Published Feb 5, 2010
MBsGirl
36 Posts
Recently I applied for a prn position that I was really excited about. The interview process took awhile because the position was on hold for several months, but it was opened back up and I got the job offer a couple weeks ago. The problem? The organization doing the background check couldn't verify my employment at several places, because I put the wrong start/stop dates on my resume. I had several prn jobs simultaneously and couldn't remember exactly on most of them when doing my resume. So, instead of doing the smart thing and calling HR at those places, I just tried to do it from memory. The discrepancies weren't horrible, just a month or two off. I got statements from my former employers verifying my dates of employment and faxed it to the agency. But still, the fact that it was at several of my jobs..I'm sure I probably won't get this job after all because of this, and I'm so bitterly disppointed. How could I have been so careless?
I'm currently working a med/surg floor and while I love my patients and like my coworkers alot, doing the bedside is just not for me at my age. The job I was applying for was prn in case management, which I did for 5 years at my previous job before moving to a different state.
Oh, well. Que sera, sera. I'll just try to be thankful that I have a corrected resume and be more careful the next time...sigh.
Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN
469 Posts
MBs, Maybe now that they have the dates you will be okay. They already extended the offer, yes? Dont throw in the towel yet! Let us know how it goes. :) Ivanna
FowLaf24/7
81 Posts
This is something I have done in the past too. The issue is a computer system, and the individual has the ability to narrow their search. I guess I better update my resume, and get the full dates on my start and stop of my employment. I hope they give you a second chance. I wish you well.
Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN
4 Articles; 7,907 Posts
Good luck with the job situation! Don't give up yet.
What I've done to keep track of employment dates, addresses from the last 7 years, certifications, reference names and numbers, etc. is to put all of that information in a plain old RTF (Rich Text) file, along with a text version of my resume. Then I always kept a printed copy in my job-hunting folder, and I'd reprint and replace it whenever I updated the info.
I never gave the document to an employer--it was only for me, so I'd always have that information in one place and readily accessible. And it had saved my life more than once, especially when I went on interviews (or crashed HR offices) and they asked for more information. Instead of pawing through my phone book or having to tell them "I don't know," I had the info.
Another advantage to making this file was that it made applying to jobs online easy: I would just copy and paste info from the file into the application forms as needed...and already having a text-only version of my resume meant I didn't have to reformat it when it came to the resume section.
Thanks, Meri...I used to keep photocopies of all my certs, my license, and my Dr license but hadn't needed to for some years. I plan to keep the copies of the verification letters. They've been scanned in, so at least now I can submit them w/ my resume for my next job hunt. Assuming this one doesn't work out...I'm still hopeful.
You're welcome. The idea came from a lesson I learned the hard way :) Hopefully I can spare others by sharing it.
katkonk, BSN, RN
400 Posts
This has happened to me before. I juggled several per-diem and prn jobs at once and had one background check where they put "adverse" on the check because my dates had been off...very similar to yours. I simply called HR at the place I was applying to and told them that I had several jobs at once. I told them the background check company was putting "adverse" on their check because the dates didn't match what I put down, but all my time was accounted for as being employed at one place or another. The HR person said she understood and it was no problem. In some cases (like mine) I was in a hospital's per diem pool and just sort of stopped going there for assignments as others were keeping me busy. I really had no idea what month they actually happened to take me off their per diem list. You can relate that over the phone if you can get someone to talk to you. GOOD LUCK.
Hi, thanks for everyone's reply! I did call one place today, apparently they just went back to the last time I worked, even though it was a couple months later that I officially resigned. They said they would be glad to verify it. I left a message w/ the HR person of the place I'm applying, haven't heard back yet.
Ahhphoey
370 Posts
Good luck with the job. I've had that same issue as I've worked several jobs simultaneously as prn or part-time in the past. What saved me though, is that my last several jobs were in the same hospital system, just at different locations so it was fairly easy to confirm my dates. I think I'm going to do like some the people here and get all that information organized for quick access.