u/yomama1806

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice from people with genuine experience of UK Security Check (SC) clearance or who have worked in security vetting.

Around 10 months ago I was dismissed from a part-time cinema job for gross misconduct. The issue was that I had shared my clock-in login with another employee. On one occasion, while I was running late, he clocked me in without me asking. The company concluded that my hours had been falsified and dismissed me. I accept that sharing my login was a breach of policy and that it ultimately made the situation possible.

I’m due to go through SC soon and intend to be completely honest about the dismissal and answer any questions truthfully. I also realised I’d accidentally omitted this job from my pre-employment screening form, but as soon as I noticed I contacted the screening company to correct it before the screening was complete.

For context:
I’m a UK-born British citizen.
I have a clean criminal record.
This is the only job I’ve ever been dismissed from.
Since then I’ve started another part-time job where I’ve had no issues and have been recognised as a reliable employee.

I’m not looking for reassurance or people to tell me what I want to hear. I’d genuinely like honest opinions from people who understand how SC vetting works.

Would a single gross misconduct dismissal like this be likely to result in an SC refusal? Any professional insight or personal experience would be greatly appreciated.

I’m looking to hear from people who have actually been through UK Security Clearance (SC).

During my baseline employment screening (Matrix), I was asked to provide my employment history for the last 5 years. I accidentally left out a part-time retail job that I had for 2 years while I was at university. The screening was completed and approved without any questions.

The reason I’m worried is because I was dismissed from that job for gross misconduct. The employer concluded that my hours had been falsified because my employee PIN had been used to clock in when I wasn’t working.

During the disciplinary hearing, I explained that i don’t have that employee on any social media and had no way of contact to tell him to commit this action, I don’t even know him like that either. He knew my PIN from watching me clock in and out and had clocked me in without my knowledge or consent because I was not there and I don’t know why he did it. On his side of things, he saw that I was late and thought he was being a good friend by clocking me in (that was his explanation). On the record, you can see me clock out and back in an hour after that employee clocked me in because I was confused as to why I was clocked in and through it was a technical error. Despite my explanation, they upheld the dismissal.

I’m now concerned about whether I should include this job on the SC application if it asks for all employment, and whether the difference between what I submitted for Matrix and what I submit for SC could cause problems.
I’m not looking for legal advice. I’m just interested in hearing from people who have actually gone through something similar with SC.

I’m looking to hear from people who have actually been through UK Security Clearance (SC).

During my baseline employment screening (Matrix), I was asked to provide my employment history for the last 5 years. I accidentally left out a part-time retail job that I had for 2 years while I was at university. The screening was completed and approved without any questions.

The reason I’m worried is because I was dismissed from that job for gross misconduct. The employer concluded that my hours had been falsified because my employee PIN had been used to clock in when I wasn’t working.

During the disciplinary hearing, I explained that i don’t have that employee on any social media and had no way of contact to tell him to commit this action, I don’t even know him like that either. He knew my PIN from watching me clock in and out and had clocked me in without my knowledge or consent because I was not there and I don’t know why he did it. On his side of things, he saw that I was late and thought he was being a good friend by clocking me in (that was his explanation). On the record, you can see me clock out and back in an hour after that employee clocked me in because I was confused as to why I was clocked in and through it was a technical error. Despite my explanation, they upheld the dismissal.

I’m now concerned about whether I should include this job on the SC application if it asks for all employment, and whether the difference between what I submitted for Matrix and what I submit for SC could cause problems.
I’m not looking for legal advice. I’m just interested in hearing from people who have actually gone through something similar with SC.

I’m looking to hear from people who have actually been through UK Security Clearance (SC).

During my baseline employment screening (Matrix), I was asked to provide my employment history for the last 5 years. I accidentally left out a part-time retail job that I had for 2 years while I was at university. The screening was completed and approved without any questions.

The reason I’m worried is because I was dismissed from that job for gross misconduct. The employer concluded that my hours had been falsified because my employee PIN had been used to clock in when I wasn’t working.

During the disciplinary hearing, I explained that i don’t have that employee on any social media and had no way of contact to tell him to commit this action, I don’t even know him like that either. He knew my PIN from watching me clock in and out and had clocked me in without my knowledge or consent because I was not there and I don’t know why he did it. On his side of things, he saw that I was late and thought he was being a good friend by clocking me in (that was his explanation). On the record, you can see me clock out and back in an hour after that employee clocked me in because I was confused as to why I was clocked in and through it was a technical error. Despite my explanation, they upheld the dismissal.

I’m now concerned about whether I should include this job on the SC application if it asks for all employment, and whether the difference between what I submitted for Matrix and what I submit for SC could cause problems.
I’m not looking for legal advice. I’m just interested in hearing from people who have actually gone through something similar with SC.

I’m hoping to get some advice from anyone who’s been in a similar situation.

I’m 24 and recently graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Computer Science (STEM), achieving an overall average of 85%, one of the highest in my cohort. I’ve accepted an offer for a graduate scheme and I’m currently going through the pre-employment screening process.

The only thing worrying me is my A-levels. I achieved DDD in non-STEM subjects during COVID, when exams were cancelled and grades were teacher assessed. Those results really knocked my confidence and made me believe university was no longer an option. After taking some time away from education, I eventually applied to university, worked incredibly hard, and graduated with a First, proving those A-level results didn’t reflect my academic ability.

What’s confusing is that the graduate job advertisement on the company’s website only required a minimum 2:2 degree. There was no mention of a 120 UCAS points (A-level or equivalent) requirement, and I was never asked to provide my A-level grades during the application process.
It was only after I accepted the offer that I received a list of conditions and this being one:

“Please note our offer of employment is conditional on the below items being successfully completed. These are: That we receive documentary evidence that you have obtained a minimum of 120 UCAS points at A level (or equivalent) and confirmation of your university course results which should indicate that you have obtained a minimum 2:2 classification in your first degree (or equivalent).”

So far, during screening, they’ve only asked for evidence of my highest qualification (my degree) and haven’t requested my A-level certificates. I’m worried they could ask for them later and potentially withdraw my offer, despite everything I’ve achieved since.

Has anyone experienced something similar or have any advice on how situations like this are typically handled? I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts.

I’m hoping to get some advice from anyone who’s been in a similar situation.

I’m 24 and recently graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Computer Science (STEM), achieving an overall average of 85%, one of the highest in my cohort. I’ve accepted an offer for a graduate scheme and I’m currently going through the pre-employment screening process.

The only thing worrying me is my A-levels. I achieved DDD in non-STEM subjects during COVID, when exams were cancelled and grades were teacher assessed. Those results really knocked my confidence and made me believe university was no longer an option. After taking some time away from education, I eventually applied to university, worked incredibly hard, and graduated with a First, proving those A-level results didn’t reflect my academic ability.

What’s confusing is that the graduate job advertisement on the company’s website only required a minimum 2:2 degree. There was no mention of a 120 UCAS points (A-level or equivalent) requirement, and I was never asked to provide my A-level grades during the application process.
It was only after I accepted the offer that I received a list of conditions and this being one:

“Please note our offer of employment is conditional on the below items being successfully completed. These are: That we receive documentary evidence that you have obtained a minimum of 120 UCAS points at A level (or equivalent) and confirmation of your university course results which should indicate that you have obtained a minimum 2:2 classification in your first degree (or equivalent).”

So far, during screening, they’ve only asked for evidence of my highest qualification (my degree) and haven’t requested my A-level certificates. I’m worried they could ask for them later and potentially withdraw my offer, despite everything I’ve achieved since.

Has anyone experienced something similar or have any advice on how situations like this are typically handled? I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts.