General Question about Background Checks/Previous Employment

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Mar 2, 2010

Due to Federal requirements, most hospitals now are doing 'deep' background checks. You will have to fill out a form giving them permission. The check includes feretting out information needed to do a "true identity" check. Apparently, some folks go around pretending to be someone else, using someone else's SSN, etc. Anywhooo - the information will include FICA & IRS data - $ deducted from payroll and paid into your SS account. So, any jobs you had that included Federal deductions from your check will turn up. If you were working as a contractor - no deductions - the job may not show up.

Frankly, I don't think anyone looks very closely at any short 'casual' jobs you held just to help with expenses during HS or college. But, just to be on the safe side, if they sent you a W2 at the end of the year, you should list them.

juliaann · Mar 2, 2010

If the application says something like "list your last 4 jobs," you should list your last 4 jobs, regardless of length of time or type of employment. They will likely show up on your background check and you don't want to make it look like your hiding anything or can't remember where you worked and when.

On your resume/CV, though, you don't have to list every job -and you shouldn't, especially if you've had 20 jobs since starting working at 16/18 years old - most employers don't care you were a part time McDonald's cashier in high school. Your resume should be short and highlight the things about you that make you well suited to that particular job. So just head the section "selected work experience" or "work experience highlights" or "select employment history" and just list the jobs you've had that are applicable and make you look good. If your nurse aide/unit clerk experience is the only healthcare experience you have, put on some other recent jobs that show you're well-rounded and that you've been a reliable employee for someone else. List jobs that have challenged you that you have good references from.

llg, PhD, RN · Mar 3, 2010

Personally ... when I am looking at resumes for externs and new grads for possible hire ... I want to see all of their previous jobs and anything else that shows that they are likely to be outstanding employees. For example, if you were promoted to a leadership position, won an award, elected to a leadership position of an organization -- even if it had nothing to do with nursing.

That doesn't mean you have to list all the details. For example, if you were a waitress at several different restaurants, that can be listed as 1 item. "4 years of experience as a waitress in 3 restaurants in the xyz area." "3 years of sales associate experience in 2 department stores." etc. "Details available upon request." This tells the perspective employer where you have been in life and what you have done, but doesn't clutter up your resume with details they don't need. If they want the details, they can ask for them.

While it is good to streamline your resume ... be careful not to cut out information that shows you will be a good employee and or will help you stand out from the other appliants. You don't want your resume to be so generic that it looks the same as everybody else's.

Sunshine09RN · Mar 3, 2010

Frankly, I don't think anyone looks very closely at any short 'casual' jobs you held just to help with expenses during HS or college. But, just to be on the safe side, if they sent you a W2 at the end of the year, you should list them.

Thanks for the information. This is exactly what I was looking for. I just finished a second-degree BSN, and I had several "casual" jobs throughout my many years of college. Guess I'll be listing them all (if asked to do so) just to be on the safe side!