question about past employers

Call it whatever you want, essentially calling me a liar. I've employed people. I've run checks on prospective employees... if you choose to go ahead with your truckstop lawyer attitude, that's your call, but you're giving out bad info, and I'm trying to assist the OP by giving facts. You can't get reliable info from the guy in the next booth at the restaurant at the Flying J, but if you want to run with his words, have at it, and good luck.

You're looking at it wrong, anyway. There is state tax database, and by someone's SSAN, an employer can verify all the taxes that have been paid on their behalf - it's called "employer contributions". Easy enough to take notes from that database, do the math, and see every employer a person has had, even being able to tell dates (of the contributions) and duration.

But, again...you go ahead with that Flying J dude's opinion...

 

If you have a gap in unemployment of more than a few months, then as already stated by Wizz Bang and Lilbit you should expect someone will ask either on the phone or during an in-person interview for an explanation. After 6 years of driving I had to take a year and a half off for some bad mental behavior. When trying to get back to driving, I was asked what I had been doing and afraid I wouldn't be hired if I told the truth, I lied. When the employer found out after a few months they let me go. Then I not only had the gap to explain to the next potential employer but also had to explain why I lost my last job. The years of experience and a clean record got me the in-person interview. Coming clean got me hired. He said, "We're all just a little nuts or we wouldn't stay in trucking."

 

The truth is always better.
Asking for forgiveness is easier than asking for permission.
We are all people, we made mistakes. If those mistakes mean you can't get the job you want, that means you are 'paying' for your mistakes. Suck it up, take what you can get and when your history looks good you'll get a 'good' job.
Nothing is owed to you in life, you get what you can earn.

 

Before I started driving, I had 1 full time job. 7 years non-driving and 11 years in the military before that. I also had 2 part time jobs in that time that I didn't put on my application. I even asked if that would be a problem and was told 'No'.
Be up front and honest. Sounds like you doubt your own story, if all is explainable don't worry!
Sorry if I'm out of line here, I'm a newbie

 

From my VAST experience as a newbie. The Big companies can check on you, but I don't think it's as hard as getting a security clearance! Plus, a lot of companies will take you and your skeletons if you are breathing and can back-up.
Again, I'm a newbie, take what I'm saying as that (truck stop lawyer I'm not!)

 

Gaps in my employment. I had to have notarized statements from friends to cover myself. Also if you want to put the cash money your friend paid you? Better have a schedule C, or 1099 from your taxes. I had to provide them for all trucking applications.

 

Correction to whoever. NO company can find out if you were getting unemployment benefits just like they cannot find out if you were recieving disability benefits from Social Security! Does that make sense?