Getting a job with a felony record

[anabolicfreak]

Does anyone know what most major companies policies are about hiring convicted felons? I have a felony conviction for posession with intent to sell/deliver anabolic steroids. Alot of places require you to apply online and I am not sure how many just automatically disqualify you because of a felony conviction.

I'm talking to a telecommunications company right now who was going to hire me but are having to wait to check with the corporate office because of the conviction. I explained to the girl what it was and that it wasn't like I was selling cocaine or rec drugs and she understood and is fine with it if it is okay with the corporate office.

I knew it may be difficult but I didn't expect it to be this hard to find a job.

Thanks in advance.

 

[bittersuit_98]

Does anyone know what most major companies policies are about hiring convicted felons? I have a felony conviction for posession with intent to sell/deliver anabolic steroids. Alot of places require you to apply online and I am not sure how many just automatically disqualify you because of a felony conviction.

I'm talking to a telecommunications company right now who was going to hire me but are having to wait to check with the corporate office because of the conviction. I explained to the girl what it was and that it wasn't like I was selling cocaine or rec drugs and she understood and is fine with it if it is okay with the corporate office.

I knew it may be difficult but I didn't expect it to be this hard to find a job.

Thanks in advance.

Companies deal with this kind of things differently. I know that if u have a previous conviction you are banned forever to workfor the U.S. Gov/law enforcement. Unfortunateley, having this in your record is a huge stigma...pretty much what employers are looking at is kind of like "hey, buyer be aware".

I believe that criminal records for this kind of felonies should remain private and confidential. Any law that allows disclosure of criminal records violates your constitunal rights. Any U.S. government institution that disclose this kind of information should be liable, especially if the ultimate purpose of such action is to prevent that someone gets a job. You certainly did something wrong, but u arelady paid for it, you either served jail time, or probation/parole...whatever it was, you're done and even with the society and your communitty. Obviously i also believe that disclosure of criminal records should be regulated....i mean, you are not gonna hire a sex offender in a day care, or a murderer as a cop, although it happens.

I don't else what to tell u man, I'm sure there are many members in the boards who has been through the same ordeal, but Good luck, may God be with you and I'm sure you'll get the job.
Peace!

 

[d_o_c_]

In most cases, jobs won't look past 4 years. So wait a few years. I've also found that most jobs only do State wide backround checks, so if you were convicted in a fed court then you are fine as well.

 

[Mad Max2]

I also have a federal convivtion. I did tiem and got out a couple years ago. I had to start off taking whatever job would hire me which was a gym for membership sales. I Networked alot and after a little over a year I managed to get a marketing job through a friend who introduced me to someone. I live outside NYC and I really wanted to do financila planning or a reale state agent and there no way I can. In a competative job market that is the first screen they will use to weed people out. It is messed up but it does make sence. My advice is to netwrok and move your way up. Your first job may not be the most perfect one but you have to do what you gotta do. Good luck and keep your head up. Hopefully your clean cut and do not fit the steriotypical convicted felon look. It will help you alot.

 

[TheCorsican]

Yeah, I now have a federal felony and according to my bullshit probation... I HAVE TO GET A JOB.

Finding it incredibly hard. Its actually coming down to driving a taxi or delivering pizza. Pretty sad for a 30 year old like me who never worked for someone before earning around $80,000 a year. I've always had my own business.

Fuck the american government.

 

[Mad Max2]

Remember, Probation is the last hoop you have to jump through. If your convicted and served time jsut do what you have to do. My case was drugs so I had to finish an out patient drug program every week for 3 months. I was constantly tested, I just played it smart and got off a year and a half early from a 3 year probation after my time served. If your probation officer does not have to worry about you they will want to cut you off early. Its like babysitting for them, most make shit money and do not want to be bothered. Play the game like you want but once the govenment has you just play dead until everything is finished. Again for jobs your family and friends are your best place to start.

 

[coasty]

I got discharged from the military for possession and got a fine from the civilian side of society. I have had 5 background checks that turned up nothing but poor/fair credit. I'm sure it helps that it happened in Puerto Rico and not on the mainland but it U.S. property, plus I always list that I was in the military and lie about my discharge and nothing ever comes up. So I agree with the other post, maybe moving to a different state will help.

 

[fleabag711]

their is one possible way to take care of this, but it probaly takes money & some time. I was working for a telecommunications company in tulsa, ok and they found something on my background check. (only a misdemeanor) but it was malicious destruction of property. Anyway, I was told by the guy that the only thing I could do is (get a pardon) from the government I suppose. I know nothing about who is eligible though, but thought I would mention it.

flea

 

[proken]

Seems to me you have a good head on your shoulders... If you were "self" employed and got caught because it just happened to be the wrong business, well, find the right business. I personally would hate the idea of being a telemarketer, much rather start a house painting/landscaping business myself. In my area there is a desperate need for both. If you can get hooked up with a property management company or realtor on a contract basis and you are good, soon you will have to hire help... soon to be boss.. soon to incorporate. Life is good my friend. I've hired a "felon" in the past, he did a good job, and now is an outstanding businessman with a flourishing business. Via Con Dios.

 

[Alpine]

AnabolicFreak - Keep your head up! If your just starting your job search with this situation, you've probably got a long road to go. Sounds like you would be able to pull off a blue collar job, if this was NOT in your background, right? If that is the case we should chat via pm or email. I know EXACTLY what your going through. My situation and The Corsican have incredible similarities. Unless you have some PHAT hook ups, getting a professional job in your situation won't be easy. Like I said, I don't want to get too much into my situation in open public, but seeing your thread was like a light bulb going off above my head. Not many people can REALLY relate to you because most are only commenting from an outsider's POV. Good luck! I honestly feel for ya! If your interested, hit me up via pm. I bet we'd have an interesting conversation! If not, I hope things work out for ya! I'd like to hear how things work out for ya down the road.

- Alpine

 

[ryan04]

I've got a felony for growing marijuana, and I'm not to anxious to see what the job market has in store for me. Luckily I've got a job on campus where I go to school and they didn't run a background check on me. I'm done with probation very soon and will be finishing my 2nd bachelors degree in August...starting my masters in the fall.

My plan as of right now is to move out to California where marijuana is practically legal and pretty much accepted by everyone. Hopefully this will alleviate some of the burden of this felony. I also plan to finish my Masters and hopefully the good will outweigh the bad when and if a potential employer runs a check. Moving to another state will also help...like someone else said most states only do statewide checks. I've heard that it costs employers 100$ for every state they run a background check in.

Keep yoru head up bro. Theres plenty of people out there with felonys and a good portion of them end up doing fine. In the state I live in employers are only allowed to inquire about felonys for up to 7 years ago...after that you are no longer required to disclose info on them. Not sure what the laws are in your state, look into it. The governments a bitch, and by pulling all this crap they actually cause/force people to continue a life of crime rather than stop living one. IMO employers and others should be able to know about murderers, rapists and pedophiles, but for other things there should be no disclosure of info.

 

[BigCracker]

Every convicted felon I know either drives a tow truck or a limo/cab. All they need is a perfect driving record for the past 4 yrs-which shouldn't be a prob if they were locked up that whole time. I know 2 guys that drive limos that are level 3(most likely to be repeat offenders) registered sex offenders too-pretty scary when you consider the close human contact their job requires.

 

[3speed]

I am an operations manager with hiring responsibilities. Federal law requires, in our line of work, that we inquire about previous felony convictions and conduct subsequent background checks. If an applicant fails to list a conviction that I find during my investigation, I will not, under any circumstances-regardless of his qualifications, hire him. I have hired applicants who listed felony convictions. DO NOT try to hide anything. Most companies are more interested in who you are and what you have to offer them than who you were in the past. Be up front and offer to explain the situation. Good luck.

 

[anabolic12]

A lot of people dont know this, but if you are in a business that does not have to legally bond you or anything of that nature, that you have have your personal conviction records locked. You have to send a certified letter to the courts/judge that made that conviction to begin with. I personally know 4 or so people that have had this done, but of course if you working in some kind of banking, loans, gov... where you have to be bonded they will not answer your request. But if you can prove that years have gone by, and that you have a good record since then, they will be able to lock that information.
They dont want you not be able to get a job... Hince you will be on the street causing more problems.
I know this is true in my state,,, you should look into this

 

[wants2getbig]

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.

 

[nuevo laredo]

I also have a federal convivtion. I did tiem and got out a couple years ago. I had to start off taking whatever job would hire me which was a gym for membership sales. I Networked alot and after a little over a year I managed to get a marketing job through a friend who introduced me to someone. I live outside NYC and I really wanted to do financila planning or a reale state agent and there no way I can. In a competative job market that is the first screen they will use to weed people out. It is messed up but it does make sence. My advice is to netwrok and move your way up. Your first job may not be the most perfect one but you have to do what you gotta do. Good luck and keep your head up. Hopefully your clean cut and do not fit the steriotypical convicted felon look. It will help you alot.

Also, you will have trouble getting a securities or real estate license with a felony. I know that fraud, perjury, and financial crimes are show stoppers for those types of licenses but I'm not sure about drug offenses.
Then you have other factors such as your employer's insurance. For example, a financial planning company may pay for errors & ommissions insurance but get a certain rate based on not hiring ex-felons.

 

[Extra_Strong]

i have alway had a problem with that.. you go do your time and then you cant get a job. that is just F.. up..

 

[ItalianMuscle27]

Is this your first felony? You can try and get it expunged. You have to wait 5 years from conviction date though. Some felonies are not expungeable, like rape, murder, etc. You dont need an attorney for an expungement, but if they know the judge who is going to preside over your case, than by all means hire one. It is actually up to the attorney general, but they most likely will not even show their face in court. The district attorney will take their place.. I dont care for this either, you make one mistake and your fucked the rest of your life..

 

[Ozz2001]

Wont get into my record but...Any more you cant event get a shit,no paying job without a background check today..They run it and your do! If you tell them on your app they just throw it away..They will say thats not why but the bottom line it is...

Thanks jackass bush....making everyone out to be a terrorist

 

[Alpine]

Keep networking. Remember that saying "It's not what you know, it's who you know?" If you are friends with someone who is successful, emulate them. Become interested in what they pay attention to and listen when they tell you something or give you advice. Then you need to follow through and actually do what is recommended. Just think, people don't become successrful for no reason. Follow someone else's lead and you may become successful too!

 

[proken]

Keep networking. Remember that saying "It's not what you know, it's who you know?" If you are friends with someone who is successful, emulate them. Become interested in what they pay attention to and listen when they tell you something or give you advice. Then you need to follow through and actually do what is recommended. Just think, people don't become successrful for no reason. Follow someone else's lead and you may become successful too!

Look,
I'm an employer. I overpay my employee's, the bad ones are gone in an instant, but I overwhelm my producers in gratis. Thier bills rise to meet income, and, they need to produce to pay the new bills. Golden Handcuffs. What's this got to do with the post? You can do a great job and a guy like me will pay you well, but never be where your ego wants to be, and always stress. However, if you want to be top dog with the scenery, be an employer. None of my employees will ever get rich (term negototiable) However, I come first, Me first, greed is good... Feed the good employee well, but U take the chances and the palace will be yours. Be self employed. PS find a gooooood acountant.

 

[needtogetaas]

I never have a problem with it.
I lie and say I dont.most of the time they never even check.but if they do it dont matter I give them the wrong ssn anny way.then when I get hired I am the boss and I just go change it to the right one.lol I am a criminal.

 

[jchohio]

I've gotten some good information out of this post. However after reading through the thread, I had some pertinent questions.

How are misdemeanors viewed by employers in lieu of felony convictions? Do most job apps require only disclosure of felony convictions? How in depth do companies go in conducting background checks (State wide vs. All of the U.S.)?

Thanks,
J.

 

[vansmack2000]

I've gotten some good information out of this post. However after reading through the thread, I had some pertinent questions.

How are misdemeanors viewed by employers in lieu of felony convictions? Do most job apps require only disclosure of felony convictions? How in depth do companies go in conducting background checks (State wide vs. All of the U.S.)?

Thanks,
J.

most apps i see just ask for any convictions. if you have a missdemoner you should be able to get it sealed and then you can legally say no.
felonies im not sure can be sealed

 

[needtogetaas]

most apps i see just ask for any convictions. if you have a missdemoner you should be able to get it sealed and then you can legally say no.
felonies im not sure can be sealed

here in mass after 10 years you can get a felonie sealed

 

[SonicMonkey]

I have a conviction and have done some research. It varies from state to state. After 10 years you can apply for a pardon from the governor and have a felony conviction expunged.

 

[Dial_tone]

In my case I pled Nolo Contendre to a misdemeanor under the Georgia First Offender Act. My record was wiped clean after a year of probation with no incidents so I can answer NO to the question.Most applications I've seen only ask about felonies though. A plea of nolo contendre allows the Defendant to avoid admitting guilt but accept punishment as if he or she had in fact entered a guilty plea.

 

[LiquidPhire]

In my case I pled Nolo Contendre to a misdemeanor under the Georgia First Offender Act. My record was wiped clean after a year of probation with no incidents so I can answer NO to the question.Most applications I've seen only ask about felonies though. A plea of nolo contendre allows the Defendant to avoid admitting guilt but accept punishment as if he or she had in fact entered a guilty plea.

This is also like getting a continuance without a finding. Accept punishment but there "technically" wasnt enough evidence for a conviction. Admitting guilt but not saying Im guilty sometimes.

 

[billino32]

Yeah, I now have a federal felony and according to my bullshit probation... I HAVE TO GET A JOB.

Finding it incredibly hard. Its actually coming down to driving a taxi or delivering pizza. Pretty sad for a 30 year old like me who never worked for someone before earning around $80,000 a year. I've always had my own business.

Fuck the american government.

I am a ex fed inmate also... your somewhat fucked... look for a UNION job, they usually dont give a shit, and you make more money than a taxi or pizza driver!

 

[needtogetaas]

to easy.