I have been offered a job with a Federal agency where I would have to complete an SF86.  Now I've never done anything illegal (or nothing that would come up on a criminal background check), perfect credit (no charge off's or late payments EVER) but I may have a problem with the employment section 

And to boot it would be a top-secret clearance as well.  I've talked to a few other people and the only thing they knew about the top-secret clearance was that they send agents to your references and neighbors.

But as far as the employment, I had an old resume out-and-about on the Internet that a recruiter found and invited me to interview.  Problem is I expanded the dates I was actually employed with this one company.  And to make things worse I was actually involuntarily terminated from this job (a/k/a fired).  I mean at the interview I couldn't exactly tell them I started at a different date since they already pulled my resume off of the Internet.  And I certainly didn't want to tell them I was terminated!

I left that job a little over a year ago now so it's still relevant as far as the 10-year requirement and I also noticed there is a part in the employment section where they want you to list any place you have been involuntarily terminated.   

It's technically legal to lie on a resume but not on an application for employment since you sign it and therefore is a legal contract (which is why many places have you fill one out at least before the 2nd interview).  I never had to fill one out for this job.

I am pretty certain no one at my own agency would be performing the background check (it's not law enforcement) since ironically part of my job would be performing secret clearances on employees.

Do you think I should just be straight up on the SF86 even though it doesn't match my resume?  Does the agency that performs the check receive a copy of my resume when I submit the SF86?  Is there any way around this?  If I do list it how adversely do you think it would effect me?  I think I may be better off not accepting the job since I could get busted on the SF86 and then be out of a job completely.

Any help & insight at all is much appreciated!

asdf1234,

There is not a person on this board who would advise you to  be dishonest when submitting information on the SF-86. If you are looking to be in a position of trust, then complete honesty is required in this matter. The reason they have the polygraph is because of people being less than 100% honest in this process. If this is a burden for you, then don't even consider this type of employment. You have a tough decision to make.  Make the right one, or don't even bother.

Regards ...