Security checks... concerned about past employment history

Postrain · Post by **Postrain** » 14 Jun 2016, 23:56

Hello! So today I was chuffed to receive an email to say I have been successful in my interview, and now my application will go through the vetting stage! I know the crb and drivers licence checking will be fine, I'm clean as a whistle, however I am concerned about my employment history. I used to work in IT about 3+ years ago, and as I thought these jobs to be irrelevant to the postie job I made what was actually 4 jobs, in to 2 jobs and just stretched the start and end date. I didn't think it would matter as the jobs were doing the same thing, and also a long time ago.

So once I recieved my email today I had a little look on this forum, and did some general research about security checks, and it seems that the 5 years employment check is quite thorough? Is this true? Has anyone heard of issues with this in the past? I'm feeling really silly for doing it now as I have nothing to hide from those jobs, just making my cv a bit neater!

Another question... does everyone have to complete a 5 year employment history list for the security check? Or will they use my CV?

What a pickle! I've always wanted to be a postwoman, hope I haven't messed up! Thanks in advance for any help!

Destiny · Post by **Destiny** » 15 Jun 2016, 16:51

Don't know if it helps but a chap I know personally, currently employed 2 years now had 8 years on the sick with a bad back, never gave his job at the factory up just claimed social, moved area got bored an applied to the post claiming to still be in ft work with no problem.

salomon2 · Post by **salomon2** » 18 Jun 2016, 19:14

I was self employed for 8 years before working for rm, that definitely confused them as they kept asking for references and dates but eventually i gave them details of councils I sold my services to and they accepted them so if you can account for the dates I'm sure that will be fine. It took about 12 weeks though to get clearance.

Postrain · Post by **Postrain** » 20 Jun 2016, 09:33

salomon2 wrote:I was self employed for 8 years before working for rm, that definitely confused them as they kept asking for references and dates but eventually i gave them details of councils I sold my services to and they accepted them so if you can account for the dates I'm sure that will be fine. It took about 12 weeks though to get clearance.

Hi Salomon... How long ago did you start work with Royal Mail? 12 weeks seems like an awfully long amount time, I have been advised 2 weeks? Was it just your previous work history that held things up?

NightOwl · Post by **NightOwl** » 26 Jun 2016, 11:41

I have been unemployed for around 9 years due to illness with a few voluntary roles . Problem is getting a reference from these voluntary roles. Will it cause me issues if I can't secure references from them?

yellowbelly · Post by **yellowbelly** » 26 Jun 2016, 16:47

NightOwl wrote:I have been unemployed for around 9 years due to illness with a few voluntary roles . Problem is getting a reference from these voluntary roles. Will it cause me issues if I can't secure references from them?

I was still in contact with my referees before/after I joined and they weren't contacted at all by RM - it appeared to me to that RM were looking for an employment
history showing a periods of stable employment with any 'gaps' fully explained (in your case by unavoidable illness). I inadvertently left a week's gap between two
roles and they got back to me to ask for an explanation!

Good luck with your application!

NightOwl · Post by **NightOwl** » 26 Jun 2016, 17:47

Thanks.