Decision

MiAndLi

Long story short I was dismissed from a role I was in years. Gross misconduct 

to get the salary I was on I’ve applied for positions above the title I was on and I’m now in a dilemma. I was offered a position but I kept my dismissal a secret and said I still worked for my previous employer. Well they quickly questioned why my reference had a finish date 2 weeks prior. They rang my old employer and found out but are still willing to offer me the position

however I have now been offered another job, which Id prefer and is better paid but a bigger commute. The catch is they still don’t know I was dismissed.

do I stick with the first employer where it is out in the open or go for the job I’d prefer and is better paid but with a dirty secret?

Slinky

Do you want to get dismissed again from another job, for not disclosing your were previously dismissed for gross misconduct previously?

Mr.Generous

Take the bird in the hand, work there a year and apply for whatever you want. Very lucky they aren't bothered by the deception, most would just drop you.

Hoenir

MiAndLi said:

 They rang my old employer and found out but are still willing to offer me the position

Someone is prepared to offer you an opportunity to rebuild your career. That's worth a lot. Says much about them as potential employers. The inherent danger is that the other employer will by chance discover your deceit. Then you'll have another blemish on your character to carry around with you. 

LinLui

Agree with everyone else. You are lucky they were prepared to offer you anything after finding out that you deliberately hid something so serious. I wouldn't suggest you think about the other job because they probably won't be as understanding - most employers wouldn't. And two dismissal on your record are even harder to deal with. 

Flugelhorn

take the job you have been offered, be grateful it is still on offer, keep your head down, behave and then in a couple of years look for something else 

marcia_

 Agree take the job. Many employers would reject you immediately 

Dakta

I appreciate this may not be received well but the problems here are obviously not the fact you've been dismissed, but you are not being open about it.

This is a trust issue, which is fundamental to a working employment relationship and I am completely surprised that you were able to smooth it over and retain the opportunity. As said by most people already, most employers wouldn't (and this is now making me question how you approached dealing with it when questioned, were you open and honest then?)

However, that's not my problem. Though I certainly think it's time to give your head a shake, and a bit of a reality check. You've been given a lifeline in career terms - if you keep pushing for more, and abusing peoples trust throughout then you'll end up with little.

Whatever employer ends up hiring you, they deserve a trustworthy employee. You need to be that person.