Background check failed, job offer withdrawn, Can I do anything?

chipmoon

TaxPayingMug wrote: »

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.

teabelly, the point of starting this thread was not to discuss what I had done and have lots of people have a go at me for something I did half a decade ago. I never at one point mentioned it was an accident and as I keep saying it isn't an action I condone in anyway.

I would have been happy for the employer to put me on extended probationary for the next five years or have a clause in my contract that if I ever show any sign of lack of integrity, I will be asked to leave immediately and pay back the entire salary they paid out to me as I am confident that I would never breach this.

Taxpayingmug, you know nothing about me or my integrity and one mark (where you have no idea under which circumstances it occurred in) in my entire history does not indicate that I have "serious questions in my integrity" as you put it.

If that were the case, I'd have several disciplinaries as well as being dismissed in several jobs (none of which have happened, infact quite the opposite having landed several promotions along the way).

The employer would not have found this out unless it was a crime as information like this would not have been stored in a public database. They'd only have found it if it was declared as a crime, which it wasn't. And of course as I had opted to tell them because as you point out it was the right thing to do. Universities do not provide such details.

You don't know me and you know NOTHING about me. If another financial services firm has agreed to provide a reference to declare they feel I have integrity and such days are long behind me having known me and known myself for a long time, you are in no position to make judgements on my integrity and what sort of question marks there are on it.

The fact that they've even offered my job back having resigned clearly indiciates that I have shown integrity and honesty as surely if I lacked it, they would not allow me to withdraw my resignation or would have sacked me ages ago especially in other big organisations and they were well aware of the fact why the new firm had withdrawn the job offer.

I'm lucky I have the employers I have who are willing to look past my mistakes having known the sort of person I really am.

The new firm took a sentence which I wrote (not they found) and made a decision on that without even taking up character references or anything of the sort to see whether my character has changed or not.

I wasn't asking for your opinion whatsoever, so please keep your judgemental opinions to yourself.

I've never at any point said what I did was right nor tried to justify my actions are acceptable. I have always admitted it was wrong to do that and have fully accepted responsibility for my actions however there is a point at which things like this should be reconsidered or other things taken into account (such character references).

I completely agree that the cheating incident does indeed show I had a lack of integrity BACK THEN when it occurred. People change, move on and I certainly have done that therefore to continue to judge me for something I did years ago and deem me dishonest for life when I clearly have changed with evidence from many employers (including the university at which I cheated who also was an employer AFTER the cheating incident) who gain nothing for providing a reference on integrity about me does appear unfair to me.

skattykatty

My goodness! Surely, we learn from our mistakes? No, okay, not EVERYbody. Some people are stuck in their habitual patterns, and I'm not talking about sociopaths or anything...BUT come on! There but for the fortune...

skattykatty

too right chipmoon...all the best for all that you go on to achieve...

chipmoon

sulkisu wrote: »

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.

No they only contacted them to verify the grade I had said I got was indeed that and not something else inflamed. They were not interested in my character whilst at university or what I had been up to when I was there so the university are not allowed to disclose information they are not asked for especially when it wasn't asked or they have no idea in what context the information is to be used.

The university will only provide information it is requested for, nothing above that. If they are asked "did so and so get a 1st" the university can only reply with a "yes" or "no" answer, not include "but they had cheated." I double checked this with the university and they informed me they will confirm what the form asks for and nothing else unless, otherwise asked.

The university were not aware of whether it was for employment purposes or not as a third party agency conducts the check and I only agreed to release my grades and nothing more.

Mr_Oink

bristol_pilot wrote: »

This cannot be undone and is 'for ever'.

Never made an error of judgement, a mistake or found yourself under so much pressure to perform that you've cut corners? It's nice to meet you, Mr Perfect

Punishment, yes, for a whole lifetime. No. We live in a predominately Christian country where we are taught forgiveness. Going down the medieval route of a lifetime of torture and punishment for all minor torts is, in my opinion, no better than burning witches or stoning women to death for adultery.

Let's hope the OP learns one thing - Honesty gets you nowhere. Next time, keep your gob shut and don't hand it to them on a plate. You are human, you have made a mistake and I, for one, forgive you. Would I trust you working in a financial institution? Yes, as much as I'd trust anyone working for one. At least you are likely to tell me the truth.

sulkisu

I realise that they will usually only answer questions that they are speifically asked - which is why I said that references such as this usually specify the issue of honesty and integrity. I wasn't having a go, but I was speaking from experience. Having worked for a company which vetted applicants for similar posts, reference requests (to all referees) contained a standard paragraph along the lines of 'was the referee aware of anything which cast doubts as to the honesty or integrity of the applicant (I can't remember the exact wording). Rightly or wrongly, universities did include incidents of cheating or plagerism - although only the more serious case, such as in final exams etc. As I said before, I wasn't having a go and FWIW I genuinely believe that people do deserve a second chance. I only mentioned it to make you aware that the information could still come to light even if you do not disclosed it - it just depends how thorough the checks are. Only you can decide if honesty really is the best policy in future.

gilligansyle

I wish people would get off their judgmental high horses and read the original post. The OP was saying that cheating should never be condoned, the issue here is that as that was honestly stated at the time, why did they continue with the process, thus building the expectation.

The hard lesson about the cheating has been learned and paid for, the other hard lesson is 'never resign until you have a formal written job offer'.

chipmoon

Sorry sulkisu, my previous post was not aimed at you. I have responded to your post seperately and I meant it to those who were just going on about the cheating as though I condoned this behaviour.

It could possibly come out but as I had already seen the reference in advance which they were seeking, I was aware that this would have not been asked. If they were to ask the question you posed, they would have to ask my personal tutor or the person who managed my disso. The verifying was sent to the archives people who can only confirm information asked for and nothing more especially as they are not aware under what context the information would be used. However, even though I was aware this was not going to be posed, I chose to declare this information as I felt that it was the right thing to do.

Although many people have said, perhaps I should not have disclosed it since I knew it would never have been found, I will continue to state it on a job applications which asks for this information. If anything, by not declaring it would go above anything I have learnt about myself, about integrity and honesty and about this world in the last five years.

Thanks to everyone who has been kind enough to post with advice and guidance. Having read people's thoughts and opinions, I am still hurt at my dream job and firm slipping through my hand but happy at my ownself for declaring it and knowing that I have actually changed for the better (regardless of what some of the judgemental people who have commented think). Perhaps, I deserved the outcome, perhaps I didn't, but I will not allow people's opinion to have the better of me or decide my character for me especially when those who matter most to me know I have changed and my true character.

Many thanks again for everybody's post and I too wish you all the best in whatever you do with your life.

teabelly

Mr_Oink wrote: »

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.

In my world that would never happen. Possession of Celine Dion CDs would be a capital crime

Mr_Oink

teabelly wrote: »

In my world that would never happen. Possession of Celine Dion CDs would be a capital crime

Granted, and I've often told him he should of been jailed for that if he was cleared of dangerous driving! Offences against decency or something :rotfl: