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Pre-employment Background Check for Regionals

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Pre-employment Background Check for Regionals

Old 12-08-2017, 04:15 PM
  #1  
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Default Pre-employment Background Check for Regionals

Hey guys,

Looking at applying at the regionals.

I've had a lot of non flying jobs in the past 10 years. Do I really need to list every single one of them?

My main concern, however, is with a particular job I had 2 years ago in IT for about 3 months, before I was terminated for performance related reasons. Will this definitely come up in my background check if I don't disclose it?

My fear would be them finding out later and kicking me out of training, but on the other hand I'm not sure how critical it is that I disclose it. Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks.
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Old 12-08-2017, 05:28 PM
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If memory serves, the application requires that you list everything within the last 10 years. Also, most places have an additional document to give more details on jobs within the last 5-years. If you leave something out and they find out about it, you will be terminated immediately. They will come into the middle of class and tell you to gather your things, and your classmates will never see you again. This literally happened to a classmate of mine in INDOC because his PIRA came back incomplete. Now you will have that on your record too.

Your best bet is to disclose everything and be honest about it. Don't make it out like it was all their fault, take some responsibility and tell them it was a good learning experience for you. Then say how it helped you with the jobs you have had since. I don't see one incident like that being a deal breaker (unless there is some bad details you left out), especially in this hiring environment.
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Old 12-08-2017, 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by aiir View Post
Same here.

Since starting and finishing college all the way up until now I’ve had all sorts of jobs, but I’ve never been terminated. I’ve left all of them in good standing.

I’ve also had long stretches of unemployment but that is only because I’ve been fortunate enough to make an okay living trading in stocks along with some commercial acting work but I’m guessing that won’t look well.

I think I might have to run some sort of background check on myself to get all the dates perfectly lined up.
Unemployment is fine, but you will have to have a separate point of contact for each stretch of unemployment.
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Old 12-08-2017, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by TheWeatherman View Post
Unemployment is fine, but you will have to have a separate point of contact for each stretch of unemployment.
Thanks! I appreciate your reply! I originally took the post down because I didn’t want to infringe on the thread, I never know what’s the proper forum etiquette. Lol. But I’m glad you were able to answer it.
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Old 12-08-2017, 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by aiir View Post
Thanks! I appreciate your reply! I originally took the post down because I didn’t want to infringe on the thread, I never know what’s the proper forum etiquette. Lol. But I’m glad you were able to answer it.
No problem, the issue went with the title of the thread. It keeps the forum cleaner to just post in the thread that is already there and related. You will see many threads like that here.
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Old 12-08-2017, 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by TheWeatherman View Post
If memory serves, the application requires that you list everything within the last 10 years. Also, most places have an additional document to give more details on jobs within the last 5-years. If you leave something out and they find out about it, you will be terminated immediately. They will come into the middle of class and tell you to gather your things, and your classmates will never see you again. This literally happened to a classmate of mine in INDOC because his PIRA came back incomplete. Now you will have that on your record too.

Your best bet is to disclose everything and be honest about it. Don't make it out like it was all their fault, take some responsibility and tell them it was a good learning experience for you. Then say how it helped you with the jobs you have had since. I don't see one incident like that being a deal breaker (unless there is some bad details you left out), especially in this hiring environment.
What does an incomplete PRIA mean? Some companies are not in business anymore- is that going to cause an incomplete background check?
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Old 12-08-2017, 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by journey2 View Post
What does an incomplete PRIA mean? Some companies are not in business anymore- is that going to cause an incomplete background check?
It means you knowingly leave something out. Just because a company doesn't exist anymore doesn't mean you don't have to list working there on your work history.
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Old 12-08-2017, 06:43 PM
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I would just list the job and give the reason for the termination. Unless you did something that was dishonest or unethical, no regional is going to care. They do have to verify emplyment for the background check.
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Old 12-08-2017, 08:10 PM
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Sorry for the noob questions, but what exactly is PRIA, what is covered, and what information is developed?

Also, how detailed are airline background investigations?

Do they run a credit check?

Does the scope of the background only relate to DOT/airline jobs?

What information do airlines expect to get from employers that have nothing to do with aviation/transportation?

By what timeframe are these backgrounds usually completed? In indoc, 6 months after hire, etc.?

I'm familiar with military/security clearance/law enforcement backgrounds and how in depth they are. They are completed BEFORE you ever get the job. Can't imagine an airline background needs to be so comprehensive.
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Old 12-09-2017, 05:19 AM
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Originally Posted by CrowneVic View Post
Sorry for the noob questions, but what exactly is PRIA, what is covered, and what information is developed?
Pilot Records Improvement Act ensures that past employers and the FAA share certain info related to pilot performance with airlines who are considering hiring a pilot. Special forms are submitted to the FAA and past employers.

The FAA will return info going back some number of years, and other info forever.

Airlines and 135 operators must maintain certain records, and return records going back five years.

91 Operators do not have to maintain records, but if they DO keep records, they also have to return them.

Non-aviation employers are not part of PRIA

Use google for details, get the most current PRIA AC.


Originally Posted by CrowneVic View Post
Also, how detailed are airline background investigations?
Depends on the airline. Some bottom-feeder regional may only run the legally required checks, ie PRIA and SIDA. Legacies will be much more thorough, and will go so far as searching the internet, social media, and anything publicly available. They may go so far as to pull criminal and civil records from every jurisdiction you've ever lived in. They got burned by hiring a few ex drug smugglers years ago...

Originally Posted by CrowneVic View Post
Do they run a credit check?
Maybe. See above.

Originally Posted by CrowneVic View Post
Does the scope of the background only relate to DOT/airline jobs?
PRIA yes. Other background checks typically no, if they look at past employers they will look at all of them, even if just to verify you worked there and didn't get fired (you want to be "eligible for rehire" at all past employers).

Originally Posted by CrowneVic View Post
What information do airlines expect to get from employers that have nothing to do with aviation/transportation?
Anything they can. In most cases they're just going to get dates of employment and rehire eligibility, but if somebody wants to talk, they'll listen. Nobody will talk these days (liability), unless it's a small mom-and-pop outfit.

Originally Posted by CrowneVic View Post
By what timeframe are these backgrounds usually completed? In indoc, 6 months after hire, etc.?
Depends. Some do it all prior to class date, which I prefer because that way everybody knows for sure. I don't care if liars get fired, but it's possible to have some kind of misunderstanding (ie former boss told you it was all good but then trashes you on a reference call). Best to have it all done before you resign from your old job.

Some prefer to save money (since there are often no-shows on class day), and will start the checks only once you're in class. The SIDA stuff has to be done before they let you do IOE, but any additional stuff they wanted to do could in theory take a while.

They never give you notice that you've passed everything, you just kind of assume that if you don't get fired after a few weeks and get authorized for JS and IOE.

Originally Posted by CrowneVic View Post
I'm familiar with military/security clearance/law enforcement backgrounds and how in depth they are. They are completed BEFORE you ever get the job. Can't imagine an airline background needs to be so comprehensive.
Some of the bigs have historically gone full SSBI equivalent... even beyond that in one notorious case.

Worth noting... the SIDA check will reference the FBI's national database. This is a national security database, not accessible to normal employers. In addition to convictions it will also include arrests for serious crimes (DUI or better is my understanding). It also probably does not expunge anything, ever.

If you can pass a DoD, IC, or LE background check, and don't have anything awkward on social media, you should be fine with airlines.
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