Got new job but 5 year work history?

OhNooooo14 · 11-02-2014 07:04AM #1

Hi guys

I was recently successful in a job application, completely nailed both interviews and was told I was successful.

Then yesterday I got a call congratulating me, confirming my start day and was told all my references checked out.

One thing though, on the application where it said 5 year history, for a 4 month period back in 2009, 5 years ago, I put down 'travelling'. I wasn't actually travelling, I was in England for a month or so and would have spent the other 3 months probably looking for work, it was 5 years ago so not quite sure.

I know this was silly of me but I genuinely didn't think that far back was relevant or would be questioned.

Anyways, I was put on the spot and said I was in the States for a few months.

Now the job wants me to bring in my passport or visa showing I was abroad.

Genuinely gutted and I dont know what to do, especially if something like this prevents me from getting the job.

Any help GREATLY appreciated

sawdoubters · 11-02-2014 07:13AM

you just got a new passport

OhNooooo14 · 11-02-2014 07:14AM

sawdoubters wrote: »

you just got a new passport

They've already photocopied the passport page on my photo which shows the passport was issued in 2007, 2 years earlier

Plates · 11-02-2014 07:15AM

OhNooooo14 wrote: »

I was in England for a month or so and would have spent the other 3 months probably looking for work, it was 5 years ago so not quite sure.

If you're looking for help you should at least be honest on here. If you can't remember what you did for a whole 3 months only 5 years ago then you have bigger problems than telling a bare faced lie to a potential new employer.

lollsangel · 11-02-2014 07:19AM

When u said travelling, did you specify aboard?

OhNooooo14 · 11-02-2014 07:24AM

Plates wrote: »

If you're looking for help you should at least be honest on here. If you can't remember what you did for a whole 3 months only 5 years ago then you have bigger problems than telling a bare faced lie to a potential new employer.

I am being honest. I was in England for a month in the Spring/early summer of 2009, dont recall which particular month though, and didnt recommence work/college until the Autumn

OhNooooo14 · 11-02-2014 07:24AM

lollsangel wrote: »

When u said travelling, did you specify aboard?

Yup, the States

Plates · 11-02-2014 07:28AM

OhNooooo14 wrote: »

I am being honest. I was in England for a month in the Spring/early summer of 2009, dont recall which particular month though, and didnt recommence work/college until the Autumn

If it was a Summer break from college then it's explainable. Not sure why you would have lied about it.

jeepers101 · 11-02-2014 07:29AM

Passports aren't always stamped. I've been in the US twice but I wouldn't be able to prove it.

Mrs OBumble · 11-02-2014 10:35AM

I don't think you have any way around this: you lied outright, and now it's going to be proven.

(Unless you have a passport from another country that you could have used at the time, which has been renewed in the meantime: but if you did, I'm sure this option would have occurred to you already).

Very annoying in that you could easily have said that you were in the UK and travelled by ferry, so there genuinely would be no evidence.

Chalk it up to expereince, and don't lie the next time you're asked. Also, note that checking work history for 5-10 years is not uncommon, and is required in some industries.

OhNooooo14 · 11-02-2014 10:56AM

jeepers101 wrote: »

Passports aren't always stamped. I've been in the US twice but I wouldn't be able to prove it.

Is this legit and genuine? They don't always stamp them? Would this work?

Plates · 11-02-2014 11:05AM

OhNooooo14 wrote: »

Is this legit and genuine? They don't always stamp them? Would this work?

I've been to the US 15 times in the past 4 years and have 15 stamps. It would be a serious exception (and oversight) if a passport wasn't stamped.

Panda_Turtle · 11-02-2014 11:11AM

I once had a dog who loved tearing stuff up.

No Joke - He took my passport out to the garden and ripped it up and it was almost in bits, I nearly didn`t get on a plane to the UK because if it, ended up having to get a new one.

TakeTheVeil · 11-02-2014 11:15AM

Is it a 3rd party company like Experian looking for it?

I just wouldn't give it to them. Or if it comes down to it just say you were actually in England, you mis remembered your dates.

Theyre not going to rescind your job offer over something ridiculously trivial

FAILSAFE 00 · 11-02-2014 11:19AM

Photoshop it

alexlyons · 11-02-2014 11:23AM

Where is the job for?

byronbay2 · 11-02-2014 11:24AM

Panda_Turtle wrote: »

I once had a dog who loved tearing stuff up.

No Joke - He took my passport out to the garden and ripped it up and it was almost in bits, I nearly didn`t get on a plane to the UK because if it, ended up having to get a new one.

"The dog ate my passport" - do NOT say that!!

TakeTheVeil wrote: »

Or if it comes down to it just say you were actually in England, you mis remembered your dates.

Theyre not going to rescind your job offer over something ridiculously trivial

Good advice. Stop digging now and admit you made a mistake. You were in The UK rather than US - not a biggie I reckon.

FAILSAFE 00 · 11-02-2014 11:34AM

byronbay2 wrote: »

"The dog ate my passport" - do NOT say that!!

Good advice. Stop digging now and admit you made a mistake. You were in The UK rather than US - not a biggie I reckon.

Agree about the dog, but changing the story from US to UK would surely flash warning lights and demonstrate incompetence.

What about going with the story that your passport wasn't stamped but that you could produce your flight info. Very easy to take a flight confirmation receipt sheet with name and dates then scan the document and change the dates/locations, carrier logo etc.

I would say you should have been honest in the first place, but the only way out of this is to dig deeper IMO.

_Kaiser_ · 11-02-2014 11:41AM

I'd have to ask what kind of place is it that is asking for proof of the OP's whereabouts YEARS ago in this manner?

miamee · 11-02-2014 11:42AM

FAILSAFE 00 wrote: »

Agree about the dog, but changing the story from US to UK would surely flash warning lights and demonstrate incompetence.

What about going with the story that your passport wasn't stamped but that you could produce your flight info. Very easy to take a flight confirmation receipt sheet with name and dates then scan the document and change the dates/locations, carrier logo etc.

I would say you should have been honest in the first place, but the only way out of this is to dig deeper IMO.

Accidentally saying the wrong country and then trying to cover it up with fake travel documents sounds a lot more incompetent tbh not to mention untrustworthy, unreliable and unemployable. Just own up OP, you were nervous, you're not sure why you said US instead of UK but it just came out.

Digging a hole as advised above is just going to get deeper and deeper. Something like a simple, casual conversation about holidays in the canteen will have you sweating bullets every time hoping that no one asks you where you travelled to or to see your photos.

Mrs OBumble · 11-02-2014 12:13PM

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I'd have to ask what kind of place is it that is asking for proof of the OP's whereabouts YEARS ago in this manner?

Well for starters, it might be a bank: I had to provide written proof of employment for the last ten years in order to do two weeks filing for one.

They weren't worried that I was unemployed / travelling for some of the time. What mattered was that I had told the truth about the time I was working.

And while banks aren't exactly bright shining lights of virtue, I am rather pleased that they place a lot of emphasis on their staff being truthful.

tusk · 11-02-2014 12:24PM

Definitely stop using your shovel! A small oversight/nervous mis-remembrance on your part is forgivable. Deliberately digging deeper and trying to fabricate false history will wind up screwing you over.

aphex™ · 11-02-2014 12:31PM

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I'd have to ask what kind of place is it that is asking for proof of the OP's whereabouts YEARS ago in this manner?

Any company that deals with US FAA regulated Aviation. E.g. He could work in aircraft leasing or even as an accountant in DHL or UPS nowhere near the airport.

Stone Deaf 4evr · 11-02-2014 12:34PM

FAILSAFE 00 wrote: »

Agree about the dog, but changing the story from US to UK would surely flash warning lights and demonstrate incompetence.

What about going with the story that your passport wasn't stamped but that you could produce your flight info. Very easy to take a flight confirmation receipt sheet with name and dates then scan the document and change the dates/locations, carrier logo etc.

I would say you should have been honest in the first place, but the only way out of this is to dig deeper IMO.

You think like myself, "Im in a hole see, pass me that shovel and I'll get myself out"

Bandana boy · 11-02-2014 12:35PM

To be honest a crowd like Experian check everything you put on your application /CV

I would consider holding back and ignoring and see if it goes away.
If that is the only item they cannot verify I do not see it being a big deal.

Julez · 11-02-2014 12:40PM

I don't understand, why would you lie about this?

I'd just give them your passport and if they ask why you haven't got stamps for US, say "oh, I wasn't in the US, I was in the UK, I must have accidently said US". Worst case you don't get the job, but starting a job having lied and then having to continue lying is a bad idea. You'll slip up and look worse down the line.

Thargor · 11-02-2014 03:48PM

This is easily salvageable but your attitude going forward will be important here OP, if you turn into a stuttering shifty mess over this you'll lose the job.

Stheno · 11-02-2014 04:02PM

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I'd have to ask what kind of place is it that is asking for proof of the OP's whereabouts YEARS ago in this manner?

Some financial services, I once had two job offers, and one involved an extensive background check, and was delayed as they could not confirm I had done a course in the IMI 8 years earlier!

ANXIOUS · 11-02-2014 04:58PM

What dates are they? I might have a stamp on my passport that I'd scan and send you.

MOD NOTE: Don't. Just Don't.

Got new job but 5 year work history?

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