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Can companys check if youve been working or not?

faringdon
faringdon Posts: 73 Forumite
Third Anniversary 10 Posts
edited 27 October 2022 at 11:13PM in Employment, jobseeking & training
Hi,
I just spent the last 6 months unsucessfully trying to start a power supply business. I earned no money, then the business crashed. I obviosuly didnt pay tax for 6 months, or earn any money for that 6 months. Can prospective employers that i now apply to,  see this if they have my N.I. number? That is, can they see that i was out of the PAYE system for 6 months?
It is worrying because i seem to be getting lots of rejections and i wonder if its because they think i "dropped out" for 6 months.

Comments

  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 36,167 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    What are you putting on your CV/application for those 6 months?
    No-one Is going to be looking at your PAYE before you start a job. 
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • Undervalued
    Undervalued Posts: 9,613 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 28 October 2022 at 7:22AM
    faringdon said:
    Hi,
    I just spent the last 6 months unsucessfully trying to start a power supply business. I earned no money, then the business crashed. I obviosuly didnt pay tax for 6 months, or earn any money for that 6 months. Can prospective employers that i now apply to,  see this if they have my N.I. number? That is, can they see that i was out of the PAYE system for 6 months?
    It is worrying because i seem to be getting lots of rejections and i wonder if its because they think i "dropped out" for 6 months.
    You are taking a considerable risk if you make a false statement in an attempt to secure employment. If the employer subsequently finds out you could well be dismissed. Whilst some won't particularly care, providing you are doing the job to their satisfaction, others will have a zero tolerance policy and you will be straight out of the door!
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 14,021 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 28 October 2022 at 7:49AM
    Your tax code may give a clue whether there was income, but generally one company wouldn't want another to see their payroll.
    However, what's wrong with having tried to set up a business? Put it on your c.v.
    The only issues would be if there was any sharp practices going on or you were declared bankrupt.
  • The fact that you don't have a recent P45 will tell them you have been out of the PAYE system.  But what is the problem with that?  I assume your CV tells them that you have been self-employed for the last 6 months and there's nothing wrong with that.

    Unless you've just left a 6 month gap on your CV?  Because that might  put some employers off.
  • lisyloo
    lisyloo Posts: 30,077 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    My advice is be honest about your experiences and try to emphasise the positive that have come from the experience.
    It certainly shouldn't put off any small businesses who would understand.
    For larger companies and permanent positions you need to describe it in as positive terms as you can.
    Did you for example gain any project management, accounting, planning or any other type of learning experience from this?

    A gap certainly could put some off.
  • The fact that you don't have a recent P45 will tell them you have been out of the PAYE system.  But what is the problem with that?  I assume your CV tells them that you have been self-employed for the last 6 months and there's nothing wrong with that.

    Unless you've just left a 6 month gap on your CV?  Because that might  put some employers off.
    I agree with this. Just put that you've been self-employed for the last 6 months. A gap on your CV is probably off-putting. 

    But no, they can not check using an NI number 
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 18,053 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    How are you explaining that 6 month period?  If you are showing a period of apparently no employment with no explanation it could easily explain why you are getting so many rejections. 
  • Marcon
    Marcon Posts: 14,577 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    faringdon said:
    Hi,
    I just spent the last 6 months unsucessfully trying to start a power supply business. I earned no money, then the business crashed. I obviosuly didnt pay tax for 6 months, or earn any money for that 6 months. Can prospective employers that i now apply to,  see this if they have my N.I. number? That is, can they see that i was out of the PAYE system for 6 months?
    It is worrying because i seem to be getting lots of rejections and i wonder if its because they think i "dropped out" for 6 months.
    They will 'think' whatever you've put on your cv in respect of the last 6 months, because that's all they have to inform them. As others have already asked, what exactly have you said? Nothing wrong with telling the truth, albeit try to put some sort of positive spin on it while sticking to the truth - e.g. 'Setting up own power supply business. The current climate meant this did not success, but in the process I [set out a couple of short facts about what you learned]'.
    Googling on your question might have been both quicker and easier, if you're only after simple facts rather than opinions!  
  • ACG
    ACG Posts: 24,624 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've helped Parliament
    Not really. It might be possible to determine you were not paid much or via PAYE but not until they put you on the payroll. However you are presumably putting that you were self employed so you would not normally take any income via PAYE as a sole trader anyway. 
    I am a Mortgage Adviser
    You should note that this site doesn't check my status as a mortgage adviser, so you need to take my word for it. This signature is here as I follow MSE's Mortgage Adviser Code of Conduct. Any posts on here are for information and discussion purposes only and shouldn't be seen as financial advice.
  • MattMattMattUK
    MattMattMattUK Posts: 11,311 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Name Dropper
    faringdon said:
    Hi,
    I just spent the last 6 months unsucessfully trying to start a power supply business. I earned no money, then the business crashed. I obviosuly didnt pay tax for 6 months, or earn any money for that 6 months. Can prospective employers that i now apply to,  see this if they have my N.I. number? That is, can they see that i was out of the PAYE system for 6 months?
    It is worrying because i seem to be getting lots of rejections and i wonder if its because they think i "dropped out" for 6 months.
    Everyone is getting lots of rejections at the moment. From friends who work in HR and recruitment, depending on the role they are getting dozens to hundreds of applications for every job. Unless you and in a specific sector where demand exceeds supply, and/or your CV and cover letter show you as an outstanding candidate you will likely not progress to the interview stage and even then you will likely be up against 3-10 other candidates. 
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