# Job searching while overeducated **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 18, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-searching-while-overeducated/698798 "2014-09-18T04:36:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-searching-while-overeducated/698798/21 "2014-09-19T00:29:53Z")
> [@yellowjacketcoder](#): > > I don’t think this really happens all that much. I’ve left tons of jobs off when filling out the ‘required job history’ and it’s never bitten me in the ass. I suspect when something like that happen the reality is that the situation changed and the company is using an excuse to not hire you (or fire you) with something you’re unlikely to sue over. I brought it up because this happened to me. An HR rep called me for failing to disclose a part-time job I had for less than 2 weeks (in all honesty I had forgotten about it). I didn’t lose the offer, but If I hadn’t been such a strong candidate otherwise, I might have. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-searching-while-overeducated/698798/22 "2014-09-19T00:41:13Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > I brought it up because this happened to me. An HR rep called me for failing to disclose a part-time job I had for less than 2 weeks (in all honesty I had forgotten about it). I didn’t lose the offer, but If I hadn’t been such a strong candidate otherwise, I might have. I think that’s pretty absurd, because a 2-week job is unlikely to be relevant (unless you were sacked from that job for embezzlement, sexual harassment, or something serious like that). ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-searching-while-overeducated/698798/23 "2014-09-19T01:22:13Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I think that’s pretty absurd, because a 2-week job is unlikely to be relevant (unless you were sacked from that job for embezzlement, sexual harassment, or something serious like that). Agreed. My sister had to fill in an extremely detailed job history when applying for a federal job, and it allowed for the fact that you may misremember. At any rate, if you’re applying for a job which you want to leave off degrees, it’s certainly not a job that cares. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2014, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-searching-while-overeducated/698798/24 "2014-09-19T11:32:02Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > This is something that I’ve never fully understood. If the employer is going to do a background check anyway, what’s the point of making me cough up everything in advance? It seems like a sick honesty test where they are trying to trip you up, rather than a realistic attempt to understand your background. > > “Aha! You lied on the background check form! You were supposed to list ‘all degrees and certifications, both current and expired or revoked’, but you didn’t list that you had a ‘Temporary Teen Assistant Lifeguard Certificate’ in the summer of 1983 from the City of Podunk Beach Department of Public Recreation.” > > “But it’s 2014, we are in Kansas, and I’m applying for a stockbroker position. It isn’t relevant.” > > “Ho ho, it is! Get lost, dirty liar!” It’s one thing when it’s a routine reference check when HR is going to take it on faith that what you’re telling them is the truth and they don’t care enough or don’t need to get into that much detail. Then there are the jobs where there is a detailed background check and they do care that you leave stuff off. They’re not judging your past, they’re judging your integrity. If you leave something off, they’re going to want to know why; if you have something on there that can’t be proven by the employer or whoever, you’d best be able to verify it yourself. That being said, as **TokyoBayer** pointed out, they do allow for the possibility that the manager at a job you worked at for six months several years ago is probably not going to remember you, as was the case for me last week. I was able to find official documentation that I was associated with the company for the dates that I claimed. I have no idea if it made the investigator happy but at least I was able to prove that I worked there. That’s why it’s helpful to know something about the company you’re applying to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-searching-while-overeducated/698798.md?page=1)