How can prospective employers verify my job history?
 

I'm looking at my resume, and I have a few 3 month temporary job sore spots that I'de rather not have to go through explaining, ever. I've done a good job myself forgetting about them, but they turn up of course when going for a new, "real" job.

Ethical/moral issues aside, I really just want to not put some jobs on my resume, and instead show that I was unemployed (acceptable being a college student) during those periods.

I know about choicepoint, and I got my free report from them (allowed once per year under some 2003 act) and it only mentions one of my 5 jobs that I've had. Is this the only place the big companies go to look? Or do they go to the IRS for info (I would expect that to be private) or some other way of checking up on my job history.

You could just call the HR department of the company you're trying to get hired at, and ask them how detailed they want you to be on your job history. If those temp jobs you so wish to forget didn't contribute to your skills at all, then I'd imagine the company wouldn't have issues if you didn't report them. However, to be on the safe side, call HR. That way, you're covered! :thumbsup:

I'm not sure, but I assume that in most cases they'd call the most recent employer to see if there were any problems. And possibly run a criminal background check (mandatory sometimes...).

The IRS will not give any information about a taxpayer unless the taxpayer themselves, an officer of the company (if a business) requests the information in writing or in person at an IRS office, or a valid power of attorney (IRS version) is signed by the taxpayer.

As far leaving them off the resume, I don't any issue with that. So what if you don't want to mention your summer job as a honeydipper. Most resumes are tailored to fit a job. Just don't pull a "She's Having a Baby" and list a company that you never worked for.

I had a job for one week which I leave off my resume as well as any application I fill out. No one has noticed yet.

I work in HR - we call. We definitely call. But just tell the truth - they were only temp jobs, and you have much stronger references at such-n-such place. We prefer to call the most recent job anyway. Other calls... we also like to call those with directly-related experience.
Slightly off-topic note for application process: lots of places are starting to do criminal background checks and drug screens. Don't be an idiot - even if it was minor "I was a teenager and an idiot" type stuff... don't falsify your application by marking "no criminal background". It all shows up somewhere.

Good luck, and let me know if you have other questions!

As a college student you have a bit more leeway as to holes in your resume.

I wouldn't sweat it.

There's no central repository that someone can punch up to get your previous employer listings from, save the IRS.

If you don't want to mention it don't. But also don't let it be known that you did have something and are hiding anything that alone is a red flag.

There really isn't a good resource an employer can use to track your employment history so your only real concern is that they would find out through other means. Since we are all connected to each other in some way, it isn't uncommon for you and your future boss to know the same people. The chances are obviously smaller the farther away from the area you go. I guess my point is that you can take the chance and most likely, nothing will happen. However, if they find out you omitted jobs from your application, they could terminate you on the spot. Its up to you weigh the options and decide whether the risk is worth it or not.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their input. I am still looking, but I have a better idea on how things work now.