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Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?

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  • 05-29-2008, 04:27 PM
    My2cents
    Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    My question involves a background check in the State of: California

    I filled out an application for an employment background check. I was asked to provide ALL jobs for the past 7 years. For the past 5 years I have run my own business. Prior to that, I worked for 9 years at a large multinational firm. However, on two different occasions, in order to make ends meet, I worked 2 other jobs, each lasting 5 months. One job was in 2003 and one was in 2006. I did not list these jobs on the application because I didn't wish to seem like a job jumper and also, because I was fired from one of the jobs(which devastated my self confidence). I know that omitting this is equivalent to lying and I have been wracked with guilt and worry that I have eliminated any chance of getting hired by this firm. A part of me wants to call the interviewer up to tell him about these jobs, but I don't want to call attention to the lie if I don't have to.

    My question is: How can a background check reveal past employment if you don't list it on an application? Is there a database that would show this information? And even if there is a way to check this, is this the type of employment check a company would request? I mean, how much information could they get from knowing I worked 5 months at General Motors, or another large company? It wouldn’t show the division, or even the correct state, let alone a job title, supervisor’s name, etc. Doesn’t an employer typically request employment verification--checking my previous employers to verify dates, title, etc..?

    I will never lie on another application again! The worry is not worth it! But, any insight you can share would be appreciated.
  • 05-29-2008, 05:06 PM
    panther10758
    Re: Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    Lieing on an application is cause to not hire and if found out after hiring is grounds for dismissal
  • 05-29-2008, 05:33 PM
    Happy Trails
    Re: Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    http://privacyrights.org/fs/fs16-bck.htm
  • 05-29-2008, 05:49 PM
    My2cents
    Re: Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    Yes, I agree--by omitting the jobs, I lied and I realize this could be cause for the company not to hire me. As I said, I am tempted to tell the interviewer, but am afraid it might make it worse. My question is, how will the employer find out? How can a 3rd party company find out about your job history if you haven't listed every job? There isn't a national database that shows every job you've ever had, is there? No job is listed on my credit report. Won't the agency be verifying job information, as opposed to running a search on every job I've had in the past 7 years?
  • 05-29-2008, 05:58 PM
    Happy Trails
    Re: Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    If you go to the link I provided it will tell you quite a bit of information. Since no one knows what type of background check they will do, there is no way of knowing if they will uncover that information or not.

    "Part 2" in that link will hopefully clarify it for you, but as mentioned background checks can vary greatly.
  • 05-30-2008, 09:10 AM
    cbg
    Re: Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    How can a company find out? A few TRUE stories out of my own experience:

    A former co-worker of mine was hired by my new employer and placed in my department.

    Due to a merger, my old boss, who had left to go to a competitor, became my new boss.

    The company I used to work for was a vendor of my new employer, and the representative taking care of the new employer was my replacement.

    My employer hired a former co-worker of mine as a consultant.

    My father's next door neighbor was hired as the new COO of my company.

    A co-worker quit to go work for a company that my (eventual) new employer worked with. When I innocently said, "Oh, I know someone who works for you; her name is Claudia Smith" the representative said, "Claudia was fired on her fourth day of work".

    There are any number of ways that an employer can accidently find out about your previous employment. What if your boss plays golf with your old boss? What if they belong to the same professional organization? What if they have a friend in common?
  • 06-01-2008, 10:09 AM
    My2cents
    Re: Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    Interesting coincidences! Yes, I am sure all of that can happen. But everything you said are just coincidental occurrences, not uncovered during a background check. I just don't see how an investigative company can find out every job you worked for, if you don't put them down on paper. There isn't a national data base (except the IRS) that has this information.
  • 06-01-2008, 10:40 AM
    cyjeff
    Re: Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    Which is why part of a background check lists all of the businesses from which your SSN was paid.

    If taxes were taken out of your check, it will show up.
  • 06-01-2008, 11:11 AM
    My2cents
    Re: Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    I guess it will depend on the type of background check a company does. I would think most companies would rather attempt to verify the employment history, i.e. checking with the listed companies to see if the information jives with what you put down (title, dates, responsibilities, etc..) I guess they could try to do a search of every job you ever had, but why would they? As I said in an earlier post, if it showed up that I worked for General Motors, it would show up as GM, Detroit, Michigan, not GM in San Jose, CA. So, how beneficial would that be to the future employer? It wouldn't provide any insight into my length of employment, title, what type of employee I was, did I leave voluntarily, etc...

    I will be able to receive a free copy of my background check from the company that is doing the inquiry. So, I will be able to know exactly what they uncovered. I'll be sure to post this information, so other people can know as well.

    As I said, I will NEVER omit anything on an application again. It has been too stressful.
  • 06-01-2008, 12:26 PM
    aaron
    Re: Will A Background Check Show Jobs Not Listed On Application?
    Quote:

    Quoting cyjeff
    View Post
    Which is why part of a background check lists all of the businesses from which your SSN was paid.

    If taxes were taken out of your check, it will show up.

    Tax records for individuals are not public records. That type of information may show up on a credit check, if that's what you meant.
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