Really worried I've fucked up - pre employment checks

[RussellSprout]

Please go easy on me.. I know I've probably fucked up a bit here and am already kicking myself.

I recently secured a new job, and as it's for a security company (although an admin role ) there is a very thorough vetting process as part of the pre employment checks.

I didn't realise this when I got my offer paperwork through and I had to complete a form stating my employment history the past 5 years.

I'd had very short term job (2 weeks) that I didn't list on my employment history... I thought at the time that it wouldn't matter and truth be told, I was a bit embarrassed about it as I'd decided early on it wasn't for me and resigned. So I just left it off, and extended a period of unemployment to cover that time.

I sent back the offer paperwork and was then contacted by an external vetting company wanting to do a full vetting check and investigate any gaps in my employment history. I realised at this point that I'd been really stupid not to list the 2 week job and made sure to disclose this as part of the external vetting check which was all done online.

I then panicked thinking that the form I'd sent back with the offer paperwork wouldn't match, and so I decided to complete the employment history form again and send it back to my boss by email, with an explanation that I'd realised I'd not completed it correctly the first time, and had not appreciated I needed to disclose every job in the past 5 years but now i realised that, I'd re-done the form.

My boss is on holiday this week, she is back next week when I start so I've not had a reply.

I'm thinking now that I've marred the start of my new job, will they think I'm a liar and a cheat? Will the fact that I sent the form back again, saying I realised I'd not it right the first time, 'correct' the mistake?

Really kicking myself and having sleepless nights that I'll have got off on the wrong foot with them but can't decide if I'm over reacting. It's just so nerve racking to start a new job anyway, and I'm well aware that you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

If it was a just a two week term of employment a few years ago that’s easily forgotten about. If they ask about why you left just tell the truth- the job wasn’t for you. They won’t think you’re weird

No one will think you are a liar and a cheat. You’ve done your best to rectify the situation. Try not to worry.

As long as the pre employment checks come back clear I (as the boss) wouldn’t give it another thought.

I’d be a bit concerned that my new admin couldn’t complete a form correctly but I’d understand your explanation and it wouldn’t stop me letting you start and seeing how it goes.

It wasn't a few years ago.. it was a few months ago so it's not like I had forgotten about it. I was just really embarrassed to put it down originally. I mean, who wants to tell their new employer they left a previous job after such a short time? And I wasn't keen on putting them as a reference as although I didn't leave on bad terms its obviously not great that I quit so soon.

I literally can't stop worrying about it although I am trying !

Do you think the fact that I've re sent the form and said I've realised I made a mistake will counteract the original fuck up? They will get a reference for this job from the external vetting company so it's not like they will think I got sacked or anything.

I think you're worrying over nothing - if they ask, tell them the truth as you've stated it here. As an employer, I'd completely understand that (unless it turns out you were sacked for gross misconduct & you'd deliberately tried to hide it).

I have to assess these type of issues. In this case, as long as the reference came back clean and you'd fully declared on the s&v forms then it'd probably pass.

S & V form.. do you mean the form for the external vetting company Hiding? That was an online form, but yes I was completely honest on that... I then realised my mistake by then in not being upfront from the start.

That's when I realised the original form to the employer would be out of synch, so re-did it.

I hope they understand... not great to start off on the wrong foot is it and I've completely ruined all the excitement of starting my job but I'll just have to get over it and hope it doesn't leave a bad impression

Honestly, I think you will be fine!!

What you’ve done is much much better than lying for the second time and then getting found out. Honestly don’t worry about it. As long as both forms match (and are honest) don’t worry. If you get asked again about it just say you completely forgot as you were there for such a short amount of time etc etc

Hi, yes, I mean the online submission you'll have done. I really wouldn't worry too much about this. It's a much bigger issue when we have people who don't put a job on the online submission and then have to explain why it's been left out. That's always a red flag as it's often used when there's been a dismissal for some reason.

Working at a job for a couple of weeks and then finding out it's not for you is actually more common than you think. It's also quite common for people to miss out temp jobs on a CV because they don't think it's important/relevant. We stress that they have to declare ALL employment for S&V specifically to cover these cases.

Seriously don't think you need to worry. On the job application you missed it off because you were only there 2 weeks and therefore not enough time for it to be considered proper employment history... you wouldn't have made any impact on the company, and they company wouldn't have made any impact on your skill set in such a short time... there's no issue leaving it off for this reason.

You have then been successful and have to be vetted... you understand that due to the nature of the job you have to show full integrity and so are now declaring it so that you can be assessed and they can check that you weren't sacked for dishonesty etc. You are declaring it for a whole different reason and this is absolutely ok , AND it is absolutely the right thing to do as it shows your integrity.

Don't worry OP

sorry you're feeling so worried. Like all the others I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about. X

Thanks for trying to allay my fears all. I've been so stressed about this I actually had to get diazepam from the doctor. It's probably also the fear of starting another job after a bad 6 months with 2 jobs gone wrong (I explained about the first one in the interview) , feels like all my residual anxiety is being poured into this one issue which I know I am probably blowing out of proportion.

HidingfromDD sounds like you work in this field and have probably seen all sorts, so I'm glad you think there's nothing to worry about. Once I got the email from the external vetting company I realised how serious it would be to continue with the omission, and it really put the frighteners on me... thankfully i decided to be honest then as otherwise I really do think my job may have been in jeopardy.

HidingfromDD just out of interest, how do you know when people don't put a job on the online submission - is it true that the vetting companies can check bank statements/tax records etc to investigate (with permission from the applicant obvs)?

I always assumed it showed on a P45 but I've no idea actually.

What kind of roles require such intense scrutiny? I have Security Clearance and left jobs off and nothing happened.

The company provides security staff, so I can understand the need for vetting. I'm not security staff myself though! Wasn't willing to risk losing my job by being dishonest though... feel better now i kniw ive told the truth although a little silly at having to send the form twice.