Background check for new job

[mazeroth]

I applied for a job about a month ago and put down 3 jobs that I've held recently. The one was from 98-03, the next from mid 04 to mid 05 and the last is my current job I've been at for over 5 years. Well, now that I've been interviewed and will likely get the job they want me to fill out a formal job application on paper, and it gives 6 spots for job employment. The job I held from 98-03 pertains to this job I'm getting, as do the other two. However, between 03 and mid 04 I held two crappy jobs for 2 months each. I didn't want to put them on my resume because they didn't matter (grocery store and retail store) and were just fillers until I found something better.

So, I'm not sure if I should put them on this application as they may ask why it wasn't on my resume or should I and if they ask why they weren't on there I can explain that they weren't pertinent? They are going to do a background check, that I am certain of.

Thanks.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Just put em on there, it will help you avoid hassle and stop the company you're applying for from thinking you somehow got fired/is trying to hide something, etc. There is nothing wrong with working in retail establishments. Shows that you know how to deal with people!

 

[her209]

Background check for a security clearance?

 

[mazeroth]

I guess I should also have said that I have no idea the months I worked for these companies. I have a decent idea, but nothing more than that!

 

[RavenSEAL]

I guess I should also have said that I have no idea the months I worked for these companies. I have a decent idea, but nothing more than that!

Doesn't matter, just make your best estimate. Look at paychecks, bank deposits?

 

[lxskllr]

Just write down the approximate dates. I doubt they expect you to remember bullshit jobs perfectly.

 

[rasczak]

Background check for a security clearance?

nah, don't think it's security clearance. typically they go back 7-10 years.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've mentioned jobs I held really early in my career during an interview but that weren't listed on my resume. They came up simply because I was talking about what brought me out to California from New York.

Hell, I worked at Grand Union when I was in high school...definitely not putting that on my resume.

 

[ModerateRepZero]

my view is that unless you're specifically told what & how far back your job history goes (ie for a security clearance/background check with a govt. job), you shouldn't go further back than 6-10 years, and omit any jobs that lasted less than 2-3 months.

the key in your job history besides honesty and giving a (reasonably) good idea of your prior employment is to also reveal any gaps in employment.

as far as dates go, as long as you're within 30-90 days of the date, I suspect HR may be forgiving of the inaccuracy, instead of suspecting deceit.

 

[rudeguy]

my view is that unless you're specifically told what & how far back your job history goes (ie for a security clearance/background check with a govt. job), you shouldn't go further back than 6-10 years, and omit any jobs that lasted less than 2-3 months.

the key in your job history besides honesty and giving a (reasonably) good idea of your prior employment is to also reveal any gaps in employment.

as far as dates go, as long as you're within 30-90 days of the date, I suspect HR may be forgiving of the inaccuracy, instead of suspecting deceit.

I've seen people get fired for doing what you said to do.

List all jobs unless told not to.

This isn't a resume, its a background check.