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It all gets a bit complicated when your personal circumstances don't fit the forms neatly, so they start to ask awkward questions. Not that I've got anything to hide, but what it says on my CV doesn't tell the full story (not a lie, just doesn't spell out all the boring details, for the sake of brevity).
Whose CV tells the whole story? It’s two sides to lay claim to the right skills, and outline your career. At some point either detail or two sides has to give.
If there’s big gaps I can imagine that would be of interest. Oh, in 2012 you joined a cult? You’ll fit right in here.
Coping with companies that don’t exist anymore is something all employers will have to do. I’ve given a person rather than a company before in that situation.
I do occasionally get asked to give a reference. I’ll say more than “x was a y between a and b” if I can. But, outside of academia, they are mostly confirming that some bit of the cv is legit. They rarely seem to be more than a formality.
Oh, and well done on the job / good luck with the forms!
