J. H. writes:
I’ve been offered a job at a hospital pending criminal check. I had a conviction in 2002
and was done with parole at the end of 2005. I didn’t answer the “ever been convicted
of a crime” question on the job application. What should I do? Thank you in advance.
The Career Doctor responds:
I’m really afraid you are out of luck for this job with this employer. You can
certainly try and salvage your application, but my sense is once the employer
knows you omitted the truth on your application — no matter what
your reasons — that employer will not trust anything else on your
application. But go ahead and contact the employer and say you need to
amend your application.
Now, not all employers conduct background checks — even for something
such as a criminal record — but the trend since the 9-11 terrorist attacks, is an
increasing number of employers now conducting background checks — or
at least, saying they are conducting more background checks. So,
you need to be prepared to face the issue of the conviction and parole in
future job interviews. Be sure to spin it in a positive way — how you paid your
debt and learned from your mistakes.
Remember that your resume and the job application are seen by employers
as statements of facts about your qualifications, education, and background.
Any “stretching” of the truth or omissions of key information is going to result
in the very abrupt ending of your status as an applicant.
On the other hand, do not offer negative information if the employer does not
ask for it. While you do not ever want to lie, you also do not need to destroy
your chances before you’ve had a chance to sell the employer on your fit
for the job.
A Guest Post by CareerAlley
From time to time, we’re publishing guest posts via Recruiting Blogswap.
“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” - Bill Cosby
I was recently recruiting for an open position and, after numerous resumes and interviews, narrowed the search down to three candidates and then the final choice. The “winning” candidate had a very impressive resume and all of his references checked out. Then came the background check (which includes a fairly robust Internet search) and we discovered some disturbing news. The final candidate was a quite active political dissident (on the Internet, using blogs and comments). Now this might not cause alarm on its own, but his comments bordered on libelous and some statements were inches away from “overthrow the government”. Needless to say, we passed on this candidate.
What about you? Do you know what will show up in a robust Internet search on you? Better yet, do you know how your Internet persona is perceived by others (it doesn’t really matter what you think)? Beyond the basic test “would your mother would be upset?”, you should be aware of what lurks in your name and image on the Internet. Have you done a search lately? Are there people with the same or a similar name to yours that can be confused with you (and cause you grief)? Today’s post provides some tools and advice to help you manage your social footprint.
- How Blogging and Social Networking Can Impact Your Job Search - This article is by Alison Doyle and was posted on About.com. Another good read which will help you measure what you should (and should not) do on the Internet. The article includes some great advice (including how to set your privacy settings in Facebook and MySpace). There are embedded links to related articles, as well as suggested reading. While you are there, take a look at the other great job search advice and tools on the site.
- 6 Social Media Mistakes to Avoid While Job Seeking — This article, posted on Careerealism.com, provides a few guidelines on how to avoid mistakes (rather than trying to fix the almost unfixable). Some tips are related to your actual search (like leaving your profile open to others) while others involve what you should not post on the Internet. Of course this all extends to both, what you post on social sites AND what you include in job search sites. While you are on the site, take a look at some of the related articles.
- How to Check Your Internet Profile — There are several ways you can check your own profile on the Internet short of paying for a service to check for you.
Good luck in your search. Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.
JS writes:
My new prospective employer has already made me a job offer, which I have
accepted. They have provided the offer letter to me that states it is contingent
upon successful completion of the background checks, which include criminal, drug, and credit history. I am only concerned about the credit history because
my wife and I filed bankruptcy and had our house foreclosed on recently.
What are the chances of them checking my credit? If they do check my credit,
what are the chances of them retracting their offer due to my credit?
It is a financial institution, which I have heard is typically more concerned
with prospective employees’ credit reports.
The Career Doctor responds:
It’s certainly true that many employers have become more diligent about
performing reference and background checks of prospective employees,
but that doesn’t mean that you are going to have this job offer rescinded.
I understand that a financial institution may be more cautious of hiring
employees that have a checkered financial past, but given the number of
U.S. households that have declared bankruptcy over the past few years,
coupled with no real data that shows some connection between financial stability and on-the-job success, I have reservations with employers using
credit checks.
The bigger question, I believe, is if the employer asked you anything such
as, “we’re not going to find anything when we do these background checks,
are we?” and if you replied in a not-so-honest manner. Then the issue is not
so much your lack of personal financial worthiness, but your honesty and trustworthiness — much bigger issues to employers. So, while you never want
to raise negative issues in job interviews, you also need to be prepared to
deal with such negatives if the employer asks a direct question.
As long as you were completely honest in the interview, then sit tight and think
positive thoughts. Many employers ask for references and say they will perform
background checks, but most are not nearly as thorough as you might think.
Get more help with job interviews in the Guide
Job Interviewing Resources section of Quintessential Careers.
A Guest Post by Jessica Hernandez
From time to time, we’re publishing guest posts via Recruiting Blogswap.
Resume authority Jessica Hernandez and her team of credentialed writers partner with professional- and executive-level candidates to open doors to jobs at prestigious corporations, achieving more than a 99 percent interview-winning success rate.
It’s a well-known fact that at some point in our job application process, we will probably have to face a background check. For most, the check is probably not so intimidating. We know we haven’t done anything significantly wrong — at least nothing that could compromise eligibility.
What many don’t know is that employers take a lot more into consideration than criminal history. This is why it’s good to know how to prepare for an employment background check.
Get a Copy of Your Credit Report
Nowadays, employers look closely at candidates’ credit reports to determine eligibility. Why? They use the credit report to see whether you may have financial issues that are encouraging you to apply for the job. Also, they view a report filled with missed payments as an indicator of your lack of reliability.
So before you start seriously applying for jobs, it’s a good idea to obtain a copy of your credit report from the three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and clear up any mistakes that could affect your score. You will need to allow between 30 and 45 days for an investigation to clear, so give yourself this much time in advance of applying for jobs if possible.
Check on Your Motor Vehicle Record
Yes, it’s true. Employers look at your driving record, just as they do your credit report, to determine reliability. If you have suspensions, DUIs, or other negative information on your record, you could lose your opportunity for employment. So order a copy of your driving record to ensure all information is accurate and up to date before a background check begins.
Make Sure Online Profiles Are Professional or Hidden
Employers also love to explore candidates’ social networking profiles to determine eligibility. If you had a drunk night out with friends, be sure to avoid posting any photos of your exploits on your page. And if you must post them, then set them to private so that people who are not on your friends list can’t see them. Also, you could change the name of your social profiles so that you remain anonymous, thereby avoiding having a company count you out based solely upon your night life.
Avoid White Lies on Your Resume
Because a company will likely conduct a background check, it’s important to make sure all of the information you place on your resume is accurate. Don’t say you worked at a company for five years when it was really three. And don’t state that you received a bachelor’s degree when you really have an associate’s. These little details could make a difference to employers who feel that little white lies could turn into major trust and reliability issues on the job.
The more you do to prepare for a background check, the less likely you are to be turned down for a job. So keep this in mind as you push for the job you want.
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.
Barb writes:
Was wondering something … I seem to have a great response to my simple resume,
my interview goes well, my references are called (ALL speak highly)… but I NEVER
get the job/position. Could my credit rating be the reason? Must they tell me if they use a CREDIT CHECK? Should I tell them upfront why before I apply or at the interview?
The Career Doctor responds:
I know of some employers that do very thorough background checks, including credit reports, but I certainly do not approve of these kinds of measures. How does a credit report — good or bad — tell an employer what kind of employee you’ll be? It doesn’t!
Unless your credit history is simply horrible, my guess is that it is something else that is causing the problem. Did you write thank you letters after each interview? Did you follow up with the employer rather than waiting to hear back? Were you as proactive as you could be?
The best solution? Contact one of the employers that did not offer you the job and ask if they would be willing to discuss why you did not get an offer. Most probably would not tell you, but perhaps you’ll get lucky and one will be honest with you.
Troy writes:
I quit my most recent job in October and have an interview for a new company this week. I actully hve been working at another company since October, but it’s not relevant to the current interview. I didn’t list it on my resume. Do you think this is ok and if they do a background check, will they see a current employer? Help!
The Career Doctor responds:
The employer will definitely learn of the non-relevant job in a background check. A resume is not a legal document like an application, but it would still be wise to mention the other job in the interview.
Omar writes:
My quandary is that I left a food-packaging company under
less than ideal terms (but I was not fired) due to personality issues,
and I made the mistake of listing these problems in a letter to the HR
department there hoping I could collect unemployment insurance (which I was
unsuccessful in doing).
My question is, do you think I should leave the food-packaging company
off my resume as it may create issues when getting to the background
check part of the process?
The Career Doctor responds:
Whether or not you leave the questionable job off your resume, it will
come up in a background check. You are better off leaving it on because
when it does come up in the background check, it will look like you were
hiding something if you leave if off. For more on background checks, read
Employment Background Checks: Minimize Skeletons that Employers Might Find.
Debi writes:
With so many companies doing background checks, how do I handle a having bad credit report? I was out of work for a little over a year and my credit is shot. I’m still
working on repairing the damage. How can I proactively address the credit issue?
Should I include an explanatory paragraph in my cover letter — or bring it up when I
get an interview?
I feel it’s a double-edged issue. If I bring it up, I could be negating their interest from
the get go but if I don’t bring it up, it could look like I’m trying to hide it.
Do you think having a bad credit report would be enough of a reason for an employer to
not contact a potential employee who has the experience and skills they say they want?
The Career Doctor responds:
First let me stress an important rule of job-seeking. Never, never include anything negative
in your cover letter, resume, or job application. By providing negative information in any of
these documents, you basically eliminate yourself from consideration. The time to address
any negative information is in the job interview — once you have made the initial cut.
I still remember one of my favorite bad cover letters, which stated in the first sentence of the
letter, “While I have been fired from my last two jobs…” Who would ever keep reading that letter?
Now, credit reports are a sore subject for me because it’s a trend in hiring that I do not like nor
support. So many people have been downsized or simply struggling in low-wage jobs and thus
have problems with their credit report that I think this tool of evaluating a candidate’s worthiness
makes no sense except for industries like banking or accounting. And no one has ever been
able to show me a study that correlates a bad credit report with a bad employee, yet some
employers will not hire you without a good credit score.
So, I totally am behind you here. Do not include any mention of it in your cover letter and do not
bring it up in the interview — until, and only then, the employer ask for references in preparation
for a background check. It is ONLY at this point that I would bring it up. I would ask if they just
check with references or if they do a more detailed background check. If they do a more detailed
check, then I would go with a short explanation about your credit rating — of why it’s bad and
the steps you have taken to fix it.
Catherine writes:
I enjoy your blog. I don’t think I have ever seen either of my
questions (or problem) in your blog postings. Both deal with background
checks.
Recently I was terminated from a position I had held for only a month.
They claimed to have received information from a law-enforcement agency showing that I had committed a crime. After checking with the
agency mentioned, I learned they had no such information. I suspect
that a former employer or someone in his office where I worked previously
made the false accusations. Can I take legal action?
My second question now that I am back in the job market is that some of the
places I have applied to are requiring that I sign a release to allow them to
get my credit report. I feel this is an invasion of my privacy since none of
positions I have applied for have any connection to money or finances. Is this
something new?
The Career Doctor responds:
Background checks are here to stay, I am afraid. And I don’t want to
get angry emails from hiring managers, but I hate how far we’ve gone
with them. I can certainly understand clearance and background checks
for jobs that involve the nation’s security, but what really does a person’s
credit score say about their trustworthiness?
When I was an employer, we checked references and that was about it. And
we rarely called all the references. For a more sensitive position, maybe a
drug test. Other employers conducted a battery of psychological and other personality assessments.
I also believe your very brief former employer was in the wrong in even hiring you
before finishing the background check, and wrong again in the over-reaction to the
false information. Whether what they did was a violation of your rights, I can’t
answer, but recommend you consult with an employment lawyer to gather more
information. You can find one by going to the
National Employment Lawyers Association.
As for credit reports, the group of job-seekers this screening hurts the most are
low-wage job-seekers who perhaps do not even have credit. And I agree with you —
unless it’s a job that involves handling money, what business is it of employers?
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