Background Checks for Graduate jobs after Dismissal

jjsunny123

I could really do with some advice on my situation. First of all I just want to say that I accept my mistakes and I do not want to downplay them at all.

I was recently dismissed from my finance company job for emailing sensitive data to my personal email. The company was very strict on not working from home. I had to WFH one day due to car being in the garage. I had to complete a piece of work that was due on this day to a higher up - I was under a lot of pressure and the laptop that work had provided would not connect to a monitor, mouse, or ethernet cable which I wanted to connect to to work more accurately and efficiently and to make sure the VPN connection didn't drop out. In a moment of utter and a disappointing lapse in judgement, I sent the excel sheet I was working on, via personal email to my personal laptop, to work on it here with the connections earlier mentioned. Once finished, I sent the file back to work laptop.

I don't expect anyone to believe me, and I do not want to make excuses, all I can say is that there is categorically no malicious intent behind the action I did, I simply wanted to work efficiently - which I agree is no excuse. So there is the context and I tried explaining this in the disciplinary meeting, however I got dismissed regardless.

At the disciplinary meeting I was told that if the company is asked for a reference in the future, they will not include the details of the dismissal - only the length of employment. However if the company asks for a regulatory reference, then they company will have to mention the dismissal and reason behind this.

I am currently applying for graduate finance roles (actuarial) at major banks and firms (e.g. Barclays, Lloyds, Deloitte) and am at various stages in the hiring processes. I am worried if these places will ask for a regulatory reference.

I do not plan on lying if I get asked about my reason for leaving, I hope being transparent and explaining my stupid naivety as a 22 year old will show some sort of integrity and honesty, and that I will absolutely learn from this mistake and never make a similar one again.

However, if I do not get asked about previous roles, do you think it will be wise to just not mention this at all? Is there a chance that if it gets to an offer stage, they don't ask for regulatory references?

Should I use references from my previous hospitality and tutoring jobs where I left on good terms instead? I welcome any and all advice you can offer. This was an expensive lesson but I believe in learning from mistakes and just want the chance to prove it. Please lend any insights you may have.

DullGreyGuy

Banks will want a complete history and references from all of them. Any gap over 28 days when not in full time education or employment they will want explanations of what you were doing, how you supported yourself and bank statements... you don't want the second step of your career to be based on fraud. 

Consultancies, as not directly regulated in the same way may be more relaxed but again do you want a second job to end in dismissal if you miss it off and they find out about it? You may be able to get away without offering them as a reference but most companies will want a reference from the most recent employment. 

Unfortunately Financial Services are not very forgiving to past mistakes, at least not for 3-5 years anyway. Was working with a former CCO of a company who was having to work as a freelance business development person because his venture had become insolvent and that barred him from being an employee with most companies. 

jjsunny123

DullGreyGuy said:

Banks will want a complete history and references from all of them. Any gap over 28 days when not in full time education or employment they will want explanations of what you were doing, how you supported yourself and bank statements... you don't want the second step of your career to be based on fraud. 

Consultancies, as not directly regulated in the same way may be more relaxed but again do you want a second job to end in dismissal if you miss it off and they find out about it? You may be able to get away without offering them as a reference but most companies will want a reference from the most recent employment. 

Unfortunately Financial Services are not very forgiving to past mistakes, at least not for 3-5 years anyway. Was working with a former CCO of a company who was having to work as a freelance business development person because his venture had become insolvent and that barred him from being an employee with most companies. 

Thank you for this. I think I will just be honest and mention that I acted carelessly and made a policy violation.

TELLIT01

I don't question the explanation given by the OP, but it is gross misconduct and they acknowledge that.  The problems are clearly going to be obtaining a reference from the current employer, and how to describe 'reason for leaving' on any new application in such as way as to not be discounted at the first trawl through of applicants.  It's something of a Catch 22 situation in that if 'gross misconduct' is put as the reason for leaving they are unlikely to get an interview but if they put any other reason it will be picked up as a lie at the interview stage.

Undervalued

jjsunny123 said:

I could really do with some advice on my situation. First of all I just want to say that I accept my mistakes and I do not want to downplay them at all.

I was recently dismissed from my finance company job for emailing sensitive data to my personal email. The company was very strict on not working from home. I had to WFH one day due to car being in the garage. I had to complete a piece of work that was due on this day to a higher up - I was under a lot of pressure and the laptop that work had provided would not connect to a monitor, mouse, or ethernet cable which I wanted to connect to to work more accurately and efficiently and to make sure the VPN connection didn't drop out. In a moment of utter and a disappointing lapse in judgement, I sent the excel sheet I was working on, via personal email to my personal laptop, to work on it here with the connections earlier mentioned. Once finished, I sent the file back to work laptop.

I don't expect anyone to believe me, and I do not want to make excuses, all I can say is that there is categorically no malicious intent behind the action I did, I simply wanted to work efficiently - which I agree is no excuse. So there is the context and I tried explaining this in the disciplinary meeting, however I got dismissed regardless.

At the disciplinary meeting I was told that if the company is asked for a reference in the future, they will not include the details of the dismissal - only the length of employment. However if the company asks for a regulatory reference, then they company will have to mention the dismissal and reason behind this.

I am currently applying for graduate finance roles (actuarial) at major banks and firms (e.g. Barclays, Lloyds, Deloitte) and am at various stages in the hiring processes. I am worried if these places will ask for a regulatory reference.

I do not plan on lying if I get asked about my reason for leaving, I hope being transparent and explaining my stupid naivety as a 22 year old will show some sort of integrity and honesty, and that I will absolutely learn from this mistake and never make a similar one again.

However, if I do not get asked about previous roles, do you think it will be wise to just not mention this at all? Is there a chance that if it gets to an offer stage, they don't ask for regulatory references?

Should I use references from my previous hospitality and tutoring jobs where I left on good terms instead? I welcome any and all advice you can offer. This was an expensive lesson but I believe in learning from mistakes and just want the chance to prove it. Please lend any insights you may have.

I would have thought only a thousand to one chance if you are applying for a regulated role! They surely would be breaking rules if they don't ask for the prescribed form of reference?

Even if, for some reason, it slipped through what would happen if they found out later? You would almost certainly be out of the door.

As you say, I think you need to be totally open and honest if you are applying for a regulated position. Even applying  elsewhere, you must give truthful answers to any questions you are asked but you don't necessarily have to volunteer "less convenient" information if it is not specifically requested.  

jjsunny123

TELLIT01 said:

I don't question the explanation given by the OP, but it is gross misconduct and they acknowledge that.  The problems are clearly going to be obtaining a reference from the current employer, and how to describe 'reason for leaving' on any new application in such as way as to not be discounted at the first trawl through of applicants.  It's something of a Catch 22 situation in that if 'gross misconduct' is put as the reason for leaving they are unlikely to get an interview but if they put any other reason it will be picked up as a lie at the interview stage.

Perfect way of putting it. The thing is, with these graduate roles, they don't usually ask for reasons for leaving throughout the whole application process as they don't always expect graduates to have much experience. If they give me an offer, then depending on the role and company practice, they will conduct background checks which may or may not ask for reasons for leaving form my previous employers.

I have an assessment centre next week with one of the banks and this is the final stage, they probably will ask about my previous role especially the relevant finance role. They may not ask about reasons for leaving but I am battling with myself on whether the right thing to do is tell them about the dismissal regardless? What do you think?

jjsunny123

Undervalued said:

jjsunny123 said:

I could really do with some advice on my situation. First of all I just want to say that I accept my mistakes and I do not want to downplay them at all.

I was recently dismissed from my finance company job for emailing sensitive data to my personal email. The company was very strict on not working from home. I had to WFH one day due to car being in the garage. I had to complete a piece of work that was due on this day to a higher up - I was under a lot of pressure and the laptop that work had provided would not connect to a monitor, mouse, or ethernet cable which I wanted to connect to to work more accurately and efficiently and to make sure the VPN connection didn't drop out. In a moment of utter and a disappointing lapse in judgement, I sent the excel sheet I was working on, via personal email to my personal laptop, to work on it here with the connections earlier mentioned. Once finished, I sent the file back to work laptop.

I don't expect anyone to believe me, and I do not want to make excuses, all I can say is that there is categorically no malicious intent behind the action I did, I simply wanted to work efficiently - which I agree is no excuse. So there is the context and I tried explaining this in the disciplinary meeting, however I got dismissed regardless.

At the disciplinary meeting I was told that if the company is asked for a reference in the future, they will not include the details of the dismissal - only the length of employment. However if the company asks for a regulatory reference, then they company will have to mention the dismissal and reason behind this.

I am currently applying for graduate finance roles (actuarial) at major banks and firms (e.g. Barclays, Lloyds, Deloitte) and am at various stages in the hiring processes. I am worried if these places will ask for a regulatory reference.

I do not plan on lying if I get asked about my reason for leaving, I hope being transparent and explaining my stupid naivety as a 22 year old will show some sort of integrity and honesty, and that I will absolutely learn from this mistake and never make a similar one again.

However, if I do not get asked about previous roles, do you think it will be wise to just not mention this at all? Is there a chance that if it gets to an offer stage, they don't ask for regulatory references?

Should I use references from my previous hospitality and tutoring jobs where I left on good terms instead? I welcome any and all advice you can offer. This was an expensive lesson but I believe in learning from mistakes and just want the chance to prove it. Please lend any insights you may have.

I would have thought only a thousand to one chance if you are applying for a regulated role! They surely would be breaking rules if they don't ask for the prescribed form of reference?

Even if, for some reason, it slipped through what would happen if they found out later? You would almost certainly be out of the door.

As you say, I think you need to be totally open and honest if you are applying for a regulated position. Even applying  elsewhere, you must give truthful answers to any questions you are asked but you don't necessarily have to volunteer "less convenient" information if it is not specifically requested.  

Thank you for your honest insights.

One of my doubts is whether the position I am applying for (actuarial role) is regulated. From talking to people and Google it seems it might not be but either way I think I will just be transparent as possible.

DullGreyGuy

jjsunny123 said:
 The thing is, with these graduate roles, they don't usually ask for reasons for leaving throughout the whole application process as they don't always expect graduates to have much experience.

I've gone through the call centre, graduate scheme, lower and middle management over 20 years in Financial Services and never once have I been formally asked the reason for leaving... occasionally its happened verbally during an interview if its after a short stint. 

All but 1 employer/client has done full referencing, credit check, DBS and other things so not the greatest amount of point asking about it on a form (well, most didn't have a form, was CV and covering letter)

jjsunny123

DullGreyGuy said:

jjsunny123 said:
 The thing is, with these graduate roles, they don't usually ask for reasons for leaving throughout the whole application process as they don't always expect graduates to have much experience.

I've gone through the call centre, graduate scheme, lower and middle management over 20 years in Financial Services and never once have I been formally asked the reason for leaving... occasionally its happened verbally during an interview if its after a short stint. 

All but 1 employer/client has done full referencing, credit check, DBS and other things so not the greatest amount of point asking about it on a form (well, most didn't have a form, was CV and covering letter)

I see, thanks again for sharing your experience. I hope to do well in the assessment centre next week and I will have an answer prepared if they ask about reasons for leaving

Marcon

DullGreyGuy said:

jjsunny123 said:
 The thing is, with these graduate roles, they don't usually ask for reasons for leaving throughout the whole application process as they don't always expect graduates to have much experience.

I've gone through the call centre, graduate scheme, lower and middle management over 20 years in Financial Services and never once have I been formally asked the reason for leaving... occasionally its happened verbally during an interview if its after a short stint. 

All but 1 employer/client has done full referencing, credit check, DBS and other things so not the greatest amount of point asking about it on a form (well, most didn't have a form, was CV and covering letter)

Exactly - a regulatory reference will automatically encompass the point.

OP - beware giving the lengthy, detailed explanation you gave in your first post here. A shorter, simpler version (which needs to be completely honest) will suffice and sound less defensive. I'd leave out 'had to WFH because my car was in the garage', which is going to flag that you don't have a back up plan when the same thing happens again, as it will - no car is foolproof!

jjsunny123

Marcon said:

DullGreyGuy said:

jjsunny123 said:
 The thing is, with these graduate roles, they don't usually ask for reasons for leaving throughout the whole application process as they don't always expect graduates to have much experience.

I've gone through the call centre, graduate scheme, lower and middle management over 20 years in Financial Services and never once have I been formally asked the reason for leaving... occasionally its happened verbally during an interview if its after a short stint. 

All but 1 employer/client has done full referencing, credit check, DBS and other things so not the greatest amount of point asking about it on a form (well, most didn't have a form, was CV and covering letter)

Exactly - a regulatory reference will automatically encompass the point.

OP - beware giving the lengthy, detailed explanation you gave in your first post here. A shorter, simpler version (which needs to be completely honest) will suffice and sound less defensive. I'd leave out 'had to WFH because my car was in the garage', which is going to flag that you don't have a back up plan when the same thing happens again, as it will - no car is foolproof!

Thank you! If asked I'm going to say something along the lines of 'I was dismissed due to a policy violation on my part regarding information handling. It was truly an isolated lapse of judgment, and I accept full accountability' and talk about how the experience taught me invaluable lessons that I carry with me to this day.