How Far Back Do Employers Check When Employing Someone?

Hesty

I last worked 5 years ago (I haven't been in work since then because of serious illness and University) in a Supermarket as a Customer Services Assistant and unofficial staff trainer (it was unofficial because it was never put in my contract and I wasn't paid any extra money for taking on more responsibilities).

My question is; Will a company I'm applying to contact my last employer even if I'm not using them for a reference? The company I worked for has since changed their name after a take over (I was working for Safeway which has now become Morrisons) so will they even have a record of me working there anymore?

The reason I ask is becuse I'm applying for a job in a school as an Advice and Guidence councilor which not only offers on the job training and a qualification but is a fantastic oppertunity. I pretty much meet everything in the person specification and I have experience of giving advice and guidence to people in my role as a staff trainer at Safeway/Morrisons so I know how to do the job.

But as I'm not using Safeway/Morrisons for a reference will the school even bother contacting them? Especially as it was so long ago that I last worked for them.

Also, how does an employer look up previous work experience? Can it be done in detail if they don't contact the company you worked for? Is there a NI record or something that gets looked at?

Thanks.

fengirl_2

A potential employer can only get information direct from a previous employer - there is no public access to NI records (what a terrible thought!). You sign your application form to certify that it is correct - if your employer subsequenly finds out you have lied they could sack you. But they dont go back and contact every previous employer - only those you have given as a reference (and sometimes its hard going even getting a reply from them!)

Savvy_Sue

A school certainly wouldn't check in-depth. MI5 OTOH ...

Should be fine.

SarEl

The answer really depends on why you are asking. Theoretically an employer can contact any previous employer (or in fact just about anyone else) to confirm what has been said in an application form. Few bother to do so unless there are specific reasons and/or concerns. But at the same time, schools have legal duties in safeguarding - which is why they must do CRB checks. So certain things, like criminal records (and for work with children the checks are more than just for convictions) are checked very carefully indeed.

Hesty

SarEl wrote: »

The answer really depends on why you are asking.

I'm just asking because the requirements of the job match what I have done previously and I was wondering if the school I'm applying for can check the experience that I have at my old job. I'm not going to be able to prove it too much beyond what I tell them verbally, in writing and through demonstration if the old job won't confirm my details and the roles I performed with them (I doubt they would say anything as I worked for them more than 3 years ago).

LittleVoice

Hesty wrote: »

I'm just asking because the requirements of the job match what I have done previously and I was wondering if the school I'm applying for can check the experience that I have at my old job. I'm not going to be able to prove it too much beyond what I tell them verbally, in writing and through demonstration if the old job won't confirm my details and the roles I performed with them (I doubt they would say anything as I worked for them more than 3 years ago).

If you choose not to give Morrisons as a referee, they won't contact them (they would not have contact details if you didn't provide them).
However, if the work you did was relevant (even if not formally recorded), it might be useful to actually show that you did work there.
Doesn't the school want more than one work reference?

1984ReturnsForReal_2

For a majority of "normal" companies it is 10 years max......

Hesty

LittleVoice wrote: »

Doesn't the school want more than one work reference?

They want more than one reference (which I can provide from University and elsewhere).

It says on the application form; "Please give the names of at least two persons who are able to comment on your suitability for this post. One must be you present or last emplyer".

However, I'm not sure that Morrisons will provide a reference so long after I left. Now I'm not so sure what to do.

Savvy_Sue

I doubt Morrisons can provide a meaningful reference at this stage, unless you know the manager you worked for previously and can still get in touch with them. No point IMO having a 'Hesty worked for the company from x date to y date' reference, and that's all you're likely to get at this stage without that personal contact.

Shymate

On the form you would give the past employment as Safeways (now Morrisons), as they were your employers. On the reference section you could state Personnel Dept. or HR and give the address of the actual store you worked at. When a company is taken over many of the employees are retained. Past records may also be stored or archived and may or may not be easy to access. It would then be up to the school or any future employer to contact the company to ask for a reference, which could then be obtained from an employee's past records. Hope this helps.

Savvy_Sue

But it's not clear to me that Morrisons IS the last employer. Plus, as the training was not in the OP's formal job description, I'd be gobsmacked if any reference from HR included reference to it.

If this was a recent employer then it might look odd not to use a reference from them, especially as some of the most relevant experience was gained there, but not after this length of time.

All IMO ...