Overseas Employment

[rlf1810]

Hello Everyone,

I've been following this forum for a awhile but only just got around to registering. What a great resource!

My first question for you guys is in regards to temporary employment I had in Europe. I spent 10 months there teaching English as a Foreign Language. Obviously, I will be putting this on my application for my local PD, but I was wondering if this would show up on my background check. If not, how would I go about proving this work history to the department should it become an issue?

Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

-Robert

[Kimble]

Hello Everyone,

I've been following this forum for a awhile but only just got around to registering. What a great resource!

My first question for you guys is in regards to temporary employment I had in Europe. I spent 10 months there teaching English as a Foreign Language. Obviously, I will be putting this on my application for my local PD, but I was wondering if this would show up on my background check. If not, how would I go about proving this work history to the department should it become an issue?

Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

-Robert

Did you teach in Europe for a company, or did folks pay you under the table? If the former. just list your former employer contact info. If the latter, start developing some references (ex: former students, your family/friends who can vouch for your employment during this time, neighbors who you've kept in touch with from your stays in Europe, etc.) you had from when you taught in Europe so that if you're asked for some you've already done the leg work.

[rlf1810]

Thanks for the quick response Kimble. I worked for a private language school and it was all official. What I'm worried about is when they attempt to contact the company they will not be able to verify it because not all the employees there speak English (it was in Slovakia). I keep reading that if they can't verify something it's a DQ. Hopefully I'm just worrying too much.

Thanks again!

[Kimble]

I keep reading that if they can't verify something it's a DQ.

I'm not sure where exactly have you read that, but I'm not familiar with that having been said on this site. Part of the backgroud investigation is to verify all employment/residences/schools, etc, and if a language barrier exists in a previous foreign employment it can cause difficulties, but that doesn't mean it's an outright disqualification. Surely you knew some people (friends, family, etc.) during this time that could corroborate your employment.

I'm not saying it's unfathomable for a PD to look at a 10 year history abroad as too difficult to properly screen per their hiring standards and look at other applicants over you, it could happen, but I wouldn't say it would be a practice that ALL local PD's would do.

[rlf1810]

Thanks again Kimble. I just realized that I still have the work visa stamped in my passport so, that should suffice if it comes to that point.

[MikeG]

Not a LEO but I know of people verified with foreign employment and addresses. Also I know people that worked for companies that no longer exist and the contacts for the company have long since disappeared. None of it was an issue for any of them. For the foreign stuff, they did interpol checks. I'm not sure they ever actually verified the employment but obviously nothing came back contradictory. It wasn't an issue for them and they were hired. They didn't have to provide anything other than their statement of work history.

[ISU28]

Robert,

I have run into similar issue as you except mine was living in Europe (5 years). If they are interested in you they will usually hire a translator and call said company. The agency I'm in process with currently , has contacted local law enforcement agency in city where I resided and also contacted family I've lived with all through translator. Just keep documentation and correct contact information for your former employer in Slovakia.