Resume/Background Checks for Gov't Jobs

[allthatshines]

Hi guys! So I'm planning on expanding my nursing career by applying to government/state jobs and I have a few questions on the resume and background checks. Kindly please help!

1. Should I ask for my personnel file from my past jobs to know exact information for my resume (as in: hire date, end date, performance)? I used to work for that big and popular theme park we all know and a big private caregiving company.

2. Do I put "under the table paid" jobs on my resume? Would I get in trouble during background checks?

3. How extensive are the background checks? Is it like any other employer? (I'm just REALLY NATURALLY curious, I'm not worried about it but it just bothers me that I have never seen a copy as I have had this done a couple of times.

4. Is there a way for me to do my own background check then? If for some reason I can't have access to my past one from previous employers?

Thank you guys! Any help/info is greatly appreciated!

[Meeshie]

1. You shouldn't need your personnel file but yes, you will need accurate start and end dates as well as a general job description and reason for leaving as well as whether or not you were terminated.

2. Personally, I would ask the companies before I put under the table jobs on this. Someone from the state/government is going to call them to verify that you worked for them. They might not want to admit to it if they're paying under the table since they should have been paying payroll taxes and weren't. Make sure that they're going to say you worked for them before you put them down. Also, I hope you put it on your taxes. If not you committed fraud and I'm not sure you want to put that on your background check.

3. It depends. Some are more extensive than others. It depends on whether it's state or government and the requirements of the position.

4. You can always pay a background check company to do a check on you. How extensive it is vs the one you're going to have - I have no idea.

[allthatshines]

Thank you so much, Meeshie! You answered that perfectly. I just moved to the states permanently 3 years ago. I have a dual citizenship and good records for the background checks, although I am not worried about that part I am worried about a period of "unemployment" while I had these under the table jobs while I was in nursing school at the same time. Do you think I can classify these jobs under an internship?

[Meeshie]

You can list it however you want - if the jobs themselves won't say the same then you'll lose this job opportunity. Personally I'd contact these jobs and ask what they want you to say or not say. And again, if you didn't list it on your taxes I wouldn't list it at all. Because, ya know, tax fraud.

If the period of time is while you were in school then the time is easily explained as "in school". Not everyone works while pursuing a degree, after all.

[Cat365]

It depends on the type of job, how much you made, and if you reported it. If I mow my grandmothers lawn and she pays me I generally don't report it. How are they going to know if I don't tell them. If I deliver newspapers then I'm considered an independent contractor and the newspaper company is reporting that they paid me, even though they didn't withhold taxes. I would report this on my taxes and on the background check.