5 year background check

Runster

My friend has been offered a job but is required to get a 5 year bakground check first.

She had a gap in a job from 4 years ago so she lengthened the date by a few months.

For the background check she has to fill in a form with the dates she worked for the past 5 years.

Shes thinking of putting the real dates on the background form.

Will the company check the dates on the C.V. against the dates she puts in the 5 year background form?

victor8600

How would anyone here know, unless they are doing the check for that particular company? But your friend is potentially in trouble, if this stupid lie is exposed, she may get the job offer revoked. I hope she doesn't work in an industry where everyone knows everyone, for in that case, she may have to change her career.

fritzelly

I doubt they will care about a few months error on a job application - if it comes up at interview she just needs to explain she got the dates wrong by a few months after rechecking her work history

Be a bit different if she said she worked somewhere she didn't for example

Jim2007

Nobody can tell you what the company will or will not do in such circumstances. But if the company is going to the trouble of doing such a formal background check then it is reasonable to assume it is considered necessary for the position and will be done properly.

And yes is well known that people enhance their resumes by doing things like your friend did, so I would not be surprised if they checked. Hard to say if it is better to be up front about enhancing the resume or fail the background check. I’d probably go with explaining I enhanced the resume as it is more understandable that deliberately trying to falsify a background check.

Do you know if the company does the check themselves or use one of the specialist companies?

Runster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149012#Comment_121149012

I think he mentioned they use a third party

Flinty997

"...I hope she doesn't work in an industry where everyone knows everyone, for in that case, she may have to change her career..."

I'm curious what industry exists where everyone knows everyone.

Flinty997

Seems very common.

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/most-likely-to-fail-background-checks

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/the-truth-about-resume-lies-hot-jobs

Dial Hard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121148993#Comment_121148993

You might be surprised. I had the length of time it took me to get my degree questioned as part of a background check before.

Flinty997

HR dept are filled with pedantic people. But on the flip side people say anything to get a job.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121149064#Comment_121149064

Well if they are then it is very likely to be very thorough. These firms need to show the value of their service...

Musicrules

I can tell you that definitely not all of them are very thorough. I had multiple lies on my CV for a job I got previously. Some huge lies. Background check done by a third party revealed nothing. So it might be a different company doing it in this case but I'd fancy her chances of having no issues.

mariaalice

Don't listen to anyone telling you they got away with it, I'd say it depends on the industry. I know the financial background of family members was checked as well as the candidates for a position in finance. As it is a financial position they were seeking to see if the candidate could be put under pressure to commit fraud.

Jim2007

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121233508#Comment_121233508

Well I certainly have received very detailed reports on candidates, including things like clippings from local newspapers about participation in local events, raffle wins and so on. In one case they found an Irish person who changed their name by deed poll in the UK and then got a UK passport in that name. And couple of cases where backgrounds were professionally falsified for the purpose of industrial espionage and so on. I'd say a little over 10% of the candidates we send for review were rejected.

Ezeoul

I would put the correct dates on the background check form.

Then, if it comes up, she can say she made an "honest" mistake in her original CV / application.

Runster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121251942#Comment_121251942

Sounds like the best suggestion so far.

MakersMark

If its Pinkerton, they're very thorough.

Tell the truth, an honest mistake is not an issue.