"Previous name" and employment?

[Sybil]

I wasn't sure where else to post this, but here goes:

It seems pretty customary that employers ask you if you've had a previous name during interviews for employment. How do you handle this? You could say you haven't had a name change, but it can pop up in background checks. It's a likely concern for anyone who is stealth or really wants to blend in.

I'm not well-versed on how background checks work, but one possible solution I thought of was having a sealed record name change. I've heard these aren't too difficult to obtain in my state in particular (Massachusetts) with a lawyer. Is it necessary to divulge a previous name if the record is sealed for your security?

Has anyone had experiences with this that they can share?

[Northern Jane]

I ran into that more than 30 years ago when the company I worked for took on some Defence work and we all had to get a DND clearance. It was a lifetime security check and my "public history" was 20 years shorter than my age LOL! The form asked if you had ever been known by any other name(s). I wasn't about to lie but I also didn't want my past to be a part of public record so I put down "Information available to qualified investigator only". (Think witness protection LOL!) A few weeks later I got a call from a senior military officer at the national HQ asking about my answer so I told him. He was very understanding, completed the investigation, granted the security clearance, and had the records sealed. 

[tgchar21]

In your case do they have a practical reason for knowing your former name (such as does any of your work, education, or criminal history they want to check appear under that name)? If so, you'll probably need to bring it up sooner or later or they may assume you're falsifying your credentials if they try to check and it bounces back when the institution says that no one by that name worked or attended classes there (or in the case of a criminal record they'll think you're trying to cover it up).

If ALL the records they want to check are under your current name, you can say/put down something like "none that any relevant records appear under" if asked about your former name. (They'll probably assume something like you were adopted or had a childhood name change; although many job experts say that such names do not even count as other names you've used for employment purposes, if you want to be safe you can give the statement like I mentioned.)

As PP said, security clearances are an exception to the general rule.

Also, sealing your name change record will probably have little or no practical effect here - if records they want to check are under your old name you'll still need to bring the issue up.

Here's a post I made a few months ago that discusses this issue further.

[Misato]

I just give it out.

One area I remain a realist is when it comes to software.  I'm confident if I don't give the old name out, something will confuse the background check software or something else will happen causing it to break.  Then ya get the e-mail, "something was work with your background check"

I will admit, my legal name isn't changed yet so I personally don't had a choice.  Still, given all the unnormalized data out there about everyone today, hitting all those databases... I've dealt with this problem enough times in my job to just accept if you have any career work history, complete stealth is going to be very tough to achieve because in some table in some database, your prior name will not be updated.

[JennX]

I haven't looked for work in awhile... But I'd leave it blank if you have legally changed your name, id, bank accounts etc. If something comes up and they are serious about hiring you... They will most likely call you to get an explanation or clarification.

I was hiring a research scientist last year... And my company runs background and credit checks on all prospective applicants. Well, the guy I was interested in showed up having a felony conviction... Even though he checked the no convictions box. Mind you this is a young guy, right out of grad school with a PhD from Duke in Biochemistry... Has to be mistake right? Well I called him to discuss it, and he admitted to doing something stupid a few years ago. He said all charges were dropped, so thats why he didn't mention it. I thought for sure it had to be a mistake, but turns out it wasn't. Stuff happens. In most cases if you get far enough in to the hiring process, and they are serious about hiring you, I'd expect a call so that you can explain the name issue.

[Alainaluvsu]

I've legally changed my name and I don't give it out unless for some reason they need a clarification. I've dug up a few references that know me as Alaina though. The only time I would give it up is if my old name comes up in a background check. I treat my transgender status as no big deal, so there's no reason to even bring it up. I think employers like that the most.

[Just Shelly]

I haven't looked for work in awhile... But I'd leave it blank if you have legally changed your name, id, bank accounts etc. If something comes up and they are serious about hiring you... They will most likely call you to get an explanation or clarification.

I was hiring a research scientist last year... And my company runs background and credit checks on all prospective applicants. Well, the guy I was interested in showed up having a felony conviction... Even though he checked the no convictions box. Mind you this is a young guy, right out of grad school with a PhD from Duke in Biochemistry... Has to be mistake right? Well I called him to discuss it, and he admitted to doing something stupid a few years ago. He said all charges were dropped, so thats why he didn't mention it. I thought for sure it had to be a mistake, but turns out it wasn't. Stuff happens. In most cases if you get far enough in to the hiring process, and they are serious about hiring you, I'd expect a call so that you can explain the name issue.

From my experience most employers will not give anyone a second chance if something shows up in BC and the applicant didn't divulge it prior. I have had plenty of BC's done...I have not listed the name change on some and have on others...seems like I don't get past the BC no matter what.  Its very frustrating!!

Most BC will not search for civil records...this is what a name change will be under....but they will verify if name matches SS and other records. If this doesn't match then it comes up as a variance. I have all records changed except a few like high school and some past employment.

I also have a non violent, non theft misdemeanor I feel holds me back!! I have not listed this at times but feel I then look like I'm lieing...not to many people would still call and ask what its about...too many applicants to choose from.

[Alainaluvsu]

For the record, I've had background checks come back "squeaky clean" without giving out my old name, and was hired.

[JennX]

I also have a non violent, non theft misdemeanor I feel holds me back!! I have not listed this at times but feel I then look like I'm lieing...not to many people would still call and ask what its about...too many applicants to choose from.

This is probably what most employers are looking at vs. a name change. Name change could mean many things. A conviction is something different. Also in today's world, many won't higher you if you have a bad/low credit score as they view you are seen as an increased risk to their bottom line.

[Joanna Dark]

...too many applicants to choose from.

It won't always be this way. Right now it is an employer's market where they can be picky and choose not to hire people or put off hiring anyone. Sooner or later, as structural unemployment issues turn around and the price of lagging on productivity gives competitors who are not afraid to hire people a distinct edge, the labor participation rate (the real measure of unemployment according to Goldman Sachs) will drop swiftly.

Also, there are plenty of jobs you can get in which employers do not conduct BCs. The cost of a comprehensive BC is prohibitive for these businesses or just plain useless as hiring someone with a more "shady" background just doesn't matter. The only time it really matters is in handling money. You'd be wise to stay away from these jobs.

Or you could plain just start your own businesses or become a freelance contractor.

[tgchar21]

It won't always be this way. Right now it is an employer's market where they can be picky and choose not to hire people or put off hiring anyone. Sooner or later, as structural unemployment issues turn around and the price of lagging on productivity gives competitors who are not afraid to hire people a distinct edge, the labor participation rate (the real measure of unemployment according to Goldman Sachs) will drop swiftly.

Once we can get many of the baby boomers (which based on their numbers is a larger-than-typical proportion) who are at or nearing retirement age to retire that will probably be when we'll see the job market loosen for younger people.

[Joanna Dark]

Once we can get many of the baby boomers (which based on their numbers is a larger-than-typical proportion) who are at or nearing retirement age to retire that will probably be when we'll see the job market loosen for younger people.

You're right. This is a major problem. Because they are being forced to work longer due to their 401(k)s getting decimated at the hands of speculators after their crash of Lehman Bros., it stops Gen Xers from moving up which stops Gen Y from getting in. But now that the stock market is taking off I think you should see some loosening in labor conditions quite soon. Of course the doom and gloomers (which I used to be a member of) will tell you that any second the sky will fall.

And another good way to make money without having to subject yourself to the vicissitudes of employers and the total loss of privacy in the modern age is by options trading. If you have a good sized nest egg or simply save and learn how to minimize your losses, day trading can bring in quite an income. You could also get wiped out.