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Comment by paulcole | Hacker News Reader

Why in God’s name would you list them both? It’s a resume not a deposition. Your resume should make it easier for you to get your next job not harder.

Be accurate when it comes to the truth but not necessarily the facts.

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> Why in God’s name would you list them both? It’s a resume not a deposition.

In the US resume fraud is a thing. Some companies like telecoms selectively check resumes for accuracy. Resume fraud can be a fireable offense.

Is there a law mandating that all employment be listed? Omitting a high school fast food gig is accepted, why is omitting moonlighting not? It's not lying about education or employment, so I don't see how it is fraud.

Unfortunately, there is no clear cut rules about what constitutes resume fraud. Making up employment records is clearly a resume fraud. Omitting employment could be construed as fraud depending on the context. Omitting ice-cream parlor gig while in high school is probably OK. Working for Google and Facebook at the same time and omitting one might be not.

Who is deciding all of this? Sounds like conjecture.

That's for lying, and I've never heard of anyone going to court over it.

Omitting isn't the same. If you ask for references, I probably won't list people who will give me a bad reference, either.

> That's for lying, and I've never heard of anyone going to court over it.

In the US employment is at will and can be terminated for cause or no cause at all, no need to go to court. Omitting important facts about employment history can be in violation of company policies. Some telecoms ask you to explicitly submit information for "employment history verification" as a condition of employment.

I'm well aware. Meeting requirements to be fired is a far stretch from meeting requirements to have legal sanctions.

Comparing Jobs and references is not apples to apples,. One is understood to be a list of employers you've had in recent years,. The other is understood to be one to three people that would recommend your skills not every single person you've worked with the last 10 years..

You can easily lie by omission.. The root of it is deceitful intentions.

"Employment relationships are presumed to be “at-will” in all U.S. states except Montana. The U.S. is one of a handful of countries where employment is predominantly at-will."

https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/at-will-e...

Anything (or nothing) in the US can be a fireable offense, so I wouldn't worry too much about what you put on a resume.

But isn't employment in the US largely at-will? Meaning that the employer can fire the employee for any reason except for protected classes discrimination?

So it doesn't matter if it's fraud or the employer just doesn't like the employee. The implications are the same.

> except for protected classes discrimination?

They get to do that too, but it means they can get taken to court because of it.

(Essentially) everything’s a fireable offense in the US. And if you don’t get caught, there’s no risk.

If someone’s the kind of person to work 2-full-time jobs simultaneously then I think they’re the kind of person who’s OK hiding some of the facts on their resume.

Aren’t prospective employers also able to check the credit agencies for salary information of applicants? I’d assume both jobs would show?

Income information on your credit report is self-reported. You will notice that your credit card company asks periodically if your income has changed. That’s where it comes from. It is also non specific, an estimate of total income from all sources not just wages on one job. Perhaps you are independently wealthy with multiple income streams. No one will no the difference.

The work number (by equifax, a credit reporting agency) may report it though assuming your employer participate and gives them your pay and employment info.

https://theworknumber.com/

If you lie about having a job this can be found out (they can call the place) If you omit one or several jobs, I don't know how they would know (call all places to see if you also worked there?).

> I don't know how they would know (call all places to see if you also worked there?).

It can be tracked during your background check (using SSN). They will make you sign a form that you authorize them to perform such a check. Fail to sign the form - job offer is rescinded. Again, depends on employer.

> It can be tracked during your background check (using SSN). They will make you sign a form that you authorize them to perform such a check.

Can you show me a background check service that offers a list of previous employers found by SSN? I did not know that exists. Unless they're consulting the IRS, I don't know how it could exist.

Background checks as I understand them, tend to check things like: credit score, contacting references (that you provide), criminal records etc. Primarily publicly available information.

Had one done, received the packet and they had everything going back to my internships. I think many large employers voluntarily report the info to an employment verification service for mutual benefit.

https://theworknumber.com/

You can check your own for free. Employers buy in bulk. Mine is completely accurate and includes full and accurate W2 info, i.e., salary and bonus (not stock grant) history to the dollar. Lying on a resume is generally a bad idea.

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