Never heard of the company on that CV? How to check it exists before you make an offer
You are about to offer a job to a candidate whose CV lists five years at a company you have never heard of. If that company never existed, you could be hiring on experience that is not real, and finding out after the start date costs far more than ten minutes of checking now. The good news is that most countries keep public business registers you can search for free. This guide shows you how to check whether a company on a CV actually exists, what the results mean, and how to raise a doubt fairly with the candidate.
It is written for employers and hiring managers screening their own applicants, in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and elsewhere.
Why an unfamiliar company name is worth ten minutes
Most unknown company names on a CV are perfectly real. Small businesses, family firms, subcontractors and overseas employers make up a big part of working life, and a lot of good candidates have spent years in places nobody outside their town has heard of.
Still, a made-up employer is one of the simpler ways to fill a gap or inflate experience. It is also one of the easier things to check, because companies leave a paper trail: registration records, a trading address, a phone number that rings somewhere. A short check protects you from a bad hire and protects honest candidates from being doubted for no reason.
What a check can and cannot tell you
A register search tells you whether a business with that name was registered, when, and whether it is still active. It does not tell you whether the candidate worked there, in what role or for how long. Treat it as the first step, then confirm the employment itself with a reference or documents.
Step by step: how to check a company on a CV
- Write down exactly what the CV says. The company name, the city and country, and the dates the candidate says they worked there.
- Search the official business register for that country. Try the full name, a shorter version and any trading name. Note the status (active, cancelled, deregistered, dissolved) and the registration date.
- Compare the dates. A company registered after the candidate says they started, or closed long before they say they left, is a question worth asking.
- Look for an independent trace. A business address you can find on a map, a landline listed somewhere other than the CV, or a public record of the business trading in that city.
- Contact the company through details you found yourself. Never rely only on the phone number or email address written on the CV or a reference letter.
- Ask the candidate about anything that does not fit. Give them the chance to explain before you decide anything.
Official registers to search, country by country
Each country runs its own register. Some common ones:
| Country | Where to search | What it usually shows |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | ABN Lookup (Australian Business Register) | Business name, ABN status and the dates it was active, entity type and state |
| New Zealand | Companies Office registers | Company status, incorporation date, registered office and directors |
| United Kingdom | Companies House search | Company status, incorporation and dissolution dates, officers and filing history |
| Other countries | The government company or trade register for that country | Varies: often name, registration number, status and address |
Tips for searching registers well
- Try trading names. Many small businesses trade under a name that differs from the registered company or the owner's name. A sole trader may appear under a person's name with a business name linked to it.
- Check former names. Companies rename after mergers or rebrands. A candidate may write the name the business had when they worked there.
- Watch spelling and translation. Overseas names may be transliterated in different ways. Search a few spellings before you draw any conclusion.
- Remember not every employer is on a company register. Partnerships, sole traders, government bodies, charities and some overseas businesses may be registered somewhere else or in a different form.
Red flags, and the innocent explanations
Some results deserve a closer look. Each one also has ordinary explanations, so treat it as a question, not a verdict.
No record at all
Possible concern: the company may not exist. Innocent explanations: a trading name, a different legal name, a sole trader, or an overseas business you searched in the wrong register. Ask the candidate for the registered name or a document that shows it.
Dates that do not match
Possible concern: the candidate claims work before the company was registered or after it closed. Innocent explanations: the business traded before it was incorporated, a restructure created a new company, or the candidate has rounded the dates. Ask for a payslip, contract or tax record from the period.
Contact details that only lead back to the candidate
Possible concern: the phone number or email on the reference letter belongs to a friend or a free email account. Innocent explanation: the business has closed and a former manager is still willing to confirm. The guide to proof of employment when a company has closed covers what documents can stand in for a live employer.
A website that looks brand new
Possible concern: a site built just to support the CV. Innocent explanation: many small businesses simply have new or basic websites. A website on its own proves very little either way, which is why the official register comes first.
For more signs that a letter or reference is not what it seems, see how to spot a fake experience letter.
How to raise a doubt with the candidate
A neutral question gets a better answer than an accusation, and it keeps the process fair for honest applicants. Ask the same kind of question you would ask anyone.
Example: "I tried to look up Harbourline Fabrication on the business register and couldn't find it under that name. Was it registered under a different name, or is there a document from that job, such as a payslip or contract, you could share?"
The company name in this example is fictional. Give the candidate a reasonable time to reply, write down what they send, and judge the documents rather than your first impression. Keep any personal documents you receive private and only for this hiring decision.
Where verified profiles fit in
Register checks take time for every candidate. On a Talent Tabloid profile, candidates can request verification of each role, which is confirmed by the person they nominate or through document review, and a role that has been verified carries a badge. Visitors see verified badges, work history, a video intro and work evidence, while direct contact details stay hidden until an employer unlocks them.
If a candidate gives you their name or username, you can look them up on the People Search page. A verified badge is a useful signal, not a replacement for your own judgement, and roles without a badge are not proof of anything on their own. You can create an employer account to search and compare candidate profiles.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to check whether a company on a CV exists?
Searching a public business register is generally fine, because the records are public. Contacting referees or asking for personal documents should follow the privacy rules in your country, so be clear with the candidate about what you are checking and why.
What if the company is overseas?
Search the official register for that country, try a few spellings, and ask the candidate for the registered name. If no register is available online, documents from the period, such as payslips or a contract, become more important.
Does a closed company mean the experience is fake?
No. Businesses close, merge and rename all the time. Look for documents or a former manager who can confirm the role instead.
Should I check every employer on every CV?
For a shortlist, it is reasonable to check the roles that matter most for the job, especially unfamiliar employers and the most recent positions.
