How far back does a business look to see if you have worked for them before.

Question

i worked for a business fifteen years ago and left without notice, i would like to work for them again since it has new management and better working conditions. i walked out because of the harrassment after an on the job injury which required surgery.

Answer 1

How big a company is it? Is the same HR director there when you left?  I left a job about eight years ago essentially walking off the job and they rehired me four years later not realizing I had worked for them before.  It depends on if youre willing to omit certain things from your resume.  That was a pretty big company though. Youll want to make sure if anyone who worked there when you did either doesnt remember you or would be willing to keep your dirty little secret.  My gut says you could probably pull it off, worse case you wont get the job, and youre no worse off than you are now!

Answer 2

Just tell them that you worked there before but you were concerned with the treatment of the employees at the time and terminated your employment.  That you understand that now there are differences in the way that HR and management deal with employee relations and because you really did enjoy working in that capacity you would like to know if they would consider you for another opportunity to work for their company.

Don't lie.  Someone there knows you were there before, and they'll say something inadvertently that may get you questioned.