[Grammar] Past Participle vs past simple

[Offroad]

Dear teachers

What would be the correct tense in this situation?

She knew so much about the company that it seemed someone there [had] worked for her.
She knows so much about the company that it seems someone there [had] worked for her.

Very much appreciated

 

[MikeNewYork]

Dear teachers

What would be the correct tense in this situation?

She knew so much about the company that it seemed someone there [had] worked for her.
She knows so much about the company that it seems someone there [had] worked for her.

Very much appreciated

In the first, I would use "had worked". I could go either way with #2, but I still prefer "had worked".

 

[Offroad]

Could we say the simple past is grammatically wrong there?

Thank you

 

[MikeNewYork]

Could we say the simple past is grammatically wrong there?

Thank you

I wouldn't go that far.