BillyHoyle

Senior Account Executive

Double Down on Exaggerated Tenure on Background Check or Put True Dates?

Recently received an offer for a role that I'm somewhat interested in. During the interview process the only resume I had submitted to their applicant portal had some exaggerated dates on tenure for a few of my roles and also left some short stints off.

If I had to guess, I'd guess that they are using Sterling or something semi-sophisticated. My question is, should I just put the true dates of all my employment into the background check questionnaire or should I just run with what is on my resume?

One of the roles in particular I stretched a year instead of putting a second similar role with a competitor.

I don't completely care either way as I have a role that I don't completely hate, but I'm curious to hear people's thoughts.

🤝 Interviewing/Offer

🗣 Interviewing

18 comments

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jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Last job needs to be accurate. Don't worry about things you left off. Make sure whatever you put in at least matches your LI and adjust your LI as needed, you can always change it back.

There's usually never an issue with months here and there, but I haven't heard much about people fudging years.

BillyHoyle

Tycoon

Senior Account Executive

Guess my real question is, should I put the true dates of employment in the background check if it is different than what is shown on my resume that I submitted?

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

That's a tough one given the way you've approached it.

I've had the same fear before but it was only a couple of months, so I put in the true dates and made sure my LinkedIn showed those as well (at least until the check was over). It's easy to have a 'typo or two' when it comes to the months in the resume when LinkedIn matches.

Stretching a year is where it gets dicey. I don't have a good answer for you, unfortunately.

If it is Sterling, they're definitely thorough. I went through one like 10ish years ago with 100% accuracy and they kicked back at least one reference because of the way he answered questions. HR had to step in and it was fine. They also verified my high school diploma in addition to my undergrad and postgrad just because it was on the resume.

BillyHoyle

Tycoon

Senior Account Executive

That’s goofy, cuz I’ve gotten cleared via Sterling for pretty established orgs with wildly off dates before. I wonder how much of it depends on the employer.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Definitely goofy. I can't speak to the dates, but they had a list of questions for references and because I was both a rep under, and manager alongside, this manager, they kick it back because it made them think I was never a sales manager.

Company was surprised at this, took feedback, and stopped using them.

I just inferred they'd be sticklers for dates as well, given my experience.

(also feel free to throw some upvotes to the people trying to help out!)

lowhangersalesbanger

Executive

Account Executive

I have never hired for a business that did background checks, but I have seen some resumes that did not line up with the person's LinkedIn, and after I hired them I realized that they had been grossly exaggerating their experience. I didn't like the notion I was lied to, but if it was a month or two here and there I wouldn't have cared. This guy was fudging 6-12 months at a time. After I fired him he added to LinkedIn that he had worked for me for 18 months, and it was less than 6 months.
Bottom line, I would be honest on the BG check form, but if someone has more experience with background checks and they say you are fine then trust them over me.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

How exaggerated are we talking? you should be putting in to match your resume

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

I would only exaggerate a start and end date by like a month or 2......not a year. that seems excessive

SalesBeast

Politicker

Sales Leader

Leave most recent gig the real amount of time. They might check the current job. The ones before your current job you can mess with.

BillyHoyle

Tycoon

Senior Account Executive

By most recent do you mean current? Or the one prior?

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

things left off should stay off. the background check company calls up and asks for dates of employment and that is really it. They may ask for reason of departure which they aren't legally allowed to answer. wouldn't stress too much.

BillyHoyle

Tycoon

Senior Account Executive

So your advice is to put accurate dates of employment even if it differs from my resume that was submitted?

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

I doubt that they will go back to your resume to look. Highly. If it’s off by more than 3 months then it’s probably something to go back and fix

Beans

Big Shot

Enterprise Account Executive

Always a risk when you embellish, especially for your most recent gig, that's the one they're most likely to reach out to.

SaasSlingin

Politicker

Sr AE

Could’ve offered input based on my experience with BG checks but seeing this was last week, what did you end up doing?

BillyHoyle

Tycoon

Senior Account Executive

They haven’t asked for anything yet.

Juancallclose

Catalyst

Director

If you're going through Sterling or Checkr, I think you gotta be truthful. They're just gonna give a yay or nay to your manager. Highly unlikely manager reads reports.

Juancallclose

Catalyst

Director

Also I'd request they don't contact current job. I mean come on.