If you want to contact job applicants' employment references, verify their academic credentials, research their credit history -- in other words, gain access to what otherwise is confidential information -- you'll need to get their consent. Use this form to obtain it.

This form lets the people who are charged with safeguarding an applicant's confidential information know they're on safe legal ground to provide it to you. Also, it eliminates any invasion of privacy claim the applicant may later try pin on you.

Important to Know:

• Many schools and colleges have their own forms that they may insist you use
• If you hire someone outside your company to get this information, you must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Find out more about this law in Nolo's book, The Manager's Legal Handbook .