Self-employed and Backgroun checks...

Question

After finishing two-year program at a respectable Investment Bank in NYC, I decided to move back home and work (for no-pay) with my brother in a startup he started a few years prior. I made this decision several months before, and saved a lot of money/bonus in order to supplement my upcoming "life-style". However, after about a year and a half, the business did not make much progress, and I decided to start looking for other roles (finance and corporate development) and moved back to NYC, all while still working with my brother's company in the same role at a lesser capacity. I've been looking for the past six months, but have been unable to find any opportunities.

I am currently looking into applying for my MBA. My question is, how would this look in my business school application? And since I did not receive any pay over the past two years and was never officially "sworn in" at the company (i.e. there was no process involved in making me an employee, since it was my brothers business), how will this come across during the background check? Would this pose as a problem?

Thanks in advance!

novanative · Answer

If you worked with other people in your brother's business who aren't your brother, this could help you since they can be your references. I think as long as you write what you did on your resume, you should be fine.

For the background checks, as long as you are not intentionally misleading a school or flat out lying, you should be fine.

For the background checks, as long as you are not intentionally misleading a school or flat out lying, you should be fine.

snipes · Answer

From my brief experience thus far dealing with the background check company (ReVera) and having been self-employed it seems that they will contact you if there are any issues or they want info. Since they couldn't verify my income, for example, they asked to see copies of my Schedule C for prior years. I expect that an explanation that you provided would also suffice. I don't think they are really looking to bust balls just make sure that nobody is out and out lying about their resume/accomplishments.

silverline · Answer

First of all, I don't believe all schools perform background checks. I think I read somewhere that Berkeley does that, not sure about other schools.
Second, Like any other applicant, if you can make the best of it, explain your career choices and possibly combine them with your career path/goals it might be OK.

Self-employed and Backgroun checks...

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