Work History Question

Hi all, I'm another new person thinking about a second career as a driver. I've read some of the threads here and I know people with work history problems are usually told that it's a problem, but there may be ways around it. But I thought I'd put mine out there and see what people have to say.

Anyway, my problem is that I have no work history. Well, that's not quite true - I worked as a software developer for 20 years, then just decided one day to walk away from it, and I haven't worked since (6 years now). So I suppose I could describe myself as "retired", although I never intended for it to be permanent. Anyway, the obvious question is how big of a problem is it? If the issue is that companies will look at it and say "this lazy so and so obviously doesn't want to work", well, I can understand that, and even though I know I'd be a good employee, I guess there's no way around that except to find some other job and maybe try again in a few years.

On the other hand, if the issue is just that it looks suspicious because I might be trying to hide what I was doing, then that's still a bit of a problem because I'm a loner with literally no friends or acquaintances, but I might be able to come up with people who know what I was doing during the time in question.

Any advice or opinions?

The lack of recent work history will definitely scare some companies away. I was off work for 2 months and Roehl made me fill out an affidavit regarding what I was doing during that two months, and I had to have a couple non-relative references sign it too. All you can do is apply at a few places and try it. Worst case scenario is you get a different job for a year or so, then try again. Good luck..

Thanks Scott, that's a good point. I had thought about it and decided I wanted to go to a non-company sponsored school so I was worried that I would go through it all and end up with no chance of being hired. But I guess it's worth applying for company sponsored training instead of giving up on the idea.

Every company sets their own policies not only for whether or not they'll hire someone that hasn't worked in a while but also for what they'll accept as proof of what you've been doing.

There isn't much you can do except apply like crazy to every program and see what they say. Some will turn you down for it, others won't. A lot depends on how bad the company needs drivers at the moment.

Every company sets their own policies not only for whether or not they'll hire someone that hasn't worked in a while but also for what they'll accept as proof of what you've been doing.

There isn't much you can do except apply like crazy to every program and see what they say. Some will turn you down for it, others won't. A lot depends on how bad the company needs drivers at the moment.

Keith,

I'm in a similar situation. I've been self employed for the last 5 years and wondering the same thing. I'll be interested in hearing how things go for you.

Brett: As always, great insightful input. Thanks. I guess I'll start pulling together all of my 1040s from the last few years and making copies!

Keith,

I'm in a similar situation. I've been self employed for the last 5 years and wondering the same thing. I'll be interested in hearing how things go for you.

Brett: As always, great insightful input. Thanks. I guess I'll start pulling together all of my 1040s from the last few years and making copies!

Self employment should not be an issue since you filed taxes for those five years. Been there done that. Even if you make no profit or go in the hole you still have to file taxes as a self employed person. IRS can help you prove you were self employed.

Now if you did not file taxes as you should have and you have no records of being self employed and were only paid "cash under the table" then that is another issue altogether.

Even part time self employment would need to be filed on taxes as it is income. Now I am not saying this to sound like a "stick in the mud self righteous prig". There are reasons you want to create a paper trail for you work history. And the 10 year history check for DOT would be a good example. No one remembers 10 years worth of jobs but the IRS does.

All companies are different but one thing they stand the same on if the 10 year work history cause its federal law they have to. The company I am with now needed the 10 years and complained even about a 1 week gap I did not fill in. Its the law they have to account for the last 10 years of your employment. If that means not giving you a job because you can't remember what you were doing 8.5 years ago or taking fines imposed by the FMCSA then you will not have a job.

Keith,

I'm in a similar situation. I've been self employed for the last 5 years and wondering the same thing. I'll be interested in hearing how things go for you.

Brett: As always, great insightful input. Thanks. I guess I'll start pulling together all of my 1040s from the last few years and making copies!

Hi Daniel,

I haven't started the process yet (for other reasons, it will probably be some months before I would be ready) so unfortunately I have nothing to share. But it sounds like your situation is slightly different since I'm not claiming any type of employment since my last job. The tax record thing is interesting, there are a couple years for which I didn't even file because I had no income or withholdings, but now I'm thinking it might be a good idea to file retroactively for those years just to have complete records. Anyway, I suppose I should call some recruiters and see what they say about my situation.

Anyway, good luck, and let us know what happens.

- K.