Originally Posted by
cfii2007
I've wondered about background checks too, and have a few questions:
1) Often I've worked 2-3 jobs at a time and omit then on the application, since they take up too much space and are irrelevant to the job. Good or bad?
2) Speeding tickets: I've had a few, most never made it onto my DMV record since I went to traffic school. Do I still have to list them? Some were over 7 years ago.
3) What kind of information can the airline obtain regarding previous employers? If you were terminated at a job (I assume everyone has), should you even bother listing it....or just say you quit? I know honesty is important, but will a prospective employer even find out in the first place?
Due to the PRIA, airlines are more likely to get past employment details from companies where you were employed as a pilot. If you were doing non-flying work at a non-aviation company it is harder for an airline to get the details.
1) You should basically list ALL jobs. If you got paid in cash (no W-2 or 1099) you could probably get away with not mentioning it, but I would just list everything on a sperate sheet if needed.
2) I think that a traffic ticket that was resolved by traffic school does not count, but I would read the fine print on the application and take it literally.
3) Honesty is the key. The problem with not listing something is that if they find out later you WILL be fired. They don't usually do background checks until you start training, so you've already quit your old job. Most airline new hire classes lose one pilot 2-3 weeks into the program due to something they didn't report on their background form.
Better to take a chance not getting hired in the first place than to get fired from a 121 job for falsifying your background...that will immediately and PERMANENTLY end your airline career.
If you have a background issue that you need to explain, discuss it briefly and succinctly, take FULL responsibility (even if it wasn't your fault), and tell the interviewer what you learned. Then move on to the next subject.