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?

Surely it would go against GDPR for a company to hang on to your info for 25 years when they don’t need it. Maybe point that out to the new company.

They read my CV before the interview, told me it was a good CV and pretty much offered me the job during the interview (pending DBS). I didn’t expect them to go through all my employers checking I was telling the truth. The job is a job I am over qualified for, not really a skilled job, the references I gave conform my capabilities.

I dont want to sound smug but yes and I started work in 1980. I've kept records and payslips.

Blimey.. if they asked me that.. 4 of the places no longer exists.. even the buildings.
One potential employer tried to get in touch with my school to see if l was being true about my O and A levels.. even the school doesn't exist anymore nor the teachers.🤷‍♀️

I’m waiting for this too……they will likely ask for proof of exams and qualifications which I don’t have (no my GCSE’s anyway).

You sound more like a hoarder tbh.

I could. But probably because they're not that long ago.

Job 1 was 18th Sept 2012 to 21st Sept 2018
Job 2 was 22th Sept 2018 to 18th March 2018
Job 3 was 1st August 2018 to 22nd July 2025

I couldn't. My CV doesn't cover exact dates from my ancient work history and several of the organisations I worked for no longer exist.
I went through UK government security clearance a few years ago and 6 years of work references was enough for SC.
I couldn't be bothered to work for an organisation that is so up itself it thinks that a job in a pub 25 years ago is relevant to anything you are doing now.

Honestly, that's ludicrous! It stands to reason a pub wouldn't have a record of you working there, after 25 years! It doesn't have an HR department and even if it did, would they keep employee records dating that far back?!!! To go back 10 years fair enough, but 25, that's plain stupid. My husband works in an industry where he needs security clearance and he has to provide such information - which I understand!

Ah, well they are just being unreasonable then. I wouldn't expect peope to be able to name the month for the last few jobs they had especially it was more then a few years ago. The rough year yes. Im not sure what they are trying to gain by asking and trying to catch you out!? Weird.

Under GDPR companies have to delete all information about former employees seven years after they leave.

Any company still holding your details from 25 years ago is breaking the law.

Any company asking another to break the law is breaking the law.

It might be worth copying the ICO into your conversation with these people.

Yes I’d know exact dates. Wouldn’t need to look it up. It’s all in my head.

Yes, well at least the month I started

Even for a full security check to work in the House of Commons you don't need this! It's totally bizarre.

In case someone wanted proof of my work history?

Or alternatively, I last moved house in 97 and we have space so I haven't needed to throw them out.

So they contacted the pub you worked at in 1999 and the current manager responded saying he doesn't know you and doesn't have records records going back that far. And therefore they won't offer you the job? That's bonkers!

They haven’t said they won’t offer me the job. They just told me they have no record of me. I have asked for them to explain why they need this information as it’s from 25 years ago.

Every job I've applied for in the past has asked for this information (education) as well as reasons for any gaps, including fleeing domestic abuse and court proceedings against my ex. They've also requested GCSE, A Level and degree certificates.

Its a lot to ask but in this industry I don't think it's unreasonable if I'm working with children.

2 of my previous employers don't exist any more and my uni was taken over entirely and the campus I was at was flattened and is now a housing estate!

I'm most impressed that you left job 2 before you started. Was time travelling involved?

I did part-time jobs when I was studying (retail) that are completely irrelevant to what I do now so I don't even list them in my CV.

A couple of companies I worked for early on in my career don't even exist anymore

I tend to go back about 15 years only (to also avoid age discrimination) on my CV and only put the years rather than exact dates and I have never had issues when taking on a new job.

They sound ridiculous and it would put me off the idea of working for a company that is wasting my time and theirs in this way.

Have they said what they would do if the information they want doesn't exist?

I don’t put part time student type jobs on my cv because that would be ludicrous. Also I would have no idea when exactly I started jobs twenty odd years ago. Most of the places I’ve worked have been renamed and restaffed so I doubt anyone would remember me anyway. Can you just say some reasonable dates and hope that’s acceptable?

I’ve kept all P60’s and 1 payslip from every year from 1973. Stood me in good stead when the NHS tried to tell me they had no record of me before 1983, and I would be therefore getting much less redundancy money.

I had this recently for a midday meals supervisor job in a Special School!! Absolutely ridiculous.
I understand it's education, safeguarding etc but. They asked for my exam certificates from GCSEs and A levels -I'm 46 FFS. They also asked for my job details in the 90's!!! Names etc of pre club bars I worked at which are long gone.
In the end they withdrew the job offer because I couldn't provide an overseas police check from when I went travelling getting clean and doing yoga on a beach 10 years ago. Really awful experience- got me down. I feel for you.

Not yet. I have emailed back asking them to explain why they want this information.

If they start asking me for proof of my GCSE’s etc….then I might as well give up now, I don’t have my certificates.