8 min read

Verifying Gap Years: A Guide for Boomerang Employees

Key Takeaways

Rehiring former workers is a growing trend for many companies.
Verifying gap years helps you confirm what a person did while they were away.
Standard checks protect your business from hidden risks.
RefHub makes the process of checking references easier and faster.

You may notice a new trend in the job market: more people are returning to their old jobs. These people are often called boomerang employees. When someone wants to come back, you must look at what they did during their time away. Verifying gap years is a necessary step to make sure the person is still a good fit for your team. You need to know if they picked up new skills or if there are issues you should know about.

The Rise of Boomerang Employees

Rehiring former staff members is becoming very common. Many workers left their jobs during the last few years to try something new. Some took career breaks to care for family or to travel. Now, many of these people want to return to a place where they already know the culture.

There are several reasons why you might want to consider rehiring:

The worker already knows how your business operates.
They need less training than a brand-new hire.
They often bring back new ideas from other companies.
The cost of hiring is lower because you skip some early steps.

While these benefits are great, you cannot skip the background check. You must treat them like a new candidate in some ways. This includes checking their history since they last worked for you.

Understanding Career Breaks

A career break is a period when someone stays out of the workforce. People take these breaks for many reasons. It is not always a sign of a problem. However, you need to understand the reason for the break to make a good choice.

Common reasons for career breaks include:

Going back to school for a higher degree.
Taking care of young children or elderly parents.
Taking time to travel or see other parts of the country.
Dealing with a personal health issue.
Starting a small business or working on a personal project.

When you see a gap on a resume, you should ask about it. Most people will be happy to explain what they did. Your job is to make sure their story matches the facts.

Why Verifying Gap Years Is Necessary

You might feel that you already know the person, so you do not need to check their background. This is a mistake. A lot can happen in one or two years. Verifying gap years helps you stay safe and keep your team strong.

Here is why you should always check the time they were away:

Skill Changes: They might have learned new ways to work. Or, their old skills might be out of date.
Safety: You need to make sure they did not have any legal trouble while they were gone.
Honesty: Checking the gap proves that the candidate is being truthful with you.
Consistency: You should follow the same rules for every person you hire. This keeps your hiring process fair.

If you do not check, you might miss something important. A formal process keeps everyone on the same page.

Steps for Employment Verification

When you start the process of employment verification for a returning worker, you should have a clear plan. Do not just rely on a casual chat. You need a system that gives you real data.

Follow these steps to get the information you need:

Ask for a Resume: Even if you have their old one, get a new version that shows the gap.
Conduct an Interview: Ask specific questions about the time they were away.
Request References: Ask for names of people who can talk about their time during the break.
Use a Service: Use a professional tool to check their claims.

By following these steps, you show that your company takes hiring seriously. It also helps the returning worker understand that they must meet the same standards as everyone else.

How to Verify External Experiences

If the person worked at another company during their break, you must check those details. You should verify their job title, their duties, and why they left. This is where many managers run into trouble. It can take a long time to call other companies and wait for a reply.

To make this part of the job easier, you can use RefHub. Our system helps you verify their external experiences without the stress of manual phone calls. This software sends out requests and gathers the data for you. This way, you get the facts quickly and can move forward with the hire.

Using a tool like this helps in several ways:

It saves your HR team a lot of time.
It reduces the chance of human error.
It keeps a clear record of the check for your files.
It makes the process feel more professional for the candidate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a boomerang employee?

A boomerang employee is a person who left a company and then returned to work there again later. This is a common trend as people look for familiar work environments after trying new things.

Why should I check the background of someone I already know?

Even if you know the person, you do not know what they did during their time away. They may have worked for a competitor or faced issues that could affect their job. A check makes sure you have all the facts.

Is verifying gap years legal?

Yes, it is a standard part of the hiring process. As long as you follow privacy laws and treat everyone fairly, you can ask for information about gaps in employment.

How long does employment verification take?

If you do it by hand, it can take days or weeks. If you use an automated tool like RefHub, you can often get results much faster.

Should I ask for references for a career break?

Yes. If they were in school, ask for a teacher. If they did volunteer work, ask for a supervisor. Even for personal breaks, you can ask for character references.

Conclusion

The rise of the boomerang employee offers a great chance for companies to bring back talented people. However, you must be careful. Verifying gap years is an important part of the rehiring process. It helps you understand the candidate's journey and confirms they are ready to come back.

By using clear steps for employment verification, you protect your company and your team. Tools like RefHub help you gather this information quickly and accurately. When you take the time to check the facts, you can feel confident in your choice to bring a former worker back into the fold. Make sure your process is strong so your business can grow with the right people.

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