Seeking Advice on Overcoming Past Mistakes and Navigating Career Challenges in HR

Hi,

I was employed with an MNC in 2008. I had forged my CV and submitted a forged certificate of one of my previous experiences. My actual experience with that employer, whose certificate I forged, was from July 2007 till October 2007. I edited it to show February 2007 till October 2007. I was a fresher and did not know that employers actually verify certificates and can take serious actions. I came to know this only after the offer was rolled out to me by this MNC. I know I shouldn't have done that, but it happened due to immaturity. I was asked to leave that MNC or was told that I would be terminated once they discovered this about me. I chose to resign and leave. The HR was very rude and told me to write my reason for resignation on paper to accept what I had done. I wrote it and signed off. She informed me that I would not receive any relieving for the period (3 months) I worked. I did not say a word. She mentioned that she would blacklist me in the entire financial services industry so that I would never get employed anywhere for this mistake I committed. I was completely broken by this. However, just after a span of 2 months, I got an opportunity with another MNC, though not as big as the previous one, it was a mediocre firm where I have been working for 1 and a half years now. I had informed them from the beginning about what had actually happened to me and why I had to leave. They appreciated my honesty and hired me at a better pay as well. I had applied through a referral and was easily accepted. As it was a small and growing company, I noticed that there were cases where people with worse backgrounds than mine were hired. The company is pleased with my work and has given me role changes twice, though there has been no change in designation. Now, I am looking for a change. I had submitted the offer letter of that previous MNC here as I did not have salary slips.

Now my questions are:

Firstly, why do companies conduct background checks after you have spent a considerable time in the organization?

Secondly, was my mistake significant enough to warrant being asked to leave?

Thirdly, a similar case was known in that same MNC which asked me to leave. That person was not dismissed as he had developed a good rapport with his manager. Why was this the case? I heard that person had forged his salary slip.

Fourthly, I do not want to mention those three months of my life anywhere, is that advisable?

Fifthly, is it true that I am blacklisted?

Sixthly, if I do not mention these 3 months, is it possible for this information to be discovered during background checks?

Lastly, I want to commit to honesty in the future, but I am apprehensive about missing out on opportunities. What should I do?

Please advise.

Hi Friend,

I read your post a couple of days back. My case was the same as yours; I even forged my CV by changing my dates of work experience. I received the offer letter from my new employer and joined the company. However, after 3-4 days of my joining, I stopped going to the office as I knew that the company would ask me to leave. Multinational Corporations (MNCs) these days are very strict towards integrity issues. I was terminated from my services within a week's time, and I accepted it as all this happened because of my fault.

Now, my question is: can I be restrained from joining any other company in the future? (I have corrected my CV now).

Kindly see inline responses (in blue)!

Why Do Companies Conduct Background Checks After You Have Spent Time in the Organization?

An organization needs good, honest, and competent people to take it further! Many organizations believe that speaking falsely and fudging vital information are potentially criminal acts, as there is no guarantee to what lengths such a person will go for selfish interests. It is therefore better to find out as much as one can about a new person coming into the organization. The background check is an essential filter to protect the organization's interests and future. There is nothing wrong with it!

Was My Mistake Significant Enough to Warrant Being Asked to Leave?

Until you understand the seriousness of the offense you committed, you will continue to question if the organization's response was proportionate.

Why Was a Similar Case Treated Differently?

First, let us be clear: what happened in your case was correct on grounds of ethics and morality, while what happened in the other case was wrong on both these counts. However, the management has discretionary power to take a view of any matter and make a decision. No decision is right or wrong before it is made. It is only in retrospect that decisions are judged as right or wrong. In matters of employment, if a candidate errs at the entry point, the company's response was right in your case and wrong in the other case.

Is It Advisable Not to Mention Those Three Months?

You are once again leaning towards withholding factual information. Those three months are part of your reality, and you cannot hide them forever. This time you faced consequences for not providing accurate information. In the future, you may face similar repercussions for the same indiscretion. The choice is yours, but you can provide a truthful explanation, not to justify but simply state the facts with a tone of regret.

Am I Blacklisted?

Your HR may or may not have announced this case to the entire world. He/She has the power to blacklist you (or anyone) only for the organization he/she is working for and may work for in the future. Even if he/she has disclosed the case to the world, he/she has no power to compel other organizations to act as per his/her advice. A new employer may take a different view, as in the case of your present employer.

Can This Information Be Discovered During Background Checks?

Yes, you would be running a serious risk to your career and credibility.

How Can I Be Honest in the Future Without Losing Opportunities?

Such a "sin" as you have committed will take some time to atone for. Be good, be honest, remain competent, and preserve your credibility. Avoid the temptation of fatal attraction, as it may harm you. Over time, you will acquire a clean profile, and the "sin" of today will be seen as a mistake or indiscretion. You will have to work seriously to earn that.

Regards, Samvedan

Hello sk2606,

It's good that you have posted about your experience so candidly--a lesson for all those in this forum who have the inclination/yearning to learn from mistakes committed by others, rather than wait until they themselves make mistakes and learn the hard way. The bottom-line lesson is this: Honesty is always the best policy.

Coming to your queries:

Firstly, why do companies do the background check after you have completed so much time in the organization?

Ans: I don't think it happens by choice--in your company, it just must have taken so much time due to the long line of new-joiners to be verified--more of operational delay than anything else.

Secondly, was my mistake such a big thing to throw me out?

Ans: A dishonest act is always a dishonest act. There's nothing called a small lie and a big lie. Also, organizations don't act based on the present, but the consequences of such an act if committed later as a part of your job. There's no guarantee that it won't be repeated in the job--all such a dishonest person would look for is a justification to be dishonest. It's neither practical nor desirable that an employee is allowed to work with his/her honesty/integrity being under a cloud all through.

Thirdly, a similar case was heard in that same MNC who threw me, and that person was not thrown out as he had developed a very good rapport with his manager, why was this so? That person forged his salary slip I heard.

Ans: If what you mention is true (which I really doubt, since integrity issues are taken very seriously nowadays), there could be 'hazaar' reasons for it. Does it absolve you of the necessity to be honest? Suggest focusing on what's in your hands or what you ought to be doing. Just because another person is dishonest doesn't and shouldn't give you a reason/justification to follow the same path. If you also want to cut corners, be prepared to pay the price too for it, since such things invariably have the habit of coming out into the open.

Fourthly, I don't want to mention those three months of my life anywhere, is that good?

Ans: Since it's at the beginning of your career, it shouldn't matter. If any company raises it, you can pass it off as 'looking for a suitable job'. Most companies usually ignore a career gap of up to about 6-8 months of passing-out. So please don't worry too much about this aspect. Had this gap been between two jobs, that would have been a different matter.

Fifthly, is it really true that I am blacklisted?

Ans: I am not sure she actually did it. Else you wouldn't have got your present job. So don't lose your sleep over this point--just put your full focus on the present job and do your best.

Sixthly, if I do not mention these 3 months, is it possible for anyone to phase out even in background checks?

Ans: When you don't mention anything, what do you think will come out of any background check anyone does regarding you? They do the background check with respect to what you mention in your records. So please don't worry about this point too.

Lastly, I want to be honest in the future, but I am really scared of losing opportunities, what should I do?

Ans: It's time you decide what your priorities are--to land up with a 'good' job (please note 'your' definition of 'good' job will vary from others' definitions) by hook or crook, OR to follow the basic ethical practices and take what comes commensurate with your capabilities--not commensurate to your greed. In a way, you should count yourself lucky or have His blessings--whichever way you want to look at it--since you faced a situation where the ethical aspects of a career got highlighted in the first few months of your life. Just imagine if the same situation cropped up much later in your life? You would have earned a high position by then, and you would be losing much, much more than now. If you care to look around, you will find examples galore--Satyam Ramalinga Raju, the present crop of scams, etc. Would anyone give the same level of respect/trust to them now? The choice is yours--how you want your life to take shape. I recollect a quote here: In nature, there are no rewards or punishments, only consequences.

Regards,

TS

Thanks a lot to all the people here who shared and helped me out with their views. I am much better now, and in fact, leaving that job has led to a new turn in my life. I have steadily completed 2 years in another company now and have also been able to experience good growth here.

@Sateesh - Just wanted to add, this job was in between my career and not the start of it. I started my career in May 2007 and switched jobs very frequently due to inappropriate profiles coming my way and in search of something that would allow me to be stable. From May 2007 to July 2008, I had worked for 4 companies and joined this MNC at the end of July 2008. This MNC's profile was very different from all the earlier jobs. So, this job was a new start in a new profile, essentially my 5th job in my career. In that case, would it be fine if I take it off my CV? I was a fresher in this new industry as I had worked with Indian companies until then and had hardly stayed in any company for more than 6 months.

Hello sk2606,

I guess I got the dates wrong—thank you for the correction.

Since the said situation came in-between jobs, I agree with Samvedan that it's appropriate to show that experience too. You don't need to mention the reason in your resume, but be prepared to speak the truth if and when asked in the interviews—tell them the truth and also that you learned your lesson. If the company has an inherent culture of appreciating anyone who speaks the truth (in a way that would be an indirect indication for you if that company is meant for you), you are sure to be hired—assuming you perform well in other aspects. If they give you the pass, just move forward—don't waste your time on such companies who preach speaking the truth but practice it only out of convenience.

But since you mentioned you changed 4 jobs in 3.5 years (even though you seem to be stable since 2008, quite a few HR persons may not look at it the same way), it could be better if you stay in the current job for another year or so—that would conclusively prove that you are, by nature, stable and the initial frequent changes were more of an aberration (at worst) or an act of someone trying to get his moorings (at best) than regular practice.

ALL THE BEST.

Regards,

TS

The Impact of Managerial Relationships in MNCs

Similar cases were heard in the same MNC where I was terminated, and those individuals were not dismissed because they had developed a strong rapport with their managers. This raises the question: why did this happen? I later found out that one of them had forged his salary slip.

Life lacks honesty; there is no value placed on it. In most MNCs, one must bow down to the manager to survive. What happened to you is truly regrettable. Indian management is not professional; they often prioritize personal gains. If you had a good relationship with your manager, you might not have faced the same fate.

In many MNCs, incompetent individuals fill the ranks. They lack even the basic knowledge of their field but secure jobs through strong references.