job references
Author
Discussion

nomdeplus

Original Poster:

21 posts

218 months

Friday 15th October 2010
quotequote all
hello all,

I am in a bit of a pickle. I recently applied for and have subsequently just been offered a good job with a large corporate firm in Leeds. However having agreed terms and start date I noticed whilst reviewing all my emails/letters/contacts with the new company that on my cv that I have got one of my dates wrong for employment. This is with my current employer and in essence it says I was there longer than I have been by 4 months. I don't think this would actually be an issue in terms of they wouldn't have given me the job, but it is a genuine mistake as I copied and pasted bits from various versions of my cv's in order to bring forward the skills sets I have, but that most suit the job description and didn't check it thoroughly enough, or at least I was too close to it to see the mistake.

As the mistake is about my current employment, I suspect that the reference will be one of those bland HR ones that confirm I worked there between x and y and is reliable etc. (although maybe needs to improve attention to detail!)

So the question is, do I need to 'fess up which would be a bit embarrassing,and would rather avoid it just in case they think I am dishonest and I don't really want to start on the wrong foot, or is it normal HR practice to merely check the references in isolation, and not compare it to the cv they have on file? or do they cross check to the nth degree. I.e is it likely that if they spot it they won't really care too much, or they might withdraw the job offer?

any HR people care to explain the normal reference checking process before I 'fess up?

Drogo

796 posts

244 months

Sunday 17th October 2010
quotequote all
I can see your plight but I'm guessing it's not the biggest mistake (lie) that's ever been put on a CV.

Good luck with the job.

DieselGriff

5,160 posts

286 months

Sunday 17th October 2010
quotequote all
How long were you in your previous employment? If a few years then 4 months is not really going to be noticeable, if 6 months then 4 months is a big %.

ShadownINja

79,842 posts

309 months

Sunday 17th October 2010
quotequote all
DieselGriff said:
How long were you in your previous employment? If a few years then 4 months is not really going to be noticeable, if 6 months then 4 months is a big %.
yes If you were there for 10 years, the new employer might not notice the error. If you did a 1 week temp job there... biggrin

nomdeplus

Original Poster:

21 posts

218 months

Monday 18th October 2010
quotequote all
thanks. i decided honesty was the best policy and they are fine with it.

so it looks like i am in the clear.

ShadownINja

79,842 posts

309 months

Monday 18th October 2010
quotequote all
Good news, then. smile