Job search tips : Bloopers and Background checks

Hello I need help!! Just to briefly explain my situation, I resigned a position as a customer service rep for a large financial bank (corporation) for 6 years, before that a marketing firm off and on for 8 years. I did not submit a two week notice but did submit a resignation at the bank. .Since then Ive been unemployed for 1 month and having a tough time explaining some of my past bloopers. I' ve been applying for large research and investment firms and other banks and am not sure if my background checks would hold any impact to their decisions as I have not mentioned other jobs I ' ve quit or been terminated. The other jobs were for such a short time and I really don' t consider it very important or happened so long ago over 14 years. If I include these on my resume or on my application, but afraid that it would somehow impact decision making processes will these background checks be that extensive? Should I include these on my applications? I am so confused. Thanks in advance.

When you submitted your resignation did the people at the bank ask you to work for two weeks or tell you to just go and go now? Technically, you don't have to give a two weeks notice, but it is professional courtesy. Some company's don't like them because they feel that the person doesn't have anything to lose by screwing up or around since they are leaving anyway.

When submitting your resume, there are several formulas you can use. You can list only the jobs relevant to the one for which you are applying, you can list them in chronological date order starting from first job to present, or chronological backwards from present to first. The most popular formula that I have seen is just listing your jobs from the past 10 years. Or listing the past three jobs. So, you are already good to go with that particular formula. You have the marketing firm job you worked 8 years and the bank you worked for 6 years.

The resume is mainly a tool that is used to get you the interview. Once in the interview, you can explain whatever bloopers you think you have committed if they are brought up by the interviewer.

Some companies ask that you fill out applications and there is a specific formula that you will need to follow. Usually, the instructions will state to include a specific amount of time. There is almost always a little (about a line and a half) where you can explain absences of employment if they occured within the timeframe requested by the employer. Also, because you are signing the application, you have to be honest about everything you put down or it will haunt you.

Research and investments firms and banks are most likely to check into your credit history as well as your criminal background and, yes, anything negative within those checks will deter the company from making you an offer. Your past jobs not included on your application or resume are unlikely to have a negative impact on a decision unless they are related to a criminal act that shows up on you background check.

Sorry it took so long for me to read your reply. I have been so busy. I have submitted so many resumes primarily to Financial Institutions and all of them require that I list all my jobs. I have an interview tomorrow at another bank which the application states that I must list ALL my jobs or it may seem that if left out it would be considered intentional. The only reason why I want to leave some jobs out, It' s just too darn embarrassing to explain. Dumb reasons to resign seem that my credibilty has been compromised. I will take your advice and just make a note on the Explain Section of a job that I resigned after 5 months. Thanks SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE. I was really worried about that one. Have a nice day.

Make a list for us so we can see what the scoop is. Like this:

Bank- 6 years (quit- gave notice, left because...)

Marketing firm- 8 years (6 temporary assignments, 1- 2 months...)

Then we may be able to give you some guidance.

Last Employment; Bank #1 6 years- Resigned with no 2 week notice, submitted Letter of Resignation stating that My life was taking me to a new direction and that I have a new opportunity. Not eligible for rehire.

I left bank #1 to work for bank #2 from 11/2005 to 3/2006. The Blooper? Left because of personal differences with manager. Too embarrassing to explain. Would say if asked: Left for personal reasons. But after that I don' t know what else to say. Was eligible for re hire with bank #1 was then re hired in May 2006. The records indicate no breaks of employment with bank #1.

Marketing Firm: 8 years history with breaks in between to raise kids, Submitted 2 week notice. Am Eligible

Blooper? Went for an opportunity with a financial firm that closed/out of business. Was terminated. Only worked for 3 months. Too embarrassing. Why? Disconnected call while transferring to a supervisor. What a dumb way to go. Right? Went back to Marketing firm.

Please help!!!

MY QUESTION IS I KNOW THAT FBI CHECKS, CRIMINAL AND DRUG TESTS OCCUR BUT DO EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATIONS OF JOBS NOT LISTED?

Ok, first off, the things you don' t want to hear. You have to stop doing this. As you can see from this round, you' re making yourself unemployable. You cannot just up and quit jobs over "embarrassing" things. You cannot keep getting fired. You' re going to end up lucky to flip burgers. You' re older and wiser and a mom now, you have to get yourself together.

So, choose wisely. Pick a job that you can go in and stay for a good long time. Control your impulses and don' t go off in a huff when things don' t go your way.

If I read all this right, your biggest problem right now is you left your last employer with no notice and are not eligible for rehire. If someone calls there and asks why you left, they' re going to hear that you left with no notice and that you were going off to some new opportunity. That' s going to raise a LOT of red flags for an employer. The first of which is why you left with no notice after 6 long years with them (not to mention when they were good enough to take you back after the bank 2 debacle) and the second is what is the great opportunity that couldn' t wait and why didn' t that pan out?

I think that if you' re applying at banks, you' re going to have to own up to bank #2. When you work for a bank, you have to be bonded and fingerprinted. There' s got to be some record of that which can come out when they run checks. Not to mention that they' re going to run a credit check and chances are good that it will show in your credit check. If you lie, you' re going to be screwed. That is going to then make 2 banks that have you ineligible for rehire.

I' m not sure where the financial firm fits into this list but you were fired from them so that' s not helping either.

Honestly? I think you' re going to hit a brick wall trying to get hired with a bank of any sort at this point. Of the 3 financial institutions you' ve worked for, none would take you back. That' s not going to inspire confidence in a bank no matter what you explain or what job you have.

Do you have any burning passion to do something specific or are you just looking for "any" job?

Yeah, I realize that this my last chance. What started out as a dream job with bank #1 has somehow got twisted and turned. Sure there is a good reason to this insanity but who wants to explain this? In a world where conglomerates merge and become another company it' s almost as if a "silent" understanding that all is somewhat unstable. Im not applying for an important position, but I do realize the fingerprinting and bond is a big hassle. Boy, you really are making me think now. No Im not applying for just another job, but after this job interview, if I don' t get this job, then yes it' s "hasta luego to el bancos" and hello to a new field. Thanks for the hurt, I need a wake up call. I was lucky but maybe Im still lucky....AGAIN.

The answer is a qualified No. At least not yet but I have no doubt that soon they will be able to track you from cradle to the grave.

Background checks are often incomplete at best. However, gaps of over a year are subject to further investigation, especially in finance. I have an HR background in banking and the securities industry.

What will show up on a background check? As Tess said, if you have been fingerprinted, bonded, licensed or terminated because of a felony conviction by a past employer, there is a very good chance that a background check will uncover that employer.

What you need to do is buy your own background check and see what shows up. Just Google "Employee Background Check" and you will find many firms willing to sell you back your own information. Don' t balk at the price. Just do it to make sure there are no mistakes on it. My background check shows me as having worked for a company in Alaska? I have never been to Alaska.

You should also get a copy of your credit report too as sometimes past employers find their way on to this because you applied for credit during the time that you were employed.

Having said this, I have worked for several companies that due to the short duration of the job or because the company went belly up, never found its way on to a background check, my resume or any job application.

Now if you are applying to the FBI, CIA or Morgan Stanley all bets are off.

1. Hello, thanks to "same old song". It' s reassuring to know this after mulling over it for days and having stomach pains and churns ' all sick to death" worrying over it.

I wish to share to you the interview at hopefully "soon to be" bank job #3. First I must tell you after that last advice I really took some time out to observe myself more thoroughly and realize I must face some harsh realities about banking. Most importantly, to always work things out, no matter how bad OR EMBARRASSING the situation may be, if I don' t get along with a co worker or have a conflict with the boss, I ve got to learn to not take it personaly and just WORK IT OUT and not quit.

Furthermore, I felt it was best to be honest and list Bank #2 on the bottom of the section of the application. I am not going to take any chances.

Well onto better news, I went to the job interview today, last nite I filled out a 15 page application (took about 4 hours) Was asked about 10 questions each lasting about 5 minutes or better. I studied all the interview tips from Monster.com on structural behaviour questions and guess what? I ACED THE INTERVIEW! Not only that, the hiring manager never Asked me about about blunder #2 and I did not bring it up. Nor did I mention blunder #3. Keep in mind I am not applying for an executive position, managerial, nor taking up office for VP, I am a non exempt, hourly paid employee.

I also met with the hiring manager' s boss, the interview took about 1 1/2 and honestly I think I' ve got the job. I will fill you in the next couple of days.

What do you think? If the manager says "yes" and the manager' s manager says we' ll call you in 1 or 2 days, what do you think chances are if I got it? Please share. Thanks in advance.

Career Tips

Bloopers and Background checks