Being honest in applications/on resumes

by Hunterforjobs Sat Aug 13, 2011 1:03 pm

Jobs replies are starting to come in now. Well two after I sent letters of inquiries, I never send out resumes right away anymore.

Relatives are telling me to be honest and not fudge the dates on the resume to make it look like you are currently working or shorten unemployment but to be honest and let the card fall where they lay. I should instead just write on cover letter actively looking for work the past 2 years to show them I havent' been lazy.

I disagree with them because they're not unemployed or looking for work.

What do you guys do to cover your extended unemployment period on your resumes.

by MoInSTL Sat Aug 13, 2011 1:57 pm

Hunterforjobs, Some places use The Work Number. I used to think it was used by past companies to get past job verification. The potential employer has their phone number and a code for the company. A special code has to be issued to punch in the info for past salary info.

But it does something more. It is used to track if you are working or not and for how long. Even by credit granters. I saw an inquiry from food stamps and WEEKLY inquiries from a collection agency for a solid YEAR! MANY companies use it to verify the dates of your employment. Read below, it is very creepy and IMO, everyone needs to get the free report.

Like a credit report, you can get one free copy a year to print. http://www.theworknumber.com/

Provide Verifiers Secure Access to Your Employment and Income Information.
Are you an employee whose employer has their records on The Work Number? Are you needing to provide a salary key to a verifier? Need to access webManager?

Social Service Verifiers
Are you a government agency looking for employment and income to determine eligibility for government assistance?

Commercial Verifiers
Are you a company or organization needing proof of employment and income in order to grant credit, monitor your portfolio or a potential employer needing work history?

W-2 Service
Important Note: You may only access our W-2 service if your employer has decided to offer this service through The Work Number Web site. Your personal account may not offer all of these features mentioned below.

The Work Number provides a couple different services that make life easier at work. If your employer uses the W-2 service from TALX, you will be able to access your W-2s through The Work Number account.

by Hunterforjobs Sat Aug 13, 2011 3:45 pm

No employer in my town is listed on there and probably doesn't use their services. I think most use ADP and have for the decades.

But how do you cover the 2 or 3 year unemployment? I don't volunteer or anything like that because I wanted to be available to work right away.

by TOO OLD TO HIRE IN PA Sat Aug 13, 2011 4:19 pm

Hunterforjobs wrote:No employer in my town is listed on there and probably doesn't use their services. I think most use ADP and have for the decades.

But how do you cover the 2 or 3 year unemployment? I don't volunteer or anything like that because I wanted to be available to work right away.

Hunter, my husband is in the same boat as you. But you know, some people just have all the luck. A relative of ours (and not a young person) did not work for 5 years because she did not want to. Lived with parents. When she decided to go back to work, she had a business owner friend vouch for her gap in employment. The company she applied for investigated and found no record of employment. So you know what the business-owner friend does? She tells the company that our relative was paid under the table and does not have to divulge that information. Result: She got the job.

by MoInSTL Sat Aug 13, 2011 4:36 pm

I put IT Consultant on my resume. Is there a job that you did that can work as an independent contractor/consultant? If so, create a free web page offering those services.

Btw, I still suggest getting a free copy of The Work Number report. If you get food stamps, it's there. Also companies that don't subscribe to their service show my wages and other jobs.

by hope Sun Aug 14, 2011 8:39 am

I think its sad that there are now so many ways for companies to track your past. I think its unfair. Employers can not only track W-2s they can also track your social security record among other things.

by arbeitslos Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:32 pm

Soon they'll be able to track when we wake up in the morning, what we eat and when we go to the bathroom. I need to win the lottery. Too bad I can't afford to play it! Evil or Very Mad

by TOO OLD TO HIRE IN PA Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:41 pm

arbeitslos wrote:Soon they'll be able to track when we wake up in the morning, what we eat and when we go to the bathroom. I need to win the lottery. Too bad I can't afford to play it!

My husband and i feel that way right now whenever we go on the Internet. I often feel like there is a person in my computer ready to jump out and say "Ha Ha, I know everything about you!" All joking aside, when you register on job boards, your work life becomes an open book. I was also angered that once we became homeowners, personal information really becomes public. If you move around the country and don't want former friends to find you, forget it. They can find anything on the Internet. Sometimes I want to take the damn computer and throw it out.