Civil service job

[Sugarblade]

Hello,

I’ve been unemployed for 16 years due to been in a controlling relationship and been expected to be a stay at home mum. Although, I have been actively looking for work for the past 3 years, since finding the strength to leave.

Anyway, fast forward to today. I’ve been successful applying for a AA position within the civil service.

I was ecstatic, until I received I’ve a form which is asking for my last 3 years employment history.

I have completed 2 months volunteering with the DWP, during this time and a 6 week long course at college. Other than this I have completed relevant online courses. All while claiming JSA.

Please help.

Have I blown my opportunity?

Thank you in advance.

I think you'll be fine. You're situation isn't unusual. There is usually an option to give a character referee - someone who knows you and can vouch for what you've been doing for the last 3 years.

Unless you misled them in any way in your application, is saying you'd been working when you hadn't, they really just want to know that you haven't been eg in prison, or fired from another job.

But you've already been successful?
Is it a DBS?

It's looking for your employment history so they can check it. If you've been a SAHM then put that.

They've seen your application (which will have included this information), interviewed you and decided to offer you the job. This is just admin really.

Thank you for you’re responses.

It’s a BPSS form.

I provided a copy of my CV, which is completely true. Hopefully everything will be ok. I’ve waited so long for someone to give me a opportunity, that I’m hoping nothing goes wrong now.

Thanks again.

Don't panic, as others have said this is isn't about you not getting the job. It's just to check you haven't lied about your history and have actually been doing a job you were fired from for stealing or in prison or being trained in espionage by Russia or similar . Believe it or not these things do happen albeit very rarely hence the requirement for stringent background checks.

'Proving' you have been a SAHM/unemployed is a bit of a bureaucratic headache as obviously you don't have an employer to give you a reference but you are about to become a civil servant so get used to annoying red tape I'm afraid! They will probably want a reputable person such as a GP, solicitor, priest, teacher or other civil servant to give you a character reference, not commenting on suitability for the post but confirming you have indeed been being a SAHM and not the aforementioned dodgy activities - do you have a friend or neighbour who can do this for you?

Thank You for your reply.

I have spoken to my manager, from my DWP placement and the tutor who I completed my course with. Both are more than happy to give me a reference. Would this be enough?

Do you think it is worth me speaking with my work coach, who I’ve been “signing on with” for the last 3 years, to see if she can verify my sahm status?

I’m absolutely thrilled about this opportunity. I just keep expecting the rug to be pulled from under me. All I’ve heard is “sorry you don’t have enough recent experience”, for 3+ years, from countless prospective employers. It finally feels like my life is moving forward.

Thanks again

I'd hold off for now - the work coach sounds like an excellent option for an extra reference if you need one but it may be that what you've done already is enough so while you are understandably keen to keep things moving you may create extra hassle for yourself by chasing after extras. These things take time unfortunately and civil service pre employment checks are notoriously slow -your form will be in a pile with loads of others and so until it works its way to the top you won't know if you need to do anything else so sit on your hands for the time being!

Perfect!

Thank you so much for your advice.

BPSS is the basic security check and looks for anything that makes you an unsuitable risk for the civil service such as crime or being a Russian spy.

By being successful in the application you’ve convinced the interviewer(s) that you are suitable and met their criteria for the role.

The process will take some time, so don’t worry and you don’t need to justify yourself.
The questionnaire is confidential and won’t be seen by your future manager. It is used by the security team to check up on you.

Be honest with the form. I don’t think their is any need to go into the relationship - you were a SAHM, have done training and volunteering. If ever you go onto more sensitive work then other levels of clearance are required and looked into you in more detail. Honesty with the security team will clear one person whereas hiding something minor will fail another person.

It is also possible to get in with some form of police record. We had one once who came from a bad family, had moved away, changed his name etc and declared it all - he was almost cleared except the checks identified new offences pending court that he had not declared

PS if there’s anything else they want to know, or further details required they will be back to you for clarification.

An employment gap is the least of their worries

Well done!
Did you explain about your gap from work in the interview? If so, it's all fine. This form is just a standard thing to fill in (fill in what you can).

The fact you have been attending work coach interviews is clear evidence of what you've been doing employment-wise for the last 3 years anyway.

Really don't worry about any of it. The application and interview were the hard part!

Hi @FishyFriday and others, how do they verify employment? I wrote a lie on my CV as I had a 1 year gap but other than that I have great experience. I don't want to approach this friend for a reference whose company name I've mentioned as they cheated me financially. I'm worried I won't clear if they do a reference check. How do they verify employment is it by checking your CV on LinkedIn? They're not asking for any references contact details