Current Events > If I apply for a job can the company look up where I last worked?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like even if I don't tell them, can they still check out my history?

Why would I want to hide my work history?

Well, I used to work for this company and got tired of their BS, and went to a rival company and have settled, but now I'm dealing with the same BS and a crappy schedule. It's been about two years since I last left and the company I used to work for posted another job that's paying more money than the one I have and the schedule is better too.

I would like to apply for it. I left on good terms, but I know they'd be bitter if they found out I left to go to a rival company and wouldn't hire me.

Yeah if they do a background check, work history comes up

Last time I got hired, I reported an incorrect end date of one of my previous jobs and got asked about it

---

Most background checks do not show your past work history. By design, there's no way they could, as there's no national database that employers can use to see who you worked for (well, technically there's IRS/Social security filings, but employers don't have access to that).

• Criminal background checks (federal, state, or other) are through the courts and do not reveal employment history unless you have a record that is somehow related to your employment
• Credit checks could potentially list your employer, but only if you applied for credit at an agency that asks for the name of your employer. Still, most jobs don't do credit checks unless you are working with a lot of money as part of the position (or for security clearances for government)
• Verification checks only verify employment details that you already provided in your application. If you don't provide it in your application, it isn't included
• Media/Online checks involve looking at your profile in social media sites (like Linked-In) or Google Searches, so they may find it if you are listed in a public directory that shows up on Google or if you list it on Linked-In. Technically, employers shouldn't do these types of checks on employees unless it's a very public leadership position, but many employers do it anyways.

Outside of that, there really isn't any way for them to find out where you worked if you didn't list it in an application or if they find out some other way by coincidence.

---

I dont think so. But what are you going to tell them you've been doing?

---

TeaMilk posted...

Yeah if they do a background check, work history comes up

Last time I got hired, I reported an incorrect end date of one of my previous jobs and got asked about it

That's a verification check. They only verified that the information you listed was true. Had you not listed the job, they would have had no way to find out what your employment was.

---

Solid Snake07 posted...

I dont think so. But what are you going to tell them you've been doing?

I had a transition job before I went to the new one. I was going to just mention that one.

Zanzenburger posted...

That's a verification check. They only verified that the information you listed was true. Had you not listed the job, they would have had no way to find out what your employment was.

Oh huh ok. That's good to know

---