Can you name everywhere you have worked since leaving education and the exact dates? Job application asking for this.

[Lovemusic82]

I applied for a part time job, nothing exciting, minimum wage. I am a carer for disabled child/adult but wanted a job to fit around her. I got through the interview process but the amount of information and references they need seems a bit OTT. They asked for all my work places, dates I started, date I left and the reason why. I trained to work in an industry where it’s common not to stay in one place long so I have had quite a few jobs in the past 25 years plus a gap to have dc and care for dd. They are now trying to contact the very first place I worked 25 years ago to conform I worked for them…the place is a pub and has changed hands many times in the past 25 years, they can’t find my details. I have given 2 places I have worked for references as well as a personal reference but apparently that’s not good enough. Is this normal practice? The jobs 12 hours a week.

Im wondering if it’s just me that has disorganised brain but should I be able to remember everywhere I have worked, when I started and left?

I've only worked at 3 places. I'd need to check payslips for exact start and end dates though. Luckily I have kept all payslips since 1985.

It's on my CV, but otherwise I would struggle with exact dates, could probably do month and year.

That sounds like a crazy amount of info they want though.

Exact dates? No. But the month and year is on my CV.

Why on earth are they going back that far?

Exact dates and checking as far back as 25 years seems insane to me, yes. I have my full work history on my CV but it's month and year and I certainly wouldn't expect anyone to contact employers from decades ago, who, like yours have since stopped trading or been taken over by different people.

I’m not that organised. I have probably worked in 15+ places as well as being self employed, when I was younger I often worked 2 jobs at once. I haven’t kept payslips from that far back. I have everything from when I was self employed (incase I get asked to show it to the tax man).

They are expecting a pub to have kept records of past bar staff for 25 years? Some of the firms I've worked for in the past are no longer in existence, and the building demolished.

I can just about remember the month and year for each job, but I haven't changed employers all that often - hang on, (consults memory) - seven altogether since 1979, plus a period of freelance, plus some years as a sahm.

Well yes, i couldn't rattle them all off accuratly but every new job i got I updated my CV so its all on there. Annoying when job appplications want you to essetially re-write your CV in their format when most people already have it done. Im guessing they can't be bothered to read you whole CV? I usually just copy and paste most of it anyway.

I can do month and year but I've only moved jobs 3 times since 2001...

Jeepers. Why on earth would you need a payslip from 40 years ago?!

That is nuts that they want a reference (because that's what it is) from an employer from 20 years ago. What exactly is the concern if two referees aren't enough? Sounds as though someone is not a commonsense approach. I'd be querying whether I'd want to work for them.

I even remember what months and years I left jobs, going back to the 70's/80's/90's. A lot of places I worked don't exist anymore What they are doing to you is not normal practice at all, it's mad.

Exactly. All you need is a P60 if you want a record.

I did tell them that it would be unlikely to trace it back 25 years and expect any kind of reference but they said they need too 😬.

I have already had to give loads of info for a DBS check and now they are asking me for proof of everywhere I have worked but they seem fixated on this one place even though it was 25 years ago and only worked their for a year. Another place I worked no longer exists, I worked their for 4 years but they are not asking for any info on that one.

I have had so many jobs……. I wouldn’t remember exact dates and some companies have merged/bought out with/by others now as well as companies having closed….. Sounds like this job is so much more hassle than it’s worth.

I applied for some casual work with a college. Couple of hours a week, over about 10 weeks. Doing something that you don’t really have a CV for.
They insisted on a CV and a full application form completed although no normal job skills are relevant for this role, other than turn up on time. Numerous references were requested.
All info for pension/holiday etc completed, even though my hours would be too short to qualify for either.
Photo and info for ID card needed…..
They had me come to their office numerous times. Sent me a contract.

Then the course was cancelled due to
low numbers and they wanted me to travel back to their office to return the contract!
I just ignored them……

Nah, I don't think there's any job I'd want badly enough to jump through those hoops. My CV doesn't even have the first few years of employment of 6 months here and there in various retail and casual hospitality as it's not remotely relevant to what I do now.

I would manage places and year, but exact dates? Not at all.
Tbey sound a bit deranged to want to check a job from 25 years ago. It would put me off working for them.

I am questioning whether it’s worth it. The amount of paperwork I have had to go through, fill in, sign agreements etc…is just crazy. It’s quite a big company and they use another company to deal with references etc. I’ve never experienced anything like it. It’s like they are questioning if I’m telling the truth about who I am despite me doing everything for the DBS check.

I could but doing a check on somewhere 25 years ago that's not relevant is highly unusual. I had checks trying to go back almost that sort of time but companies often don't keep records due to GDPR. Though they agreed not to bother in end.

I had to do this to become a foster parent, I think I went through HMRC to get my full employment records.

25 years is insane. 5 or 10 years (at a push) yes, but 25? No way. My HR Manager goes back 5 years, and even then some applicants have trouble remembering. HMRC normally cover it though. But 25 years? Wow!

No luckily my last job asked for a five year summary of my employment from Hmrc. Which is handily downloadable on the app. I’d personally start there and make educated guesses at the rest, payslips bank statements, emails from the period. I email myself psyslips etc.

Sorry this is ridiculous. The first few places I worked for don´t even exist any more as they were foreign exchange bureaus and disappeared when the euro came into force in 2002?
The people from the place I am now were only interested in my last two jobs which went back like 5-6 years. Like normal people.

I can do month and year, and if they ask for a day I always used the 1st.

Is the job in education or healthcare? It's about making sure there are no safeguarding red flags - for example someone could have been in prison abroad. In health we require a full career history with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps. In practice, lots of people have gaps due to caring responsibilities - so it isn't unusual, but we do need a documented reason. We also need professional, and not personal references. I believe education follow safer recruitment which is based upon similar safeguarding principles.

Have you any emails of job offers/interview dates that would help you pin down dates?

I dunno, maybe I'm making too much of it but I wonder if it's almost indirect discrimination? The older you get the further back your employment history goes and the less likely it is you can verify you worked there.