Finding out where someone works can be useful for a variety of reasons. Maybe you want to send them a gift basket or a surprise visit. Perhaps you need to track them down to serve legal documents. Or you might just be curious where an old friend or acquaintance ended up. Whatever the reason, there are several ways to go about finding someone’s workplace.
Ask Them Directly
The most straightforward approach is simply to ask the person where they work. If you have their contact information, give them a call, send them an email or text, or reach out via social media. Let them know you are wondering what company they are at now and ask if they can share that information with you. This method obviously requires you to already be in contact with the individual in some capacity. It also relies on them being willing to disclose where they are employed. However, if successful, it provides a quick and definitive answer.
Search Their Social Media Profiles
Many people list their employer and job title on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Check their profiles on any networks where you are connected. Look for mentions of the company name in their employment history, bio sections, and posts/shares related to work. You may be able to glean at minimum the field they are in and size of the organization, even if the exact company is not apparent. Tread carefully, however, as repeatedly viewing someone’s social media when they are not a close connection could come across as invasive.
Ask Mutual Connections
If you have friends, family members, or colleagues in common with the person, reach out to them. Explain you have lost touch and are trying to determine where so-and-so works now. Your shared connection may have the inside scoop on their employment status. This can be an effective route, but be aware that the mutual acquaintance may opt to protect their privacy by not sharing the information.
Search Professional Networks and Databases
There are various professional platforms and member directories you can comb through to uncover employment details:
Even if the person’s own LinkedIn profile lacks workplace information, you may be able to find it via their connections and groups. Look for coworkers and check past companies listed on their profile. Identify any professional organizations they have joined that are associated with a certain industry or employer.
Manta
Manta is a database of over 64 million US and Canadian companies. You can search by company name or by the name of an individual connected to a company. Listings include contact info and employee headcounts.
ZoomInfo
ZoomInfo aggregates data on over 95 million companies and 135 million professionals. It compiles employment history, education, personal contact info, and more. Access requires a paid membership.
Alumni Directories
If you know where someone went to school, look for an alumni directory on the university website. These listings may provide current employer and job title for graduates.
Whitepages Premium
A premium account on Whitepages allows searching for a person’s employment info including associated companies and job titles. It also provides past employment history.
LexisNexis
LexisNexis offers proprietary people search tools for professional research. Available information includes current and previous employment details as well as education history.
Utilize Public Records
Government records that are available to the public can also shed light on an individual’s workplace. Useful sources include:
Voter Registration
Voter registration records may provide information on occupation and employer. These can typically be accessed through county clerk offices or voter registration websites.
Campaign Donations
Records of political campaign contributions often list donor’s employer and occupation. Check databases on sites like OpenSecrets.org.
Licenses and Permits
Professional and business licenses, building permits, and other public records sometimes include employment information. Search relevant state and local government sites.
Legal Filings
Court documents in cases like bankruptcy filings and lawsuits may mention an individual’s place of work. Look for public state and federal court records online.
Property Records
Check property deeds and titles on file with the county assessor’s office. Mortgage loan documents, if available, also commonly list employer name.
Hire a Private Investigator
When all else fails, you can call in the professionals. Private investigators have access to proprietary databases with detailed background information and methods for uncovering someone’s current job. This is obviously an extreme step best reserved for pressing legal matters and the likes. It also comes with a hefty price tag – hiring a PI can cost $50-$100 per hour or more.
Consider Why You Need to Know
Before pursuing any routes to uncover where someone works, think carefully about your reasons for needing the information. If your rationale is on shaky ethical ground, proceed with caution – or better yet, don’t proceed at all. Snooping into an acquaintance’s job without their consent can come across as invasive and inappropriate in many circumstances. Get their explicit permission first whenever possible.
Respect Privacy
If your search efforts yield an employer name but no specific location, department, job title, etc do not press further without the individual’s authorization. Provide only the company name if asked by a mutual contact. And never show up unannounced at someone’s workplace without their permission. Be thoughtful in how you use any occupational details uncovered.
Conclusion
Finding out where someone is employed often simply requires asking directly or checking their social media presence if you are already connected. For unfamiliar individuals, you can dig through public records and professional databases, but be mindful of privacy concerns. Hiring a PI is also an option, albeit an expensive and potentially overkill one. Weigh your real need to know against the other person’s right to privacy as you decide how far to take your search. Wherever it leads, use any workplace information responsibly.