Have you applied here before? Background check

November 10, 2016 5:29 AM

How to answer correctly when applying for a govt job?

I have been asked to fill out a background check for our police department dispatch, I am on the 3rd interview. One of the questions is "have you applied at X city or fire department before?" Well I applied for fire dispatch a few years ago and took the test but did not get a call back....what should I answer under last know status of that application? I do not want to lie but I'm afraid they'll hold it against me. Help?

posted by anonymous to Law & Government (3 answers total)

You answer questions honestly, especially ones that are easily checked and which are for positions that depend on you being a person with a high level of personal integrity.
posted by J.R. Hartley at 5:49 AM on November 10, 2016 [4 favorites]

Yes. Applying for a job a few years back usually isn't something a good company will hold against you: the point of experience is to grow, after all, and those years may have made you a perfect candidate, assuming you're applying for the same position.
posted by steady-state strawberry at 5:59 AM on November 10, 2016 [2 favorites]

Applied for position, was not called back.

Each application and the evaluation of that application is supposed to be an independent trial.

"Have you applied before?" is them gathering statistics.
posted by fixedgear at 6:03 AM on November 10, 2016 [1 favorite]