Record evidence and coverage
Course overview · 4 min reading + 12 min practice, estimated
Principles and method
Keep the source URL, observation date, claim and verification status alongside each mapped record. Separate observed data from inferred classifications. Sources can be stale, duplicate or biased toward visible professionals. Deduplicate carefully, preserving aliases and historical employment rather than merging distinct people with common names. Coverage should describe where you looked and where you did not. If you estimate a wider population, state the method and limitations. A platform search-result count is not a census, and changes to a query can alter it without any real market movement.
Worked example
A search returns 800 results, but a sample includes former employees, duplicates and unrelated titles. The report gives the observed sample and inclusion rules instead of claiming 800 available specialists.
Put it into practice
Create six fictional records with one duplicate, one stale role and one uncertain classification.
Use fictional information and keep your work in your own notes.
Compare your approach: self-review guidance
Retain provenance when resolving the duplicate, mark the stale role as historical and leave the uncertain classification open. Report the resulting verified count with its scope and observation date.
Sources and further reading
Original Academy teaching and fictional examples. These references provide context, not endorsement. Edition 2026.09; updated 2026-09-24.
- CIPD: Recruitment
Professional context for the recruitment lifecycle.
- ICO: Recruitment and selection
UK guidance. Check its current status and updates before implementation.