn’t require any specific skills, all you need is time and dedication.

Thanks to online resources, this process has become easier than ever. In some cases, it’s possible to find employment information with just a few clicks.

When one method doesn’t bring any results, you can try others until you find the details you need.