How to Find Someone’s Place of Employment

Let’s say a representative from a charity comes knocking on your door, soliciting a donation. Before you write a check, it is a smart idea to confirm they work for the charity they claim to represent. You would want to do this with door-to-door salespeople as well (like those selling insurance, vacuum cleaners, and subscription services). The same goes for people you intend to hire.

The thing is, some people lie about their workplace to defraud others—whether it is to scam innocent people or to secure a job by misleading employers. The only way to catch them is by verifying where they work.

Knowing where someone is employed can be useful in other circumstances, too. If you’re a marketer, learning more about your customer’s place of work might help you understand their needs better. This could open up new opportunities to promote your products, build partnerships, or pursue investments.

And if you’re serious about networking, finding out where a person is employed can be an excellent starting point to explore new career avenues and other professional opportunities.

The question is, how do you dig up information about a total stranger’s current employer without asking them directly? Here are five techniques that are sure to get you results!

Run a Name Search on Nuwber

Nuwber is a super convenient platform to find information about a person’s workplace. It is a people search engine, which (unlike regular search engines) compiles people profiles using publicly available records. And Nuwber gets its data from verified sources. So, you can rest easy knowing what you discover on its database is up-to-date and accurate.

To search for someone’s employer details on it, you will need a first and last name. (Be careful about spellings here since one little slip can make a difference). If you don’t know the full name but have a contact number or an email, you can use the platform’s reverse search facilities to identify a person.

The biggest advantage of using Nuwber is that it can get you a lot more than just a workplace name. For instance, it could produce personal details (like age and marital status) as well as any criminal records available. But note that employee background checks are prohibited on this platform.

Check Their LinkedIn Profile

Currently, LinkedIn has over 1 billion users. This may pale in comparison to the user bases of some of the larger platforms like Facebook and Instagram. But LinkedIn is a professional networking site that attracts professionals looking to expand their network.

Therefore, most working people tend to set up profiles on it. And not just your regular social media profile. LinkedIn profile pages take the form of a resume with details about current and former employers, job roles, responsibilities, and the like. So, if the person you are curious about is on this platform, you can easily find out where they work.

To discover their profile, type their name on LinkedIn’s search bar and click the magnifying glass icon. If you have a LinkedIn account already, you can access more search features like filters by logging in. This could significantly speed up the search process.

Find Information on Google

A person’s workplace details can appear in numerous places on the internet, like news articles, press releases, personal blogs, company websites, and social media platforms (apart from LinkedIn). Some of these could be self-published, while others might be shared by third parties.

Either way, finding them is tricky when you don’t know where to look. This is where Google comes in. Its search services are based on matching keywords (or keyphrases) you enter to content on pages its bots have indexed. (This may sound simple, but it involves a whole lot of algorithms and advanced technology to make it happen).

So, unearthing someone’s employer details is a breeze on Google. Just enter their name and other identifiable information (like their profession and the city they live in) along with the term “workplace”, “employer”, or “company” on the search bar and press Enter.

Search Government and Business Directories

Certain professionals, like real estate agents, teachers, and medical practitioners, are required to register with specific state organizations and/or obtain a license. In such instances, the relevant state entity could have registrants’ employer details, which it may disclose to the public.

You can check these directories if you have some inkling about the type of work a person is engaged in. For example, are they a lawyer? Then, why not check the bar association website of the state in which they practice?

Even in professions that don’t require licenses (say, logistics, IT, and marketing), there are independent membership organizations that maintain directories of their members. These can also be useful for accessing information.

Of course, this may seem a bit of a long shot. But it is still worth a try. With some luck, you might find what you are after.

Ask Someone Who Knows Them

From mutual friends to work colleagues, there could be plenty of people out there who could confirm where an individual is working.

If you already know someone who could help you, decide the best way to approach them. Remember, discretion is key here. The last thing you want is for them to report back your inquiry to the person you are looking into. When it involves an official purpose (say, when hiring or buying a product), it might be ok to ask upfront. Otherwise, you may want to find a subtle way to extract information.

But what if you don’t know anyone who is acquainted with the relevant person? One solution is to go through their friends lists on social media and check for mutual connections. A name search on Nuwber may also reveal relatives and associates linked to them.

To Summarize

When you want to learn where someone works without asking them directly, there are several ways to dig up information without the person ever finding out.

Nuwber’s people directory, LinkedIn’s networking platform, Google’s search engine, and government and business directories are some of the top resources for you to discover a person’s employer. Checking with mutual connections can also work as long as you handle things tactfully.

In some cases, you may need to use a combination of these techniques. But keep in mind that it all depends on what you are after and the purpose of your search. For instance, Nuwber is excellent for uncovering additional information, but you won’t be able to use it for employment screenings.

So, decide first what you want to achieve and ensure you look for it by following ethical and legal protocols.