Background check!!

[Mariano]

I'm trying to put together a resume to apply for a ramp job. I'm having a little problem with the ten year employment history. The reason is that there is two past employers ( worked for them over nine years ago in Spain ) that are not longer in business anymore, nor do I have a way to contact them.
If I put the name of these companies ( they were restaurants ) along with the employment dates, without a phone number or contact person, do you think that they will throw my resume to the garbage ( or won't pass the background check ), since there isn't a way for them to verify this?

Thanks.

[tonyw]

I've never put phone numbers or contact names on my resumes. I always figure if they want to talk to those people, they can ask me during the interview for that information.

In your case, I would say those companies are in Spain and I'm not sure how to get a hold of them now and they'll most likely let it drop.

[flyguy]

Originally Posted by tonyw

I've never put phone numbers or contact names on my resumes. I always figure if they want to talk to those people, they can ask me during the interview for that information.

From my understanding it is quite common that they would ask for a ten year employment history on the application, and that's where he might run into problems. I'd be interrested in hearing some ideas on this sitaution as well.

[MQAAord]

I've worked for several companies that no longer exist. I put the information that was current as to the time I worked there. For example, I was a machine operator in a plastics factory in Mt. Horeb in the summer of 1994 that got shut down in the late 90's. The best I can do is give them the address & name of the company as I knew it. If they want to do any further research, they can. (This is true actually, I really did work in a factory!)

Granted, that job has now fallen off my 10-year record, but you get my point. If they need to verify employment, do you have pay stub record or tax records of any kind from them? A W-2 may help convince someone yes, you actually worked there.

[moxiepilot]

Agreed with the above. Usually on resumes I will put company name, position and location. If they want to put in the foot work they can or they can ask me. My references are people they can contact; the former companies are just ancillary.

[tonyw]

Originally Posted by flyguy

From my understanding it is quite common that they would ask for a ten year employment history on the application, and that's where he might run into problems. I'd be interrested in hearing some ideas on this sitaution as well.

Hell, man, if they want a ten year employment history, I can give them companies, but asking for names of managers that far back? You want 'em? Sure, I can give them to you, but the odds of someone being in the same company for ten years are pretty slim!

[FlyChicaga]

For every airline job I've had (ramp, customer service, intern, pilot) until now, those companies have either gone under or completely restructured to the point where getting contact information for a job application of any kind is pretty hard. I just put down who my supervisor was at the time, when I worked there, and where the job was located. Never heard any complaints. This after three FBI background checks. I wouldn't worry about it too much. With the way airlines are going nowadays, it's like a chinese puzzle to figure out a work history. Mergers, failures, acquisitions, renaming, combined seniority... gah!

[Mariano]

Thanks everyone for your answers. I guess I'll try to get some SS records, ( my dad will have to do that, the records are in Spain obviously). It's hard to remember exact dates of employment after all those years.

Thanks.