234
votes
Pre-employment background check with consent for future checks
As a European, I don't think you overreacted in the slightest!
When they say "it is never abused", my reaction is "they would say that, wouldn't they?". Further, they may not abuse it now, but what ...
175
votes
Lied on resume about obtaining a Bachelor degree
If you really full fledged lied, you're probably hosed. If you just listed as having attended the university, you might be okay. The whole purpose of a background check is to verify that "this ...
- 84.1k
161
votes
Should I let friends know about a background check as a courtesy?
You should definitely let your friends know, less out of courtesy, rather to prepare them so that they know it is a legitimate request that you have initiated.
If someone called me out of the blue ...
- 1,596
161
votes
Potential new employer wants to contact my current employer as part of intrusive background checks
I would not resign until I have a signed offer in hand. Tell the recruiter to inform your new employer of your intended start date, and forbid them to call your current employer.
There is no ...
- 5,214
157
votes
Accepted
Very bad online reputation is destroying my chances of getting a job
The first rule of selling yourself in these cases is Tell A Compelling Story. You cannot change the negative information that the potential employer will receive. They will search you out, and they ...
- 20.9k
120
votes
How to tell a company I won't do a background check?
Perhaps you should consider telling them of your prior convictions when they ask for a background check.
Hear me out.
The essence of a background check is for the company to know what type of ...
- 7,328
111
votes
Pre-employment background check with consent for future checks
I admire you for following you conscience, and it is people like you that stop the gradual oppression of the working class by increasingly overbearing corporate America. OK, maybe I've gone a bit far. ...
- 49.3k
93
votes
Accepted
Can an employer reject a job application based on not having a passport?
Of course they can ! If the job requires UK nationality (or more specifically UK passport) then that is exactly what they want and that is exactly what they are doing.
(Most government projects in ...
- 17.4k
82
votes
How to tell a company I won't do a background check?
is there a polite and non-suspicious way to decline a background check if
they ask me to do one?
You can always decline a background check in a polite way ("I politely decline to give my permission ...
- 347k
81
votes
Omitted current job as forgot to send updated CV and got job offer
This is a non-issue. Your current company hasn’t changed, only your position/role/title.
- 1,413
79
votes
Very bad online reputation is destroying my chances of getting a job
To be honest I'd suggest going with the name change to something fairly common (eg "Joseph Smith") and informing your references that you have changed your name to that.
It may be worthwhile asking ...
- 33.9k
74
votes
Background check company ask to provide payslips for every worked year with my current and former employer
tl;dr - push back gently and respectfully and see if they really need this paperwork...
Long Version
I've been through this a couple of times in the past (both the financial sector, both in the Square ...
- 799
70
votes
Accepted
Should I let friends know about a background check as a courtesy?
Yes so they are prepared and you don't scare them. I was going for a security clearance and a federal officer interviewed several of my neighbors at their house. They thought I was being ...
- 36.5k
64
votes
Convicted felon looking for a job
One thought is perhaps doing some voluntary work for a drug charity: helping those recovering, warning children of the dangers etc. (I say this because I know someone who got convicted of a similar ...
- 1,116
61
votes
Accepted
A temp agency is asking me to release all my medical records. Should I be suspicious?
This is indeed a bizarre request. Unless the job you will be doing requires some sort of health-related qualification (such as lifting 75-pound boxes or being free of tuberculosis) they don't have any ...
- 26.2k
60
votes
Accepted
What is the most effective strategy of addressing a drug-related arrest during my job hunt?
There's good news and bad news..
The Bad News
A caution will remain part of your criminal record for life (well until you turn 100 anyway, see point 30 - it's not a conviction though) and will show ...
- 95.1k
59
votes
Accepted
Can too many background checks be harmful?
I have never heard of anyone being harmed by background checks before, they're doing a read-only lookup of public records. As far as the credit check portion goes, a background check will be a "soft ...
- 787
56
votes
How to answer the question "Do you have any relatives working with us"?
My question here is have I answered the question wrongly?
How can you be wrong while stating the fact? You answered truthfully, and that's it.
If the company has a policy related to the answer (ex: ...
- 61.1k
56
votes
Potential new employer wants to contact my current employer as part of intrusive background checks
IMHO, you should forbid them to contact your current employer.
It may be worth to walk away from this opportunity.
In my experience, a valuable employee quitting outright stirs some bad feelings and ...
- 11.7k
52
votes
How to tell a company I won't do a background check?
Unfortunately if being upfront does not work I can only recommend:
Leave the USA.
Many countries in Europe and elsewhere have much stricter privacy laws (In
fact, the USA is one of the worst ...
- 4,187
51
votes
Multiple DUI convictions 12 years ago. Do I disclose if I know they will do a background check?
I had multiple DUIs that happened 12 years ago all within the same
time period. I am going to an interview where the job requires a
background check. It is for an estate attorney's office.
...
- 347k
43
votes
Accepted
How to answer the question "Do you have any relatives working with us"?
In the US, you usually get priority if you have a relative working in the company. At the very minimum, you get a courtesy interview even if the resume doesn't fit the requirements and even if they ...
- 52.3k
38
votes
Lied on resume about obtaining a Bachelor degree
Judgments aside, I suggest coming clean. Waiting to come clean will not change their response when you come clean, and if you wait until they find out on their own then I think you know what'll happen:...
- 11.9k
36
votes
Very bad online reputation is destroying my chances of getting a job
Having read the comments on your question it might be possible that this needs to be tackled from a different angle.
From what I've gathered it is possible that the interviewers aren't getting hung ...
- 10.9k
34
votes
Can an employer reject a job application based on not having a passport?
Answer: Yes, they can!
I believe you are confusing a background check with obtaining security clearance.
A background check is simply verifying you have no criminal record.
Security clearance is ...
- 616
30
votes
Pre-employment background check with consent for future checks
Consider the statement
it is the company's policy but that it is never abused
While "They would say that, wouldn't they?" is a perfectly reasonable (although somewhat cynical) response, it's not ...
- 1,129
30
votes
Background check company ask to provide payslips for every worked year with my current and former employer
The latest drop in the glass is asking for one payslip for each year I have worked for during the last eight years with my current and former employer.
That is clearly excessive. Payslips are ...
- 88.8k
28
votes
New job to begin Monday has been rescinded due to 'incorrect employment dates' - this is my response, what do you think?
This is a terrible letter to send. Don't do it. It reads as deeply emotional, overdramatic, crying out for sympathy, while downplaying your own fault in vague terms. If I got a letter like that ...
- 20.9k
28
votes
Multiple DUI convictions 12 years ago. Do I disclose if I know they will do a background check?
Even if I'm not asked, do I disclose this information during the interview, being that it will probably be the only chance I have to defend my past?
If you are not asked I don't see why you have to ...
- 73k
27
votes
Will job offer be rescinded after education check due to unfinished degree?
The ceremony of graduation is less important. I assume that even a stray cat might be able to walk it :D
Getting serious again, it is of highest importance for you to clarify your graduation ...
- 22.3k
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