Employment Verification; What is it like in practice?

[may16th1975]

Dear all,

I am Japanese national and planning to find a permanent job in UK as I've just got British work permit. Then I have a doggy question regarding British business practice.

Since I have a bit too long jobless period(9months), I am wondering if I can lie on my CV saying I've work for my previous employer several months longer than I actually did to fullfill the jobless period. Do most of UK firms actually contact to your previous employer to check your employment record, salary etc...?

I know this is very stupid question but I was forced to be in this position of being jobless for more than half a year due to personal family reason and being anxious about doing job searching in UK saying "I have been unemployed for 9months". But obviously I can't do such stupid thing if my new employer (hopefully major consulting firm or financial institution) will actually contact to my previous employer.

Can anyone let me know what the common practice in the UK is like? However I have a colleague who can understand the situation and would write me a reference letter, but if the new employer directly contacts to Human Resource or whoever I don't know, then it should be aproblem.

I appreciate your reply. Thanks.

[Jayne]

Don't lie to a future employer! If you do get found out, it would look bad on you.

Tell the truth!

I'm an employer and would much rather hear the truth, we are human and would not think less of you for being unemployed for a while.

Jayne :D

[Pebble Communications]

Some will check and some won't. A lot of it depends on the type of work you are going to be doing - if you are applying to work in a bar or something then they won't bother, but if you are working in a professional job they are more likely to. A 'major consulting firm or financial institution' is very likely to take up references.

[may16th1975]

Thank you for your comment. Your points are absolutely right.
But I still wonder what it is like in practice. If the employer just asks me to provide a reference letter or anything that woud be ok but what I'm concering about is the case that they directly contact my previous employer and get my employment record from Human Resource Dpt.

Could anyone let me know what is the "common" way of checking this matter in UK?

By the way I've read an interesting newspaper article the other day and it says "more than 25% of British have lied on CV or any sort of official document".

.... interesting.

[Pebble Communications]

I've never been asked for a reference letter - employers don't trust them as they are simple to fake. If an employer wants to take up references, they will contact the previous employers directly.

[Ozzy]

As an employer, I tend to phone the previously employer for an off-the-record chat. The previously employer is not allowed to say anything negative in a reference, but on the phone can say what they like ;)

[clairemackaness]

I am an ex recruitment consultant and HR Manager and can tell you straight up that any company worth it's sort will write directly to the HR department of your previous company to ask for a reference. If you are planning on working in any financial institution in the UK they are all members of the Financial Services Association (FSA) and you will not be able to be employed by them unless you have a full checkable 5 year work history. If you are found to be lying on your CV it is gross misconduct and you will be fired instantly.

As an employer I would recommend that you give your employers details and the address of someone in your country who is prepared to be a character witness for you. For the financial institutions you may have a problem being out of work for so long, unless you can proove how you were living i.e. savings, with parents etc. If you have been signing on with your benefits agency (if you have one) you can obtain a reference from them.

Hope this helps

[gordonthegofor]

My wife deals with recruitment for a large company and confirms what Claire has said.

[may16th1975]

Thank you for your comment. I think your point is right.

Now I need to apply for a job after being umemployed for 9months, does it sound negatvie to hiring managers? I've been doing temporary job to get some cash to survive and can explain properly why I am in this position, but am wondering how people react on this jobless period on my track record.

Again, I would appreciate if you can let me know British common sense in practice. Thanks.

[clairemackaness]

Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to applying for jobs. If you have a good career history aside from your 9 months off then most employers will understand if you have a good reason, after all we all go through bad patches in our life.

[Twokids]

From personal experience

I worked for a company for 18 months - then left for another job which did not work out. My previous employer was advertissing so I re-applied and got my old job back, working for them for three more years.

On my next job I didn't both to mention the 6 month gap and stated that I had 5 years continous service ( to be honest I didn't think it mattered and made my CV messy).

Three months into my next job I was called by HR to explain the discrepancy - they understood and saw that as I was re hired I was obviously a valued employee.

But the message is - they do check!

[bwglaw]

Simply put, by lying on the appplication form or CV gives the employer good grounds to dismiss you instantly as a fair reason.

Some employers may still retain you if you have proved your abilities because good staff are not easy these days.

It all depends on the employer and the sector you work in. I work in the legal profession and lying would not be taken lightly

Jonathan