Background check failed, job offer withdrawn, Can I do anything?

thorsoak

Sadly, your story just proves that it does not pay to cheat Things always manage to come up and kick you up the backside years later.

Of course you feel aggrieved at the moment - but how much worse it could have been, had you started the job, then through changes in procedures etc in the future, your past had been disclosed - that would have been twenty times worse.

You are gaining integrity - that shows by the fact that you disclosed your cheating when you need not have done so at this particular time. My suggestion would be that you do this at the start of any job interview - stressing that it was so long in the past, and ask if such a transgression by a studen would in any way exclude you from applying for such a job.

Good luck with the future - it will turn out right, I'm sure.

Mr_Oink

There seems to be little reward in life for working hard and being honest. It seems to pan out much like the song says; "You lie and you cheat, and you fall on your feet".

The problem with SC (and CRB to some extent) is it allows no room for people to make a mistake, admit it, pay for it and move on. Ultimately as this kind of database driven employment pre-screening becomes 'the norm' it will potentially have a massive impact the employment prospects of those that are not 110% perfect, 26 hours a day, 366 days of the year.

Will it make our children, vulnerable adults, money or data any safer? Consider this to be the answer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-11112460

teabelly

Cheating in an exam isn't an accident! It's a choice. There is a whole heap of difference between a bit daft in younger days and getting into bother and cheating when you are an adult. Unfortunately the 'coaching' towards model answers in schools to get grades up is so close to cheating it's untrue. It's no wonder that students in universities carry on this practice as the notion of doing their own work has been lost.

Cheating does pay it seems. There are loads of cheats in education that never get caught. It is sickening and devalues all the efforts of the honest students.

There is nothing wrong with people paying for their actions with consequences. Perhaps if it was more likely that those that misbehaved had to suffer later they may be a bit more circumspect about hanging around on street corners, mugging old ladies and other dubious activities. It's all a choice. It's not that hard to behave decently. A lot of people manage it perfectly well day in and day out.

Mr_Oink

teabelly wrote: »

There is nothing wrong with people paying for their actions with consequences. Perhaps if it was more likely that those that misbehaved had to suffer later they may be a bit more circumspect about hanging around on street corners, mugging old ladies and other dubious activities. It's all a choice. It's not that hard to behave decently. A lot of people manage it perfectly well day in and day out.

I could not agree more, but should we punish people for the rest of their lives for some relatively minor and stupid mistakes?

teabelly

Mr_Oink wrote: »

I could not agree more, but should we punish people for the rest of their lives for some relatively minor and stupid mistakes?

It depends on what they have done, how they are behaving now and what the circumstances are. Those with a history of an attempted fraud I don't think should be working in financial institutions ever. It's harsh maybe but it's an area where you have to have the highest level of scruples. Policemen shouldn't have a criminal past either. In other areas of life it wouldn't matter so much and after maybe 10+ years of honest work with no further signs of dodgy behaviour then it could be forgotten about if it were a minor incident. But it is still a warning sign and a question mark over that person that given the right circumstances they can make poor choices.

TaxPayingMug

How on earth can you claim that you have been treated unfairly?

There are SERIOUS questions regarding your integrity, and whether you think that to be the case or not, it's a fact.

The employer would also have found out about this, either through their own investigative work, or at a later date by chance, as financial institutions are incredibly strict on their checks, so you did the right thing.

Unfortunately for you though, your dishonesty, which is just a few years ago, has bitten you on the behind.

Valuable lesson for those reading this thread i think.

Rainmaker_uk

We are in the middle of a recession. Any queries about your integrity and trustworthiness would result in your place being filled by the line of people waiting in the wings.

It does however seen odd that this has precluded you from a career in financial services - I would have thought a lack of integrity was a pre-requisite...

Mr_Oink

teabelly wrote: »

It depends on what they have done, how they are behaving now and what the circumstances are. Those with a history of an attempted fraud I don't think should be working in financial institutions ever. It's harsh maybe but it's an area where you have to have the highest level of scruples. Policemen shouldn't have a criminal past either. In other areas of life it wouldn't matter so much and after maybe 10+ years of honest work with no further signs of dodgy behaviour then it could be forgotten about if it were a minor incident. But it is still a warning sign and a question mark over that person that given the right circumstances they can make poor choices.

Whilst I sympathise with the rhetoric, even 'perfect' people do wrong. For example it comes to light today that a Wilsthisire Police Sergeant assaulted a 59 year old woman in his custody. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1309136/Lifted-like-rag-doll-hurled-cell-Shocking-video-police-brutality--5ft-2in-tall-59-year-woman.html

There are probably numerous fair arguments about those working in the financial and banking sectors screwing us all over, are these upright and decent people with a good moral compass, I wonder?

How about falling into financial hardship and (choosing or not being able to) paying your debts. Would this make you a bad person an mean you should never work anywhere where cash is handled ever again? The credit reference agencies seem to hold this data for only 6 or so years, but a financial sanctions check could hold this against you forever.

We also have a rehabilitation of offenders act, but no scope within the CRB or SC/DC framework to support it.

You'd be amazed how normal self righteous humans can make costly mistakes too. My friend used to tell me how people in prison 'had it easy and should be given bread and water'. That was before he killed a pedestrian in a momentary lapse of concentration whilst driving. All to change a Celine Dion CD. He was sentenced to 2 years himself and, despite that being 'spent' in ten years, he will probably never be able to work anywhere sensible every again because of it.

So let's not be too quick to judge here, eh, because you never know when you may just slip from your own pedestal and land face first in the drink.

bristol_pilot

The only way in which the OP has been unfairly and unprofessionally treated was being advised to resign before all checks were complete and the job offer was made unconditional. For future reference - NEVER resign until a new job is definite and in writing.

Honesty and integrity are not the same thing. The OP has shown honesty in 'confessing' to the cheating, but a lack of integrity in having cheated. This cannot be undone and is 'for ever'. To ignore cheating in a university exam by an adult would be a gross insult to the majority of students and applicants for the job who did not cheat. The firm has a duty to its clients to employ only people who can be trusted, after all millions of pounds of other people's money are handled by banks. A comparison with someone who finds themself unable to repay their debts is ridiculous.

sulkisu

I'm not sure why you believe that your cheating at university would not have been disclosed, when your prospective employer contacted them for a reference. The matter will be on record and requests for references such as this usually emphasise the issue of honesty and integrity. The university would be remiss if it lied (or witheld the truth) about such an important issue.