Background Check Concerns for Job at Investment Firm
Hello everyone! I recently accepted a job offer from a prominent investment management firm that has a very thorough background check process. I’m feeling a bit anxious about how to explain my reasons for separation from previous positions. I’ve been laid off multiple times due to reorganizations, and in each case, I was informed that my departure was not performance-related. I left those roles on good terms.
My question is: should I categorize these layoffs as terminations, or would that be misleading? In my past experiences, this hasn’t posed an issue with other employers, but I know this finance role is under much stricter scrutiny. I’ll be working in a tech capacity rather than directly handling client accounts, so I’m unsure if that changes anything. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
One response
It’s great that you’re being proactive about the background check process. In your situation, you should definitely be transparent about your reasons for separation. Since you’ve been laid off due to reorganizations and not for performance-related reasons, you should indicate this clearly on any forms that ask for your work history or reasons for leaving previous roles.
Labeling your experiences as “termination” could indeed raise unnecessary red flags, especially since your separations were not performance-related. Instead, consider using terms like “laid off due to company reorganization” or simply “reorganization” when reporting your job separations. This way, you provide honest context without implying any negative performance issues.
It’s also a good idea to be prepared to explain your situation during the interview or in follow-up discussions if needed. You can emphasize that you left on good terms and highlight your skills and contributions at those companies. Since you’re applying for a tech position and not a client-facing role, it’s likely that your past experiences will be viewed through the lens of your technical qualifications rather than just your job history. Good luck!