Job candidates typically focus on their resume and answering interview questions, but the post-job offer steps can be just as important – especially if you are exaggerating anything in your resume or job history.
One of the key questions is whether you should discuss your current employer, or simply fabricate the experience. We’ve discussed these options in detail before, but as a summary, you do have options to completely fabricate your past experience and having others pass you through the background check. Read here for a thorough discussion on this.
If you have exaggerated anything on your resume or in your background, the most essential thing for you is to be over-prepared. This means having things ready even if they will never be used. The thing to keep in mind is that most verifiers are administrators, not investigators. In other words, it is not their job to try to prove you are lying, rather, just to verify the information that you have provided. If you stay “under the radar” and handle the verification properly, then the verifiers will not make it to this point. The best way to make everything fast and easy for the verifier is to be prepared.
Some other considerations that you need to cover before the job offer arrives and before verification begins:
Have your references lined up
Don’t wait until the background check to verify your references. Plan ahead…. way, way ahead. If it’s been years since your last job, you may be surprised how many of them have moved on to other roles, have changed their contact information, etc. And just having this ready to go will give you confidence during your next interview.
Remember, the key to passing a background check is to breeze through it – especially if you’ve taken liberties during the interview process. This means having everything prepared and ready to go.
Complete your W2s and Pay Stubs Beforehand
Again – prepare, prepare, prepare. It’s better to have these ready and never need them, than to need them and not have them. You do not want any delay when the background check starts – you want to breeze through it as quickly as possible.
While BackgroundProof does not offer W2 services, we recommend quickly doing a check online for “print w2 online” and there are dozens of companies offering this service – typically for $50. Even if this never comes up, it’s well worth spending $50 for something in order to ensure that your job offer isn’t jeopardized.
Minimize how much lying you’ll do
The closer to the truth, the easier and more confident you will be in interviews. Instead of using complete fabrications or outright lies, think about ways to phrase variations of the truth.
Some examples:
- For example, if you worked in a Sales Department as a sales analyst, but want to say you were an executive – use the same type of sales, the same company (if possible), the same product, etc. and simply change your role from Analyst to Director.
- If you were an engineer, but want to show sales experience, then use a sales position related to the product you were engineering.
- If you want to show experience at a large company, choose a company that is similar to your real job – not just the most prestigious employer. For example, if you worked a staff job for a small restaurant chain, don’t say you worked for McDonald’s Corporation – say Brinker’s International instead (Brinkers runs Macaroni Grill, etc.).
Wrapping up…
It’s clear that navigating the complexities of overemployment and ensuring the accuracy of your employment history require astute management of the verification process. Whether you choose to redirect or fabricate your past job details, it’s vital to make certain that your background checks hold up under scrutiny.
For those needing a secure and discreet solution, consider leveraging the services of a professional agency. We can help handling verification to ensure that your professional narrative remains intact and unchallenged. Ready to secure your next job with confidence? Visit BackgroundProof Services for unmatched support in managing your employment verifications effectively.