Can I get a professional job with a misdemeanor on my background check?

[teddyb]

I made some bad decisions in the past 3 years. One of them was to get involved with drugs- I am currently in recovery. The other one was to do some shoplifting for extra cash (while using). I was caught and given 18 months probation; pay restitution. I badly wish to get my life back in order, but without a good job, I can barely make payments on my restitution. I have been advised to leave the question about misdemeanors blank and when asked, venture an explanation (not an excuse) for what happened and tell of my desire for a better life. Any ideas? Thank you

[jucee77]

Depends on where you live. Normally misdemeanors arent really that bad. Now if you had felonies that's another story. I would'nt leave the misdemeanor questions blank, it's better to tell the truth. It would look worse when they do the background check and they show up and you lied about it. Good Luck!

[contrepreneur]

I am an exconvict with an extensive record. I currently run the Freedom Network in Canada but I also have contacts and resources in the United States. Freedom Network which is designed to help exconvicts follow what I call the 3 E's employment education & entrepreneurship.

I'm also writing a book which will serve as a guide for exconvicts to get into making money and finding good jobs I would be happy to send you a copy free of charge just e-mail me.

The organization is brand new only a few weeks old so we're just getting things together now but we're building slowly.
Also I am very skilled in the art of interviewing very well for jobs.

I can tell you that as a result of discrimination I have faced in the workplace it motivated me to be involved in teh community and also to be self employed and thats why im working on so many things.

The way I see it is if they won't give you a job then start your own business and take advantage of the many government programs and grants which will give you free money.

Also because of your record you can make a case to social services that you are "unemployable" and can extract money from them as well to start your business.

You can take this oppurtunity to really change your life around and get into school.

Get welfare to pay for your schooling better than working
a 9-5 job plus they will pay your bills and living expenses( to an extant)

Sometimes it pays to be an exconvict!!!!!!

I can tell you right off the hop that the worst crime you could have ever commited in the eyes of employers is any property related offense. Robbery Theft Shoplifting Fraud, anything to do with obtaining money thru stealing or through fraud.

Employers are more likely to consider you if you had drunk driving, fighting, assault, battery, drugs even murder.

In employers eyes who you beat up on your own time is your own business but if you steal a $10 C.D. then they will never hire you.

You're still in luck because some independent employers not chain stores or big corporations will still hire you.

Small independent retailers mom n pop operations may not be as inclined to do a records search. Also if the job is a hard job or a **** job roofing construction etc. etc. then the employer may be willing to overlook your record because frankly they would be happy to get whoever they can to perform their hard job.

Stay away from big chain stores, big box stores retail stores or any professional job in a bank even volunteering or traveling to other nations you'll will be held back for a while.

When employment ads require you to be bondable technically you can still apply for the job. Everyone is bondable the only question is at what price?

For a person with no criminal convictions would be less money for bonding insurance then for a person like you with a conviction. It's like auto insurance the more tickets yu get the higher your premiums.

I've actually seen hardcore criminals get decent jobs because they have offered to pay the bonding fees out of their own paycheque instead of making the company pay. Thats also an option you could offer these employers who refuse you.

Bonding insurance basically means if you steal from them they can recover any losses caused by you in the event of employee theft.

Its cheap like $15 a month but once you have a record just like with driving it goes up. Exconvicts pay $200 per month or even more depending on the severity of their records.

Your days in retail are on hold for now. You're stuck doing manual labour for now but all is not lost.

The more employers which know about your record will be less likely to hire you once your record is cleared so just keep it to yourself.

You can get away with it if they don't ask.

If on the application they ask do you have a record. technically you could lie beacuse you havent given them permission to do a search.

If they want to do a search they will pull out a form (in canada anyway) and need you to sign a consent form for them to check your criminal file.

It also helps if they do pull out the consent form to say something like........

I do have a "civil" record (sounds better then "criminal" record)

And explain that you were young and stupid it sounds like a minor stupid offense and tell them you feel so ashamed telling them.

And also that by having and owning up to having a record you would be willing to work even harder to prove yourself to them.

Many empoyers will be endeared to you by saying that.
I will be happy to send you information on your state's employment discrimination guidelines and also how to have your state rap sheet cleared.

As I said I am from Canada and I'm not a lawyer. But here is a step by step guide for you.

#1 Go to the Police department which arrested you or laid charges against you and apply for a criminal record check on yourself. The fee could be anywhere from $15 to $45.

#2 check to see if your shoplifting charge was a misdemeanor or a felony. This makes a difference in determining how long you must wait to have this offense cleared from your record.

I'm not sure for a fact but I read somewhere that the wait time for misdemeanors are 2 years and 7 years for a felony.

Check the police the courts and your lawyer to see if it was misdemeanor or felony charge.

Also check to see if you were charged with a federal crime or a state crime different rules for waiting times run for each state.

#3 if you are not eligible for a conditional or a free pardon you may apply for what is known as a "Certificate of rehabilitation" Which basically says you have commited a crime but have since been rehabilitated and live a crime free life.

You can email me at

contrepreneur@hotmail.com

leave your email address to me and i will send you the state rap sheet removal book to you free of charge.

GOOD LUCK

CHECK MY WEBSITE!!!

IT'S SHITTY NOW BUT SOON IT WILL BE PIMPIN!!!!!!

http://www.webspawner.com/users/frn1/ind...

[Anthony C]

Answer the question honestly. You won't get a job in banking with theft on your record, no matter the explanation. But there are many employers who will value your honesty and give you a chance. Also investigate whether you qualify for first offender status, in which case the charge might be expunged, following successful completion of your probation. Even then, a fingerprint check will uncover it, and most banks are now fingerprinting. So, you'll still have a problem in that arena.

This is a sad situation, if you truly are able to get straight and stay straight, but it is also a situation that you brought on yourself. If you do the crime, you have to do the time, as you're now finding out. Whatever you do, satisfy that probation, including making restitution according to the court ordered schedule. A second offense, or an unsuccessful probation would place you in a position where no amount of effort or remorse could fix your problem.

[Herschel K]

That's a tough one and, quite frankly, it probably will come down entirely on the person making the hiring decision. Be prepared for lots of rejection, but you might just find someone who's been in your shoes so to speak and is willing to give you a chance. As for leaving it off? If they ask for everything, misdemeanors included, put it on there. They will find out later if you don't when they do a background check.

And one more thing: Good luck to you. It's rare to see people like you who have made mistakes and are willing to suck it up and make things right.