Omitting Details of a Recent Past Employer
As the title suggests, I'm trying to understand how much a background check reveals. If I choose to omit details of a recent past employer due to personal reasons, will a background check still reveal that information? For reference, my stay at this past job was very brief. Do I include that job in my background check form?
Jobadvisor
This is a common dilemma, and the answer lies in the crucial distinction between your resume and the formal background check form.
Here is the direct answer: Yes, a background check can reveal a past employer you omitted, specifically if that employer contributes to payroll databases like "The Work Number."
Here is a breakdown of how this works, the risks involved, and the safest strategy to handle it.
1. How They Can Find It (Even if You Omit It)
Most candidates assume background checks only verify what you write down. That is mostly true for "reference checks," but modern "employment history checks" often use automated databases.
The Work Number (TWN): This is a massive database owned by Equifax. Millions of US employers (especially medium-to-large companies using payroll providers like ADP or Workday) automatically report every paycheck to this system.
The Risk: When a background check company runs your Social Security Number (SSN), TWN can instantly generate a report showing all employers associated with your SSN, including start/end dates and job titles.
The Result: If you omit a job, but TWN lists it, the background check report will show a "discrepancy" or "unclaimed employment."
SSN Trace: Background checks almost always start with an SSN trace. This doesn't list employers directly, but it lists every address you’ve used on credit applications or official mail. If you moved to a new city for that brief job and then moved back, the address history will reveal that location, potentially prompting questions about what you were doing there.
2. Resume vs. Background Check Form
You must treat these two documents differently.
The Resume (Marketing Document):
Rule: You are generally allowed to curate your resume. You can omit jobs that are irrelevant, very brief, or didn't work out, as long as you aren't leaving massive chronological gaps that you lie about.
Strategy: It is standard practice to leave a 1-month "bad fit" job off your resume to avoid clutter and awkward interview questions.
The Background Check Form (Legal Document):
Rule: This form (filled out after you get the offer) often asks for "All employment in the past 7 years" or "Employment history." It usually includes a legal clause certifying that the information is "complete and accurate."
The Danger: If you omit the job here, you are technically falsifying the application. If the employer uses The Work Number and sees the omitted job, they may rescind the offer—not because you had a short job, but because you were dishonest on the form.
3. The Recommended Strategy
The safest approach to protect your offer is to split the difference:
On your Resume: Omit the job. This helps you get the interview and avoids the initial bias.
On the Background Check Form: List the job.
Why? The background check company is a third party. Their job is to verify accuracy. If you list the job, and they verify it existed, they mark it as "Verified/Clear." They generally do not call the hiring manager to say, "Hey, he put this on the form but it wasn't on his resume!" They just check the boxes.
Does HR see it? HR can see the final report, but they rarely cross-reference it line-by-line with your resume at that stage. They just want to see "Clear" or "Green" status.
Summary of Risks
If the company is small/local: They likely do not report to The Work Number. The risk of them finding it is low unless you used them as a reference.
If the company is a large corporation: They almost certainly report to The Work Number. The risk of discovery is high.
My Advice: If the job was at a company large enough to have a formal HR/Payroll department, do not omit it from the background check form. List it accurately. If you are ever asked about the discrepancy between the form and your resume (which is rare), you can simply say: "I omitted it from my resume because it was very brief and not relevant to this role, but I included it here to ensure my background check was complete and accurate." This is a perfectly acceptable, honest answer.
Senior PM in construction management & architecture industry (often in demand role), I've been applying to jobs via LinkedIn & Indeed for over a year. I am employed but have not had a single interview with whom I've applied recently. Whats going on?
In past years, my role (PM / SPM) is usually in high demand for hiring. I think because there was a high number of older work force in my industry, as many millennials, etc. went into tech, opposed to the real estate industry.
Anyhow, I see a fair amount of roles being posted, but I am unable to get a single email or call back on any of the roles. Each one on LinkedIn has 100s of applications.
I have been trying to leave my HCOL city for a year, and almost feel stuck.
Do you have any recommendations or even even insight as to what has changed?
Appreciate it!
Jobadvisor
This is a frustrating position to be in, especially when you are used to being "the prize" in a talent-short market.
The short answer is: The market has shifted, and your job search strategy hasn't shifted with it.
The construction industry is currently in a "bifurcated" state. While there is a labor shortage for trades and site superintendents, the market for Senior Project Managers (especially in the $150k+ range) has cooled significantly due to interest rates stalling new starts.
Here is a breakdown of what is likely happening to your applications and how to fix it.
1. The "Ghost Job" & Interest Rate Problem
You are seeing roles posted, but many aren't real—or at least, not funding-ready.
The "Pipeline" Post: Because projects are being paused/delayed due to financing costs, firms are posting jobs to build a stack of resumes in case a project gets the green light. They aren't interviewing because they don't have the Notice to Proceed (NTP) yet.
The Sector Mismatch: If your experience is in Commercial Office or High-Rise Residential, you are in a cold sector. The money has moved to Data Centers, Healthcare, Manufacturing (semiconductors/EVs), and Infrastructure. If your resume screams "Office Buildings," you are being passed over for candidates with "Mission Critical" or "Federal" experience.
2. The "100 Applicants" LinkedIn Myth
Do not let that number discourage you.
The Reality: On LinkedIn, that counter often goes up every time someone clicks "Apply," not when they actually submit.
The Noise: 80% of those applicants are unqualified (e.g., residential real estate agents trying to pivot, or candidates without US work visas).
The Real Competition: For a Senior PM role, you are likely only competing against 5-10 actual, qualified humans. The problem isn't the volume; it's that your resume isn't beating the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or the hiring manager's bias.
3. The "Relocation" Red Flag
This is likely your biggest silent killer.
The Bias: Construction is local. Companies fear that an out-of-town SPM will lack the local subcontractor relationships, won't know the local permitting politics, or will demand a relocation package they don't want to pay.
The Fix:
Remove your address from your resume. Just put your email and phone number.
Explicitly state intent: In your summary or cover letter, write: "Relocating to [City] in [Month/Year] (Self-Funded)." You must remove the financial risk from their mind immediately.
4. Strategic Recommendations
You cannot rely on "Easy Apply" for a Senior PM role. That works for Junior PMs/PEs. You need a senior-level strategy.
Audit Your "Asset Class": If you have any experience in healthcare, industrial, or life sciences, highlight that at the very top. Downplay "Commercial Core & Shell" if you can.
Bypass HR: HR's job is to filter. A Construction Executive's job is to build.
Find the Project Executive or Director of Construction at the target firm on LinkedIn.
Message: "I’ve been following [Company Name]'s work on the [Project Name]. I’m a Senior PM with X years of experience looking to move to [City]. I saw you have a role posted—I’ve applied formally, but I wanted to send my resume to you directly as I know my background in [Specialty] aligns well with your backlog."
Age/Salary Bias: Since you mentioned an "older workforce," ensure your resume isn't dating you unnecessarily.
Remove graduation dates.
Cut experience off after 15-20 years (unless it's a mega-project that is famous).
Focus on tech stack: Procore, Bluebeam, Revit. If your resume looks like it was typed on a typewriter, they will assume you can't run a digital job site.
Next Step
Since you are stuck, I can help you troubleshoot your resume's "first impression." Would you like to paste your Resume Summary or your top 3 bullet points here? I can tell you if they are hitting the right keywords for the current 2024-2025 market.
i truly believe there are no fitting career/schooling paths for me
23F, USA.
there is nothing i enjoy and nothing i have any corresponding skills or talents at. school and work truly make me miserable and the mere idea of going back to them(im currently unemployed and in between semesters yet to register for classes) sends me into a panic attack.
STEM? i am terrible at all things math and science and have been since i was a kid. my brain does not comprehend numbers and scientific stuff well at all. i never even memorized my damn time tables.
Art? i am not creative nor confident enough to put myself out there artistically.
Liberal arts? history is my major, and i’ve grown to hate it(at least in a professional degree). so much reading, so much writing, and so much research. words are difficult for me and i struggle with them almost as much as i do numbers.
Sales/business? i’d rather get hit by an 18 wheeler.
Trade/laborious work? limited if not impossible for me considering my disability(MS) affects how my body works.
i want to think there’s a path for me but i’m having a really really hard time believing there is.
Jobadvisor
I hear the exhaustion in your words, and I want to start by acknowledging that what you are feeling isn't "laziness" or "lack of ambition." When you describe panic attacks at the thought of school and a genuine struggle with both numbers and words, you aren't describing a lack of willpower—you are describing burnout compounded by a chronic health condition (MS).
MS is an invisible weight. It saps your cognitive energy (brain fog is very real) and makes the "grind" of a 9-to-5 or a heavy reading load feel physically impossible.
If we look at your situation logically, the reason you feel like there are no paths is that you are currently looking at "Standard Academic/Corporate" paths. For someone with MS who find traditional literacy and numeracy taxing, those paths are hostile.
Let’s look at some alternative frameworks that don't involve heavy math, high-volume writing, or physical labor.
1. The "Support & Operations" Niche
There is a whole world of "doing" that doesn't involve "creating" or "analyzing." These roles are about following a set of rules or a system.
Medical Coding/Billing: This is not math; it is a matching game. You look at a doctor’s note and find the corresponding alphanumeric code. It’s quiet, remote-friendly (huge for MS), and doesn't require "creative" writing.
Compliance or Records Management: Since you already have some History background, you might find you’re good at organizing data rather than researching it. Think of filing, digital archiving, or database entry where the goal is "everything in its right place."
2. The "Human Services" Path (Low Complexity, High Impact)
If words and numbers are hard, sometimes presence and observation are where you can shine.
Direct Support Professional (DSP): This involves helping people with disabilities with daily tasks. It isn't "laborious" like construction; it’s more about companionship and routine.
Patient Advocacy / Resource Coordination: Helping people navigate systems (like insurance or social services). It’s about being a guide rather than a researcher.
3. The "Low-Stakes Tech" Path
Quality Assurance (QA) Testing: This isn't coding. It's literally trying to break a website. You click buttons, see what happens, and report if it fails. It’s visual and repetitive in a way that can be soothing for some.
Shift Your Perspective on "Skill"
You mentioned you have no skills or talents. I want to challenge that. Living with a chronic illness like MS at 23 requires a massive amount of:
System Navigation: You likely know more about healthcare and insurance than most 40-year-olds.
Pacing: You have to manage your energy levels daily. That is "Project Management" on a personal scale.
Resilience: You are still looking for a path despite feeling this way.
Practical Advice for Right Now
Pause the Degree: If History makes you miserable and gives you panic attacks, stop. Taking a "gap year" isn't a failure; it’s a strategic withdrawal.
Look into Vocational Rehabilitation: In the US, every state has a Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). Their entire job is to help people with disabilities (including MS) find career paths and training that accommodate their specific needs. They will pay for training and help you find a job that won't trigger a flare-up.
A Question for You
When you aren't feeling pressured by school or work, what is the one thing you can do for an hour without feeling like your brain is "short-circuiting"? (It could be something as simple as organizing a shelf, playing a specific game, or caring for a pet).
Nursing MBBS ACCA or Biotech
I'm trying to find just one path that would be like that eureka moment for me. MBBS: long,doctors work long hours heavy patient load very little work life balance but job is secure and pay is good. ACCA: If you do bachelors in accounting and are smart you'll get around in the industry maybe build prestige and wealth around the way. Nursing: It's stable it involves genuinely helping people it'll make me feel better but similar working hours to a doctor. Biotech: I have been experimenting with stupid stuff since I was little and have always been fascinated with the dextincition and hybrid species. It's not stable it's lab based idk what else to say. Help me make my mind or disqualify the unnecessary opts
Jobadvisor
Choosing between these four paths is essentially a choice between four different lifestyles. Each offers a completely different "transaction" with your time and energy.
To help you reach that "eureka" moment, let's break down these paths by their core reality rather than just their titles.
1. The Decision Matrix: A Quick Comparison
| Feature | MBBS (Doctor) | Nursing | ACCA (Accounting) | Biotech |
| Study Load | Extreme (10+ years) | Moderate to High (3–4 years) | High (Self-paced, 3–4 years) | Moderate to High |
| Daily Work | Diagnosis & Authority | Hands-on Care | Strategy & Data | Lab Research / Production |
| Work-Life Balance | Poor (especially early on) | Flexible (Shift work) | Good (but peak "busy seasons") | Usually 9-to-5 |
| Entry Point | High stakes, one shot | Scalable | Low barrier, high exit difficulty | Passion-led, degree-heavy |
| Job Security | Absolute | Very High | High | Variable (Market-dependent) |
2. Disqualifying the "Unnecessary"
To find your path, we have to be brutal about what you actually want your Tuesday mornings to look like for the next 30 years.
Disqualify Nursing if:
You want to be the "final decision maker." Nurses are the heartbeat of the hospital, but they operate under a doctor's orders. If you hate being told what to do or if you find "hands-on" bodily care (cleaning, moving patients, emotional labor) draining rather than rewarding, disqualify it.
The Nurse Reality: You trade physical stamina for the ability to walk away from the job the second your shift ends.
Disqualify ACCA if:
The thought of looking at a spreadsheet for 8 hours a day makes you want to scream. While "wealth and prestige" are possible, the day-to-day is a grind of compliance, tax laws, and auditing. It is a "clean" job, but it lacks the physical, tangible results of seeing a patient heal or a lab experiment succeed.
The ACCA Reality: You trade "action" for a predictable, air-conditioned corporate ladder.
Disqualify MBBS if:
You aren't prepared to delay your "real life" until your 30s. It is a marathon. Between medical school, residency, and specializing, you will be working the hardest years of your life for the lowest relative pay before you finally reach the high-income bracket.
The MBBS Reality: You trade your youth and free time for ultimate authority and a recession-proof income.
3. The "Biotech" Wildcard
You mentioned experimenting with "stupid stuff" and a fascination with hybrids. This sounds like a passion, not just a job interest.
The Reality Check: Biotech is not just "playing with DNA." It involves heavy documentation, strict safety protocols, and often "boring" tasks like cleaning equipment or repetitive pipetting.
The Upside: If you land in R&D (Research & Development), you are at the cutting edge of humanity. You aren't just treating one patient (like a doctor); you are potentially creating a cure that treats millions.
Which one gives you the "Eureka"?
Ask yourself which "pain" you are most willing to tolerate:
The Physical Pain: Sore feet and 12-hour shifts helping people (Nursing).
The Mental Pain: Studying 15 hours a day for a decade (MBBS).
The Boredom Pain: Auditing financial statements in a cubicle (ACCA).
The Uncertainty Pain: Working in a lab where experiments fail 90% of the time (Biotech).
Next Step
To narrow this down further, I can help you look at the specific salary vs. cost of education in your specific region. Would you like to tell me which country you are planning to study in?