Background check failed, job offer withdrawn, Can I do anything?

chipmoon

I applied to a big financial firm and they offered me a job. The job had a condition of security clearance. They required me to fill in a form on all my education/ employment etc which I had done and also asked whether I had any criminal activities, bankruptcy's and also disciplinaries in any environment.

I declared this all honestly and said no to criminal activities and bankruptcys but for disciplinaries I wrote yes and informed them of my university cheating which happened well over five years ago. I felt that being honest was the right thing to do even though I was well aware of the fact that should I have not stated it, they would never find out unless I declare it and therefore I went ahead and declared it as I wanted them to know of the only thing in my career that had happened.

Now I don't condone my cheating in an exam in any instance but I had paid my price for this (4 exam marks capped even though I cheated in one only, made to resit etc) and since then have done alot to change myself. I have an excellent track record with previous employers and I am sure 99% of my managers would vouch on my performance and character as a person.

I was completely honest throughout the whole recruitment and when they verified everything I wrote on my CV with dates, previous managers, salary etc it was all a true and accurate description and there was no lies. I told them every little thing about me. As my start date was nearing, I chased and chased the recruiters and HR and they told me they just needed to verify my exam results but everything else was fine. The recruiter had told me to hand in my resignation and made a big fuss as she said I need to be available to work on the 6th Sept but better ensure I sort out my resignation and told me many times to hand it in. They have been reference checking me since July 10 (for two months almost) when I handed my form in.

Yesterday I received a voicemessage that I need to return their call urgently. Upon calling them they informed me that as I stated that I had cheated in an exam and therefore have integrity issues and will be withdrawing my job offer. I informed them to call all my employers and take character references who would indeed say I am not like that and the whole cheating happened well over 5 years ago and I do have integrity but she wouldn't budge and said the decision has been made and nothing can be done.

While I don't condone my cheating in anyway, I find this whole matter unfair for many reasons:

1) Firstly I honestly gave them this information even though I knew if I hadn't declared it they would have never known. Yet my integrity here is counted for nothing. If I hadn't given them this information, I would have passed the check but I chose to give it as I felt it was wrong not too and defeats the purpose of showing I have learnt the error from previous actions.

2) Secondly, they received my form in July 10, before they proceeded in verifying my employment and CV, surely they would have seen what I had written and should have informed me they will no longer proceed with my form as cheating isn't acceptable since they felt integrity is such an issue due to this. Why bother verifying if the decision had been made based on that? Everything else checked through okay, there was no lies whatsoever on my form.

3) They informed me all the checks had passed except for verifying my grades and that I should resign only for them to withdraw yesterday and in effect left completely jobless. They said that unless I have it in writing there is nothing they can do.

4) I wasn't even given a chance to discuss any of it but informed of the decision only. And none of my experience or anything that has happened after the cheating incident has counted.

5) They left my employers lingering even though I kept telling them that I need to resign and give a good enough notice. They completely took my employers for a ride.

6) When I initially handed in my form, they sent an email to say that when the first level of screening had been passed I would receive a secure ID. They issued this to me and sent me an email with the ID. Surely if I was to pass the first level this would include looking at what I had written on my form (and the cheating was there in black and white)?

I am so disappointed and I cannot stop thinking what have I done to deserve this. They left me potentially jobless as I already handed in my resignation (as they told me too and I took their word at face value) in both my work places to start with the new firm. I have only managed to escape unemployment as I called up both my previous employers immediately and asked them to take me back explaining what had happened and both have offered my jobs back to me verbally whilst seeing what they can do to retract the resignation (as it's very hard to do this). My managers were shocked at the outcome as they know I have integrity yet due to one small mistake I made many years ago, they won't hire me. The fact that my previous employers have taken me back (both managers) even after I resigned shows I must be a good employee somehow. Surely if I was such a bad person or lacked integrity, they wouldn't bend over backwards to try give my job back to me.

I am so upset as the new job was not only my dream firm, it was my dream job where I even spoke to my new manager to be to discuss exactly what I'd be doing etc. I cannot believe that I was due to start on Monday and they told me on Friday they are withdrawing the offer. They built my hopes up for this long and completely put me down.

I know i have made previous mistakes and I completely own up to them and admit them whenever I need to but how much longer am I to be punished for it? Half a decade has gone on and I sure have changed for the better and I am sure many people will vouch for this. How am I supposed to prove I have integrity if I am not given a chance? Is there anything I can do?

Errata

Sorry - but you've given them proof that you don't have integrity. You loaded the gun and they fired it.

Oldernotwiser

Five years isn't really that long - if it were a conviction, it wouldn't be spent by now.

It is a shame that they left it so late though.

skattykatty

Hate to say it, but obviously I will, I have had to admit that honesty in these situations is NOT the best policy. If there is NO WAY that a future employer would ever find out about something in your past and that something may call your 'integrity' or 'capability' or 'motivation', or whatever, into question whereas you know how brilliant you are, DON'T tell them.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. You are lucky to have such understanding employers.

chipmoon

Thanks for the responses. Even though I was aware they wouldn't find out unless I declare it, I chose to because the question asked so and I wanted to be honest that yes there is only one disciplinary ever in my entire history but I am not that person anymore. I thought I was doing a good thing as there is no way they would have found that information but they now withdrew the offer instead.

I am so lucky I have the managers I have but I am completely shattered at the end result and after such a lengthy time.

errata, if I didn't have integrity then I wouldn't have declared it. I don't think one action (which nobody knows the full circumstances under which it occured except the university) deems me to be completely dishonest for life.

TheBottomLine_2

I feel for you mate. You've chosen to be honest which, to me at least, says that you've put your past (by which I mean one judgement error) behind you. I hate to say it but I'd keep it to yourself in the future. Good luck.

SarEl

To respond to your final question, I am sorry but there isn't anything you can do. You had a conditional offer dependant on them making a decision about your background checks, and you therefore never had a confirmed job offer. I think the decision somewhat harsh, but then they may also have had their reasons. Perhaps rather than learning that honesty doesn't pay (if they had found out about this any time later - and it's surprising how things get found out - they could have dismissed you), I would suggest that you go with never handing in your resignation until you have a confirmed job offer and have accepted it. Even then it isn't impossible for things to go wrong, but it is less so. If an employer is very keen for you to start, then the onus is really on them to complete their recruitment processes quickly so that they can issue the confirmed offer. It's a hard way to learn the lesson, but it's one that's worth knowing. Again, I think it harsh of them, and I am sorry you've had this disappointment.

cashbackproblems

It sounds like this is an investment bank or similar as i know from experience they have strict backround checks, my first job after uni jp morgan delayed my start date by 3 weeks as my college job at sainsburys hadnt provided a reference yet!

It sound like the question on the form was regards to workplace disciplinaries (thts how i would have interpreted it) so there really was no need to decale the cheating. I know for a fact if they had requested a reference from the uni (which they generally dont) the university wouldnt have mentioned the cheating they are good with tht kind of thing. I had a friend who was caught 3 times few yrs back and he still got a 2.2 and a good reference from his tutor.

Nothing u can do now, but apply for other jobs, and do u really want to work for a company which has HR who not understanding or sympathetic?

One thing u could do asap is write/email the manager/person who interviewed u and explain the situation to them and cut out the HR ppl who are telling u they are withdrawing the offer. They generally have more commin sense.

chuckley

how would any employer find out about the cheating?! they told u to resit, so surely that was the end of the matter?!

SevenOfNine

It's a great shame that they couldn't see that by declaring it you WERE demonstrating integrity and honesty, (assuming as you say they'd never have found out about it otherwise).

Personally, I'd write a nice, polite letter to the person who would have been your manager saying the ghist of the above, and how disappointed you are that they couldn't recognise it and punish you for a mistake made 5 years ago which you bitterly regret. Probably won't change things but might make you feel better. (I don't mean a rambling tirade of criticism though.)

I wonder if in a way you aren't still punishing yourself for what you did. You are clearly sorry, so let it go and keep it to yourself in future (no discussions with friends, colleagues - let it go completely).

Errata's post was phrased a trifle harshly but I'd have to agree with it, though it might be fairer to say "you DIDN'T have integrity" - you clearly have it in abundance now.

skattykatty

hear hear! you have integrity, clearly you have learned lots and have moved on in the past 5 years. Writing a calm, considered letter as others have said isn't a bad idea. Like SarEl said don't take anything for granted unless it's in writing and signed, sealed, delivered.

Wish you luck and joy of your future employment. You clearly deserve it.