Verifying a 30 year old job (employee, applying, interview, employer)

[BigFish_LittleFish]

How long do employers keep employment records, specifically dates of hire? If during an interview, I mention that I worked somewhere 30 years ago (it's relevant), will the HR department of the past employer still have my records? It's a fairly large company. I know most companies have transferred employee records to The Work Number for employment verification. Does anyone know what the situation would be from a job that long ago? Thanks!

[Hemlock140]

I doubt it. For my current job I was verified after 16 years, but 30 is a long way back. Probably all on microfiche if they do have it, and that's an obsolete technology.

[manderly6]

I wouldn't worry about it. Let them try and verify and see what happens. I wonder if you can request copies of tax returns from that far back that would show who yo worked for.

[frizzo100]

Originally Posted by BigFish_LittleFish

How long do employers keep employment records, specifically dates of hire? If during an interview, I mention that I worked somewhere 30 years ago (it's relevant), will the HR department of the past employer still have my records? It's a fairly large company. I know most companies have transferred employee records to The Work Number for employment verification. Does anyone know what the situation would be from a job that long ago? Thanks!

Assuming the experience is even relevant to the job you applying to, I don't see what advantage it would be to mention it or have it listed on a resume. Most likely your skills would be outdated and all you would be doing is advertising how old you are.

I probably wouldn't list any job that I hadn't worked at for more than 15 years or so. That is enough time to show you have experience but doesn't show you're approaching retirement age. Besides, most employers only require work history for the last 10 years.

[BigFish_LittleFish]

Originally Posted by frizzo100

Assuming the experience is even relevant to the job you applying to, I don't see what advantage it would be to mention it or have it listed on a resume. Most likely your skills would be outdated and all you would be doing is advertising how old you are.

I probably wouldn't list any job that I hadn't worked at for more than 15 years or so. That is enough time to show you have experience but doesn't show you're approaching retirement age. Besides, most employers only require work history for the last 10 years.

I'm not listing the job on my resume. It was my first summer job at Disney and my father was an executive there for many years. My reason for MENTIONING my summer job there during my interview (today!), is because the potential employer is on Disney property and I would be dealing with Disney employees and management, so I only wanted to make a personal connection under those circumstances, and I do think it would be beneficial. It was actually 27 years ago and I'm 43 (so not old!) . I was just curious if employment that far back could be verified, if they were to even want to check that.

[smarterguy]

Its relavent but probably not worth spending too much time on. The fact that your father was an exec there is probably more relavent than a summer job (I'm from the NE and know a few people who have worked a summer job at Disney...).

[joe from dayton]

I can't imagine anyone even thinking about spending time to try and verify a job like that.

[D. Scott]

By far the more recent jobs will be more important. The process of tracking down verification of a job 30 years old is bound to be a waste of time.

[tasmtairy]

If you made a personal connection, then fine. Doubt if they will even try to verify it.

[AnywhereElse]

I don't believe they go back any further than 10 years and sometimes more than the last 4 positions that you held. I don't think Disney is the kind of company that so much cares about something that took place 30 years ago unless it will put money in their pocket.