Establishing Trustworthy Identity Across the Hiring Journey

The rise in fraudulent behavior within the recruitment process - ranging from individuals applying under false identities to orchestrated schemes designed to exploit hiring systems - is a complex and fast-evolving challenge. Organizations across industries are grappling with this, and the right approach can’t be static. What works today may not work tomorrow, and what deters a bad actor in one flow might discourage a qualified candidate in another.

Navigating this landscape isn’t easy. It’s not just about detection…it’s about balance. Striking the right level of friction is key: too much, and you lose great candidates; too little, and you risk introducing fraud into your workforce.

This is where Proof comes in.

The Proof Approach

Our approach centers on anchoring your hiring process around a verifiable, persistent identity—established at the earliest touchpoint (the application phase) and carried through each stage of your hiring funnel, all the way through onboarding. This identity forms the foundation of a trust model, helping ensure that the person you vet, interview, and ultimately hire is the same individual throughout the process.

To achieve this, we recommend a layered approach: using intentional, flexible verification touchpoints tailored to each phase of the hiring journey. Whether it’s application screening, interview scheduling, skills testing, or final offer and onboarding, Proof provides modular tools that allow you to meet bad actors with appropriate deterrence while letting legitimate candidates move forward with minimal interruption.

We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. But we do believe in patterns that work - and we’re here to help implement identity products in a way that fits your business, your workflow, and your candidates.

Designing a Secure and Seamless Identity Experience from Application to Employee

With identity established early, you can create a hiring experience that reinforces and revalidates that individual’s trustworthiness throughout their journey. Each step of the process becomes an opportunity to reference and build upon that same initial identity—ensuring consistency, reducing risk, and offering peace of mind without disrupting legitimate candidates.

Here’s how that could look, using our full suite of configurable products.

Application Phase: Establishing Identity
At the earliest interaction, introduce a tried-and-true identity verification experience. Using Proof Identify, you can configure this step to meet your risk tolerance. Options include:

• Government ID and credential analysis
• Knowledge-based authentication (KBA)
• Selfie match to prevent impersonation
  

This establishes a verified identity at the point of entry. Each verification returns risk signals, summarized in Defend, our fraud intelligence platform. From day one, you gain a centralized, longitudinal view of every applicant—one that updates as they move through the process.

Optionally, you can issue a Proof Digital Certificate to the applicant, tied to their verified identity. This certificate becomes their passport across your workflow: bound to their legal identity, tamper-evident, and reusable.

Screening, Interviews, and More: Verifying Consistency
As applicants progress through screening and interviews, that same identity can be referenced at key checkpoints. By re-validating the Proof certificate or checking Defend for updated risk scores, you can detect signs of inconsistency.

When risk spikes or higher assurance is required, dynamically escalate using Verify—our most comprehensive identity service. It combines human review with checks like:

• Advanced credential analysis
• Selfie and liveness validation
• Credit card validation
• Deepfake video detection
  

Verify can be deployed as a step-up at any stage or used for tasks like I-9 completion.

Offer & Contracting: Confident Commitment
When you’re ready to extend an offer or finalize documents, you’ll already have a verified digital identity on file. Proof’s e-Signature and Remote Online Notarization (RON) products ensure every agreement is signed by the right person, digitally sealed with their certificate, and backed by robust audit trails.

Each step reinforces trust while simplifying compliance and reducing the likelihood of fraud or repudiation.

Onboarding & Employment: Carrying Identity Forward
Once hired, this verified identity continues to add value. The digital certificate can be used to sign HR documents, access systems, or fulfill regulatory checks. With Defend, your team maintains a full behavioral and identity history—providing visibility into potential anomalies post-hire.

Configurable to Your Stack
Every hiring stack is unique. That’s why Proof is designed for modular implementation. Each tool can be issued via link, API, or standalone workflows—whatever fits your tech and team best.

We’re here to help you configure these touchpoints to your needs.

Easy to Get Started - No Dev Team Required

Proof is built to be easy. You don’t need to overhaul your systems or involve engineering to see value. Here are a few simple ways teams are getting started:

• Add a verification link to your careers page so every applicant proves their identity before ever reaching a hiring manager.
• Use standalone workflows to screen candidates ahead of interviews, no integration required.
• Configure touchpoints by role, region, or stage—tailoring your workflow to match risk without overburdening candidates.
  

And if you're using an ATS or HRIS, we offer APIs and integrations to plug Proof into your existing stack.

Let’s make hiring safer—for everyone. Whether you're screening thousands of applicants or filling one high-risk role, Proof makes it easy to establish identity with confidence. Reach out now to get a personalized walkthrough and learn how to secure your hiring pipeline.