Job offer but I’ve f****d up the references

104 replies

newdays55 · 24/03/2025 11:39

Hi ladies,

I’ll start off by saying I know I’ve messed up. I’m an idiot and shouldn’t have lied.

I applied and interviewed for a job 3 weeks ago. It’s an admin role in the health care sector (not a carer and I won’t have any contact with patients)

I had to complete an employment history form before the interview and I wasn’t completely truthful. I left off certain jobs because I was only there a short period and I thought it looked awful, and other jobs I extended the dates slightly. My last 2 jobs are correct though.

Anyway, I was unexpectedly offered the job on Friday, which I accepted.

I’m panicking now though in case they find out that I’ve lied. The woman who interviewed me said that they occasionally request references covering the last 10 years of employment (or for any jobs related to care, which I did previously). However they normally only request references from the last 3 employers. I will also have to complete a DBS check which is fine.

I’m shitting myself now. The onboarding process can take 4-6 weeks and I’m worried about handing my notice in or turning down other job offers in case they find out and retract the offer.

Should I just ride it out and hope for the best?

OP posts:

Original poster

newdays55 · 24/03/2025 11:53

@Thebloodynineno I wasn’t fired or anything like that, just left because I didn’t enjoy the job, manager was awful etc etc. I lied because I thought it looked bad leaving a job after a couple of weeks.

OP posts:

Original poster

newdays55 · 24/03/2025 11:51

@TheCountofMountingCrispBagsI know, I don’t know what I was thinking to be honest. Some jobs I’d only worked there for a couple of weeks and thought it looked bad so I just left them off. I didn’t realise they’d do such extensive checks (apart from 3 references and a dbs check) with it being an office based role.

OP posts:

Thebloodynine · 24/03/2025 11:48

Sorry, why was it you lied? Just because you were at some jobs a short time? Thats odd. Is it really because of what happened at those jobs and you wanted to hide them, like you were fired or something?

Either you tell them you lied or wait and see. But if they find out then expect the offer to be withdrawn because lying on an application is usually an instant out, even if the lie is harmless.

TheCountofMountingCrispBags · 24/03/2025 11:43

I'd ring them and tell them you were initially dishonest. It's up them to decide if this is acceptable or not.
Sadly not a good start. What were you hoping to achieve by lying in print?

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