mercedsunstar.com :: Skeltons, POW!, Subterfuge

CHECKING

Q: Back ground check -- what do they look for? Busy Bee

A: Dear Bee, Busy yourself on this one.

Background checking is big business and can be conducted in a variety of ways ranging from direct contact with people to searches of public records. It has become increasingly common since 9/11. How can you find out if you're vulnerable?

You have the research tool right there. Do a Google advanced search. Fill the boxes in this way: FIND RESULTS: with all of the words: (sales, insurance, banking, whatever)

with the exact phrase: pre-employment background

with at least one of the words: check screening questions

DATE (Click on) past 3 months

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Is a company checking on you? If you're exploring a highly sensitive field or a high-risk industry, such as security or diplomacy, the check could take some time. A criminal record may well dog you the rest of your life. If you're in transportation, your driving or flying record will likely be examined. Screening for a machine operator and other high-risk workers may include a drug background check.

Did a company ditch you because you failed the background check? Call up and find out what they discovered. Then, if the information was false, take steps to stop the next opportunity from being squelched. Who reported the falsehood? Set the record straight before this happens again. mlc

SEALED LIPS

Q: I broke a company policy without knowing it. Also, I told two co-workers what I did. The manager of my department and the HR director told me that they wanted to get my side of the story. I was honest and told them. After that, they left to discuss the situation. About a half hour later I was told that they would have to let me go. Where does this leave me? Kerflummuxed

A: Dear Kerflummuxed, You're doing a lot of assuming. You assume that you know the nature of the policy, but you're not positive. FIND OUT! Then you'll know if your assumption that letting co-workers in on what you did violated the policy even further.

This should not mean the end of your career, however. It means that when the subject comes up in an interview, you'll state forthrightly that:

in all ignorance you broke a company policy;

you wouldn't have broken it if you'd known about it; and

you'd like to have a copy of the interviewer's company policies to read before you sign on.

In other words, state your breech without defining it. Attest to ignorance and responsibility. Do NOT mention that you communicated with co-workers about it. Demonstrate that you can avoid this unnecessary problem in the new company. mlc

**blogTip**

DISHING IT

Are you giving your job search away? A survey of 1,290 office workers finds that if you don't have a candy dish in your office, you are three times more likely to be job hunting than a person who does, according to Life Savers. Enhance your image with one:

46 percent of dish-ees consider themselves more organized vs. 32 percent of dish-less;

63 percent of dish-ees think they're hard working vs. 37 percent of dish-less;

64 percent of dish-ees consider themselves creative vs. 47 percent of dish-less; and

55 percent of dishees are team leaders vs. 40 percent of dish-less.

But that's not enough. The survey finds that 57 percent of workers discuss business around a dish. Dishees also point to a great deal of job satisfaction, the likelihood of having received a bonus within the last year and happiness going to work.

The next time someone offers you a Life Saver, put it in an empty dish on YOUR desk. Whether you're job hunting or not.