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How to Approach an Old Employer for a Verification Letter

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Whether you need a letter of employment verification for a new job or other situation, it is often intimidating to approach your former employer and ask for the letter. Letters of employment verification are different from letters of recommendation. While a recommendation letter talks about your personality and skill level, a letter of employment verification discusses your time employed with a company, your former position, promotions and more.

Contact your former boss, supervisor or the human resources department. Call the company or send a letter stating that you need a verification letter for the position or positions in which you worked while employed with the company.

Discuss what information is needed in your verification letter. Before you contact your former employer, know exactly what you need included in your verification letter. While one situation may only require you to have your former position, salary and time of employment, another letter may require further information, such as detailed information on job duties performed and whether you were a full-time or part-time employee.

Be professional and respectful when you contact the company. Whether you talk on the phone or write a letter, you need to maintain your professionalism. Get to the point of your call or letter. Talking or writing about situations and information that does not pertain to the matter at hand does nothing but waste your time and your former employer's time.

Tell your former employer when the verification letter is needed. You can have the employer send the letter to you in a sealed envelope, or the former employer can send the letter to the place that requires the information.

Tip

Even if you did not necessarily end on good terms with your former employer, that does not mean you cannot ask for an employment verification letter. Keep all conversations with your former employer at a professional level.

Certain employers may simply have an employment verification request form that you can fill out on the company website. Check with the company by contacting human resources.

Thank your former employer for giving you a letter of employment verification. While you no longer work for the company, you never know if you may need something from them again.

Warning

Never act disrespectful toward your former employer. You do not want to burn your bridges with former employers.

References
Tips
  • Even if you did not necessarily end on good terms with your former employer, that does not mean you cannot ask for an employment verification letter. Keep all conversations with your former employer at a professional level.
  • Certain employers may simply have an employment verification request form that you can fill out on the company website. Check with the company by contacting human resources.
  • Thank your former employer for giving you a letter of employment verification. While you no longer work for the company, you never know if you may need something from them again.
Warnings
  • Never act disrespectful toward your former employer. You do not want to burn your bridges with former employers.
Writer

A.N. Pike has been a professional writer since 2006. She has worked for the "McKinney Courier-Gazette" and her campus newspaper, now freelancing for various clients. Pike earned her associate's degree in mass communications and journalism from Collin College.

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