Let’s face it… college is a time when a lot of people make a lot of stupid mistakes. Unfortunately for some, those stupid mistakes don’t stop once they have graduated and may continue on for a few years.
I don’t believe in the scarlet letter, though. There IS hope for everyone who has been burdened with a misdemeanor.
What is a misdemeanor?
Misdemeanors, by definition, are lesser criminal acts and punished as such. They usually are accompanied with a monetary slap on the wrist, although repeat offenses may have you spending the night in lockup. It really depends on the class of misdemeanor that you have committed. Some can have you in jail for up to a year.
Examples of misdemeanors? Petty theft, prostitution, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, trespass, vandalism, drug possession, DUI, etc. Having lived in a pretty large college town, I think it is pretty obvious which of these are more common for the younger crowd.
Being charged with a misdemeanor does not make you a bad person, but it may impact your job search.
So… Are You Hirable?
This is the big question.
Generally speaking, yes! Whereas felonies really hurt an applicant, misdemeanors are not nearly as bad. Any company that does a background check will see what you have been convicted of. So the good news is: at least you aren’t a felon!
The thing is, the company that is interviewing you and doing a background check on you will expect a straightforward and honest answer.
“I have a misdemeanor on my record for drunk driving. I was young and just graduating college. I had just found out I had landed the job I really wanted and went out to celebrate with some friends. I, unfortunately, overdid it and thought I was fit to drive. Luckily an officer pulled me over. I learned a lot from that lesson and have since cut back on my drinking substantially, and haven’t driven drunk since.”
By trying to beat around the bush and pretend that you are 100% perfect you will do yourself more harm than good. Honesty is always the best answer even if it may not seem like it at the time. It also has a lot to do with the nature of the offense. If you were 22 and drunk in public, that is a little more understandable and usually won’t be an immediate disqualifier. However, if you did something involving moral depravity such as theft, you have a much harder discussion ahead of you. But, you still have a shot and need to keep going forward.
A large portion of the answer depends on the job you are applying for and the misdemeanor you received. If you are applying for a job as a bank teller, for example, and have a misdemeanor of petty theft as mentioned above, you may have a hard time getting the job. But if you take that same petty theft charge and apply for a job as a lawn care person, you may not face as many obstacles. If you have some sort of domestic violence charge, getting a job as a police officer may be more difficult. This depends on locality, but generally speaking you are not offered “discrimination” protections as a misdemeanant or felon.
As I have mentioned, you may incur obstacles but should be able to find a job somewhere. Just look for a job that does not relate to your misdemeanor and keep your head up. If you need something to keep you afloat, try and do odd jobs for people like cutting grass and painting.
Ways to Fix Your Record
If you are truly facing insurmountable odds, you may have a few options to help your job search.
1) Motion to Expunge
If you went to court over your misdemeanor, contact the court clerk for the court in which your case was heard. Ask them if you are eligible for an expungement. Depending on the severity of the misdemeanor, the amount of time that has passed, and whether or not you are on probation, you may be eligible. Each locality has different rules, so at the least make sure you talk to the court clerk. If you had a lawyer for the original court date, ask him or her if they would be willing to file your motion for you. It will cost money but will be worth it if helps you get a job.
Some motions ask you to put down a reason. You can put something to the effect that you have learned your lesson and the presence of the conviction is hindering your ability to get a good job. Sometimes the motion will be heard in front of a judge so that they can make sure that you still understand the consequences of your previous actions before wiping your record.
The important thing to takeaway is exactly what the judge is checking on: Hopefully you do realize your actions have consequences and the judge is giving you a second chance.
2) “Self Betterment”
If you can not get your record expunged, you will want to take some steps to show that you have, in fact, learned from your lessons.
If you got a drunk in public or DUI, you will want to get evaluated for alcoholism. After taking the MAST (Michigan Alcohol Screening Test), the counselor will recommend what kind of classes you should take (if any). It is important to follow-through and educate yourself on the effects of the drug. If you are ever questioned about the misdemeanor by a potential employer, you can honestly say that you have taken it upon yourself to take steps to educate yourself on the effects of alcohol. That will be a respectable position and will make you look like you are responsible and willing to accept consequences of your actions.
If you had a misdemeanor related to an anger issue, then you would do something similar but with anger management classes. The point is that you want to somehow show that you have improved your life since the misdemeanor.
By doing so the employer will have nothing to fear by hiring you.
Now Go Get Your Job!
Hopefully this helps anyone with a misdemeanor get a job.
Even if you don’t have an issue getting a job, the bit about “self betterment” and learning from your mistakes is an important lesson.
Has anyone had an issue with getting a job because of a misdemeanor? How did you over come it?
Feel free to comment anonymously.
I'm MLR. After graduating from college debt free, I decided to write a blog encouraging people to adapt responsible and sensible personal finance rules.
May 5th, 2009 at 8:13 pm |
This is an interesting point to bring up; I don’t have any experience with this, but I think it’s important that the person involved realize that whatever they did might not just have been nominally wrong (like it just so happens that our laws don’t like drunk drivers) but really wrong (DUI hurts others), and they don’t plan to do it again, as you mention. Maybe all misdemeanours shouldn’t be treated equally. That said, if someone sincerely wants to turn their life around, I believe there are always ways to do it.
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MyLifeROI Reply:
May 6th, 2009 at 2:30 pm |
@ MoneyEnergy –
It’s not something I have experienced, either… but I know a few people who have!
I think 90% of fixing the problem is, as we have both said, admitting what you did was wrong and taking steps to correct the problem.
Misdemeanors usually aren’t treated equally in the states. There are different classes for punishment reasons.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
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May 15th, 2009 at 10:11 am |
I’ve had 2 DUI’s in the past ten years. I completed all of the requirements to get my license back, which included counseling, 30 days of garbage pickup, DUI class, etc. I have not been able to obtain employment in Georgia. EVERYONE checks for misdemeanors, and DUI’s are considered to be the most evil of all crimes. I agree they are extremely dangerous, and I’m not saying my crimes were not wrong and totally thoughtless. I’m sure there are many others who have driven drunk and not gotten caught who have magnificent jobs. I’m in AA and haven’t drank for over two years. However, employment does not look possible in the near future. It’s pretty depressing.
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MyLifeROI Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 10:40 am |
@Chris,
That really is quite unfortunate. Often times we punish people who are trying to better themselves and learn from their mistakes. I wish this weren’t the case, but it is.
Are you finding that you aren’t being offered an interview, or are you finding that they are looking at this after the fact and then judging you?
Just wondering, because depending on when they find out… it will change how you should approach the situation. I think that by admitting you screwed up you are leaps beyond other people in your shoes.
Reply back w/ some more details as to when you are being weeded out of the hiring process!
MLR
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Financial Samurai Reply:
October 10th, 2009 at 7:39 pm |
@Chris, yikes, 2 DUIs? That’s kind of rough b/c that’s like lightning struck twice. A lot of people get seriously injured and die b/c of drunk drivers. My friend did at 16 when I was growing up, and it still hurts till this day.
What about working as a DUI counselor for several years, and then try and see if you can get it expunged?
GL!
Financial Samurai´s last blog ..We’re Ignorant Idiots! Please Tell Us Why A Flat Tax Is Not Fair.
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Connie Reply:
December 11th, 2009 at 9:34 am |
@Financial Samurai, I’m a 55year old who got her first DWI at 52years old and never had a criminal record in Dallas,TX and really didnt know this would ruin my career of over 15years like this,I went thru the classes the probation etc and evaluations proved that I wound not be repeat offender paid my fines at a cost of over 8k dollars. However by me not understanding the legal system becuz I never had to use it I got screw pleading guilty. In Texas I should have gone to court and took my chances. I’m or was a professinal in my field and have been out of work now for over 8 months now due to this mistake. There is no one to help and I could lost my home and credit for this action. I did not kill anyone only myself financially and career wise. Now since that time there have been two judges sited for DWI that I know of and they are still working and have a job and with the double standards here in Dallas,TX they was able to get away with it. This system fosters crime, because what is a person with a misdemeanor supposed to do? Turn to a life of crime to survive? Wind up in prison to live on our tax dollars? The youths of today have to know that once they get a misdemeanor, they are pretty much screwed. Not to mention that the cops hand them out like candy to minorities, one big set up if you ask me. Minorities take heed.
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Kaye Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 9:42 am |
@Connie,
I agree with what you said so much! That’s how I feel, I made and will pay for it the rest of my life, it seems, with not being employable. All I can get are lowpaying, crappy jobs. My crime was shoplifting. It was stupid, and I am so sorry I did it, but now I feel like, I can’t make a living, sometimes I think to myself, well, I have to steal now, just to get the basics, like groceries because I don’t make enough money. ( I don’t steal, I just feel like What else am I supposed to do ) So yes, the system does foster crime, as, if you cannot get a job due to criminal record, What other choices do you have??? This is why some continue to sell drugs, rob, etc. I’m not saying it’s right, I’m saying we ALL have to have money to live!
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June 13th, 2009 at 2:23 pm |
I have three misdemeanors that all occurred when I was 18 and a freshman in college in Virginia. I was basically caught with pot twice, once in a public park after dark (which tacked on a trespassing charge), and once in my dorm room. So, I have a possession of paraphernalia conviction, possession of marijuana conviction and a trespassing conviction. I lost my grant money for school and have to endure the embarrassment of putting them on applications and talking about it with future employers. The good news is I finished school with an accounting degree, and am still eligible to be a CPA. I’ve been able to get good jobs but still feel overwhelmingly embarrassed by these offenses. And some employers really do just turn you down when they find out about them. I hate talking about them to employers, they make you feel like you are a huge idiot. I did nothing to hurt anyone! I smoked pot in park after dark and in my dorm room! These are common things to do when you are 18 and in college! But I guess that is no excuse because unfortunately marijuana is still illegal in this country.
The biggest problem I have is that these convictions have contributed to me falling into depression on several occasions. I don’t think I am a bad person, I have a degree, I got good grades, I want to have a good job and contribute positively to society. But I feel like society has already written me off as a bad or at least dumb person. Why did you get caught twice? I was young!
LEGALIZE IT!
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David Reply:
June 23rd, 2009 at 8:34 am |
@Jane, when you were caught the first time, what happened in court? I recently got caught with paraphernalia and I’m wondering what is going to happen to me on the future?
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jane Reply:
July 9th, 2009 at 12:49 pm |
@David, The first time I was actually arrested for possession of marijuana but the cops were “nice” and let it be downgraded to possession of paraphernalia. I got some community service (I think 50), no fine, but 6 months probation which included random drug screens & some drug classes. If you just have the one, I would recommend trying to get it expunged in a few years (wiped off your record completely). Good luck, get a lawyer. Check out http://www.norml.org.
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Financial Samurai Reply:
October 10th, 2009 at 7:41 pm |
@jane, how old are you? This is unfortunate. So many people smoke pot, they just don’t get caught. Let us know if you can get it expunged.
Financial Samurai´s last blog ..We’re Ignorant Idiots! Please Tell Us Why A Flat Tax Is Not Fair.
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June 21st, 2009 at 5:31 pm |
I had 3 charges of theft. I got a public defender because I had no money and my parents had no money. My public defender advised me to take the plea because it was my word against theirs. I told her that I didn’t do it, but she scared me enough to think that I would lose my case if I went to trial that I took the plea. She didn’t bother to look at my case at all. I had all these people that were willing to testify for me on my character, but she wouldn’t look at it. She said they had a video with me in it. I told her I don’t deny I went into the store, but I did not take anything. And if they look at other videos they will see that I went in with what they accused me of taking, but she wouldn’t look at it.
I now have a record, and it will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Its been 3 years now and I have not been able to land a job. I have been holding a sign on the corner street to get food & money, and I’m only 20. I do not drink or do drugs. I am still in college. Its a tough life, but the judicial system is not there to help people.
Having a record sealed or expunged does not help unless you have money and file a motion with every city or state to be sure they seal it or expunge it.
Telling an employer you have a record and being open and honest about that doesn’t mean anything. They have already prejudged you. In this economy, it’s worse.
There is no way you can convince any employer that you are innocent.
I did like your article. Its very informative! Good luck to all!
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Leah Reply:
October 15th, 2009 at 12:17 pm |
@JJ, I know what you mean. I have a misdemeanor charge of criminal solicitation to commit theft and I’ve been jumping through hurdles to get a job. I was automatically deemed guilty by my public defender. I was 5 months pregnant with my son and was scared into a guilty plea. The sad thing was when I pled guilty my co-defendant finally admitted to my p.d. that I wasn’t guilty of the crime but an associate of mines was. He looked sorry and said there wasn’t anything I could do.
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July 11th, 2009 at 6:55 am |
I have a misdemeanor for pheraphenelia, which the sad thing was, I was getting a ride home from a night class for criminology, and I was never into drugs, but a friend had left her bowl in my purse without telling me, and we got pulled over on the way home, for a license plate light was out, which was weird in the first place, but then the got the drug dogs there because when i was really tired i guess they thought i was high, they never gave me a clear answer for the search, but came right out telling them there was a bowl in my purse, and the charged me with that and then used the residue to say i had weed aswell. I went to court and couldnt afford a lawyer or even a public defender, and I pled guilty, they took my driving license away for one year and Im on probation for two years, Im going to college and living in an apartment, and I have been in for several job interviews for many places, but when it comes to the criminal background check, they never hire me, even though they tell me i have more than the qualifications to work there. I have always been out front and told them about my charge and how stupid i was to not be careful, or even take that for a friend, it breaks my heart, but they still never give me the chance. Im about to be one of the homeless people on the street, and no hope of education with this charge…and Im losing hope.
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September 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 am |
I just got a misdemeanor for bad checks. The crazy part about this is a performed a job for a guy i met through criagslist and he gave me the bad checks. If i would known they were bad checks i would never took them in the first place. I had a lawyer and i paid him 2500 to defend me in this case. He got it reduce from felony to misdemeanor and 200 hour public service and probation for year in half. I felt that was a little to much for me not having a single conviction on my record in life. I have my degree information system security. Now i can’t get a job i have learn from my mistake and i will never trust a job from criagslist again. My future is messed up and my career is tarnished all because of one misdemeanor.
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September 18th, 2009 at 5:09 pm |
I was convicted of an open ended class 6 felony for attempted theft that was changed to a misdemeanor after 6 months of probation. I don’t have any other convictions. I filed my own paperwork to have my civil rights restored and rights to bear arms. Most court libaries have “do-it-yourself paperwork. It will save you $500-1,000 which is what an attorney would charge. Good luck to all of you.
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Nicolette Reply:
September 21st, 2009 at 3:39 pm |
@shemp g, what state are you in? I have 3 misdemanors and was told by two different attorneys that it cannot be done in PA. I, like you, hve never been in trouble before. Are you in Cali?
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September 21st, 2009 at 3:37 pm |
I rec’d 3 misdemeanors because I spanked my son. The spanking left 3 whelps on his buttocks. His Father and I broke up years earlier and he was pissed that I was pregnant by someone else and got a restraining order on me, filed charges and almost had me thrown in jail. I am on 3 years probation. I was laid off from a 6 figure job in jan and havenet had even a call yet from a prospective employer. I put out over 560 resumes and applications combined. I have two children, I am 35 years old and I have a MBA. I slip into depression because my employabilty is stifled. I am truly concerned about my earning potential and my ability to take care of my children. I am scared. In PA expunging my record CANT AND WILL NOT HAPPEN. I have NEVER EVER been in trouble with the law or any one in my entire life. I never was known or suspected to be abusive to my son nor any child for that matter. As a result of a scorned lover and a spanking, my life is ruined.
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Financial Samurai Reply:
October 10th, 2009 at 7:44 pm |
@Nicolette, not to be ignorant here, but I’m just wondering if you are being serious or facetious? It’s kinda hard not to blame the father not to break up with you if you get pregnant by someone else no?
Financial Samurai´s last blog ..We’re Ignorant Idiots! Please Tell Us Why A Flat Tax Is Not Fair.
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Meeeyoww Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 10:03 am |
@Financial Samurai,
Man she was already estranged from the father when she was pregnant by someone else…
are u dyslexic? Haha! At least read it twice if you are going to call someone out is all I am saying…
@ Nicolette,
My parents spanked me and that was okay in that I don’t think it messed me up long term. However, they never hit me enough to leave “3 welts” which leads me to believe you were breaking your hand on this kids ass? or whipping him? ouch
Are you even allowed to see the children??
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Financial Samurai Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 9:16 pm |
@Meeeyoww, yep i’m dyslexic! But, I don’t think that’s the proper use of the word!
Financial Samurai´s last blog ..The Worst Seat On An Airplane Is The Best Seat In The Office
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Katie Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 9:01 pm |
@Nicolette, Are you kidding me??? You spanked your son and left WELPS! I’m glad you got 3 misdemeanors. You are a LOSER! Your child should be taken away from you and you should go to anger management classes. My parents spanked me growing but they NEVER left me with welps. People like you should never have children. You are disgusting! You make me SICK. You really need to join a church and find Jesus.
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October 4th, 2009 at 1:18 am |
back in april 09 i was convicted of petty theft & concealment and right now i am completely depressed dont know which way to go. I need a job badly and I am at this point where i give up. I was hanging w/ the wrong crowd and i ended up in a bad situation. my first and only time. so what are my options…i need help!
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October 10th, 2009 at 7:47 pm |
Do you know if there is a certain time period where one is allowed to automatically expunge their misdemeanor? Does it depend by state? I heard it was 7 years, but I’m not sure. I’m asking for a friend who is applying for a job, and did something wrong 10 years ago.
Financial Samurai´s last blog ..We’re Ignorant Idiots! Please Tell Us Why A Flat Tax Is Not Fair.
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October 25th, 2009 at 2:07 am |
I recieved a misdemeanor of aggrivated assult when I was 18. Im 25 now and I have not landed a job because of it. Whats messed up with the whole situation is that I was defending my younger sister from a girl who started a fight with her. I was even pregnant at the time. Well i tried to get it expunged from my record but because i pleaded guilty, they said i could not get it removed. Ive even graduated from a college in the medical field yet nobody will hire me at the hospital because of that charge. I mean its 7 years old and that was my 1st and only offense. What can i do!! Im a college graduate and i cant even get a job working at Mc Donalds cleaning their floors because of my record. If it wasnt for my husband, i dont know what i would do. I have 3 children and he supports us all. All i want is to help him support our family and i cant even do that!! Help im soooooooo depresed im at the point where i dont know what else to do.
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kim Reply:
December 15th, 2009 at 3:14 pm |
@Cynthia, I understand totally I have a misdemeanor conviction assult as well and I had to write to the governer to see if it could be pardon. I get depressed alot and sometimes feel like giving up on looking for a job, but I don’t I’m married with two children as well. I wish you the best you are not alone in this.
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Unknown Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:19 pm |
@kim, Yep me to I have the worser class of the midermeanors for assault Im in school now and its been a year but I have totally ruined my life when it comes down to actually becoming a nurse sometimes Im like i just want to give my son for adoption and kill myself so I can have a new life because texas will never let me live this down but I say screw that I have to stay around to make sure my son doesnt make the same mistake i did.Im telling you when someone creates a time machine i ll be the first one in it.But as far as employment i looked and looked had successful interviews got the job then they did a background check and everything goes down the drain so i stopped looking for a job now im in school and I have resulted to escorting its not a good thing but I gotta take care of my son.
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October 28th, 2009 at 6:11 am |
My situation is also sad. I received a misdemeanor DV charge in 2008 as my first ever charge. Prior to that I was about to graduate college and applying to law school. My ex and I were a contentious relationship and months later she called the police on me because she was simply just mad. I received another charge but eventually had it dismissed by an attorney. Then less than a month afterward, I got into a shoving match with her over a computer and I elbowed her while grappling for it. I was charged with another DV and the old one was brought back. Then like an idiot, I replied to a letter that she sent me while incarcerated and was charged with witness tampering. I managed to plea out and take 3 misdemeanors and not do jailtime, but now I’m having issues with applying for jobs (I wanted to work with youth groups before law school) and a deep fear that my good grades will not get me into law school because of the charges.
Advice?
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ionance Reply:
December 8th, 2009 at 10:09 pm |
Supandaway,
I too have the same issue, exceot mine was 10 years ago. I was fired from my eployer of 4 years because they decided to do background checks. Have you had any luck with this? I have heard that you can not get this removed from your record.
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November 25th, 2009 at 5:48 pm |
It may not only be the fact that employers aren’t hiring because of a misdemeanor. We have to remember that the economy is in ruins and most businesses have a freeze on hiring. Be optimistic and don’t stop trying. Everyone makes mistakes, including myself. Misfortune is sometimes a part of life.
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November 30th, 2009 at 2:38 pm |
It seems like business is still getting hit hard. Is anybody seeing an upswing in their respective niches? Health reform seems like a mess. I generate long term care insurance leads and annuity leads for the insurance industry, but volume has been terrible in the last two months. I am afraid the worst is yet to come, but maybe it is just my attitude.
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December 12th, 2009 at 11:52 pm |
I guess I will be paying lots of money to get these misdemeanors expunged. Why do charges that you did not get convicted for show up on your criminal record? I had 3 charges when I was 17 and 2 when I was 23. I am now 29 and really have high hopes that I may work for the government someday. These are the charges; Wreckless Driving, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Open Container, Second Degree Trespassing, Revoked License (for not paying a speeding ticket) and Communicating Threats. Even though I wasn’t convicted for all of these they still show up on my Criminal record. I am about to finish college and worried about my future. I currently work in the career I am pursuing, but will never make the salary that I went to school for in my current place of employment. I called to see how much it would cost for expungement and it was $600 a charge. I need some advice. I hope this doesn’t ruin me. I thought about letters of recommendation from co-workers, family, or supervisors. Maybe this may help when interviewing with a new employer.
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claudia Reply:
December 31st, 2009 at 6:50 pm |
@Lindsay, Where did you find the info. that it costs $600 to expunged a record? What state are you from?
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December 19th, 2009 at 11:18 pm |
I have one domestic violence incident on my record which was 4th degree assualt. It seems like ever since I got in trouble and took the correct steps to a better life, it is really killing my chances for decent employment. It has not killed my job search, but I really do believe it is an issue. I can’t have it expunged, that costs money I don’t have! Then again the economy sucks, so I am not the only one with that problem of finding work. I am always honest about my incident in job applications, but I havew had many say I am a possibile liability. Tired of the discrimination, and making next to nothing. Even fast food joints are are like that. Hiring people that hardly speak english to me I would think would be a liability in it’s self, yet those people get the jobs. I know that is different. But tired of not being given a chance, I left the NAVY on an Honorable discharge, that says something compared to most. I didn’t have the option of staying in due to not being able to make rank. I will keep trying.
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December 20th, 2009 at 6:00 pm |
i have a serious misdemeanor for possessing less than a gram of pot in iowa. can never get it expunged….i am also depressed….
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January 4th, 2010 at 3:43 pm |
I had a couple of DUI’s approx 25-30 years ago. I also had an assault charge that was dropped during this timeframe. I never went to court or anything regarding the (DROPPED) assault charge, so I am at a loss with what this does and would mean to a prosective employer. I am very educated, and all of these occurences happened in my college years, as I said, many years ago. My concern is, that at 55 years of age, along with 20 years of bulletproof employment with a good record, what are mt odds of gaining the employment potential in which I worked so hard to acheive. ANY HELP would be so greatly appreciated !
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January 6th, 2010 at 2:17 pm |
I have some bounced checks on my record. I was young and had gotten my first checking account, i wasnt really sure of the side effects of writing small amount checks.( 20 dollars up to fifty) I figured the bank would hold them until i paid them….. so i wrote seventeen of them. Wow was i in for a rude awakining. Ive paid almost 1500 dollars in fines and i cant get a good job, i cant even get a halfway decent job, im stuck with waitressing and i cant get it expunged for three more years according to my state. Also its going to cost 100 dollars a check to have them expunged so ive definately learned my lesson!!
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January 7th, 2010 at 4:46 pm |
I received an Operating While Impaired 4 years ago as a sophomore in college. Horrible mistake and I just got offered a decent job right out of college but in the offer letter it talks about the background check. She never asked me about it before but I am so nervous because I really want the job. I was hired at a temp agency for a few months and they knew about my misdemeanor and even did a background check on me and it came back clear. I just really want this job and hope that this organization will still take me after I tell them up front instead of letting them find out. If I don;t get it I feel like I will never be able to get a job.
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January 7th, 2010 at 10:46 pm |
I feel like i am at the end of my rope. I have never been in trouble except for a couple of speeding tickets. However I have been charged with a Class A misdemeanor for family violence and had to served 25 days work release…weekend jail. Basically it involves my wife who has suffered from BiPolar for years and recently was instituted twice. During one of her episodes, she broke down and attacked me and in the course of my defense left restraint bruises on her arms. I was charged and she walked. Although she pleaded with the DA to drop the charges of this isolated incident, they refused. I am a professional of 25 years and respected in my field, however my job was recently eliminated due to the economy, unrelated to the incident. Having never had to worry about background checks in my career, i am petrified of losing a career i worked so hard to obtain. My wife is finally stable with the much needed meds and a completely different person, in fact we are expecting an “oops” baby in May. I’m banking on my network of colleagues to help land me a position, but i fear this charge will haunt me. By the way, the not so great state of Texas doesn’t expunge FV charges…ever!! Unemployment runs out soon, credit is ruined and im broke. Unable to provide for my family, i feel like im more of a burden and sometimes contemplate the worst…if you get my drift.
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January 20th, 2010 at 1:25 am |
Well i have 2 Convections of misdemeanor oh for teft of a papa johns pizza sign and aggervated menising which is has cause my hole life to collapse around me i have not been able to get a job for 3 years now and the jobs that i have had have been 5 and dime jobs i went to paul mitchell but never got to finish becuase i transferred to another paul mitchell location and the woman never put my fasa through so i have been left with the pieces of my life and i really dont know what to do im 22 years old now and every where i apply they tell me im either to much of a risk to steal money or i might get violent with the custmoers which is far from the truth im a great person loved paul mitchell and the whole thing with that i just dont know what do now i not elligable for expungement becuase i have 2 offences which is terriable? so now i am seeking assisting through the BVR Bureur of vocaltional reablitation, pathways program, and Coleman Employment Services. Hopefully i will see some good come of this becuase i feel like my life is a complete waste up to this point.
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February 1st, 2010 at 7:27 am |
Ya know I really don’t like reading about these misdemeanor things. A Misdemeanor really isn’t a big deal I suppose it depends on what the charge was. Bill gates, George W. Bush both have Misdemeanors and they made it to the top. You can be in the FBI, a Police Officer, and depending on the crime even teach elementary school. The best thing you can do is not to worry about it but to just not do it again learn from it. If you get a Dui well maybe it’s time to stop drinking, it doesn’t mean your life is over. Everyone makes mistakes, misdemeanors are extremely common. Employers are human, I bet even many of them don’t have perfect records.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 8:50 pm |
Seems to me.. when the cops pull you over and ask have u been drinking and your honest they mise well just shoot you and be done with it… They got it these days first offense is just as bad as the second third forth or whatever! when it comes to getting a job. I have had no luck what so ever and Im a dang good worker always have been and always to work on time. People know me as a worker! I guess thats the price you pay.. I just hate how u got all these police man and people that run the court systems act like they Sh** roses and never ever made a mistake. Its all politics and money if you got that you are good to go. Or if your a nfl player and shoot your self in a club just go to jail and when u get out start playing football again making millions… Maybe Im looking at this all in the wrong way but geeez talk about depressing…. Maybe there is hope.. Has anyone had any luck or even heard stories about anyone having luck?
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February 2nd, 2010 at 10:30 pm |
I was convicted of a misdemeanor I. 08 for mishandling a firearm. 22 cal. Sentenced to a yr probation finished in 6 months. Been unemployed for two years. Seems like where I live ppl jump at the chance to hire an illegal. B ut won’t even give a guy who wants to start over a chance to start over.
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John Reply:
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:54 pm |
@Dale, Yeah I know man.. Hire all these damn immigrants and cant even keep an american working… This place is going to the birds. Ya I messed up and I do know what i did was wrong but dang Im 23 yrs old dont hold it against me forver.. This is my prime in life to get going good in what i want to do.. Been better off shot hung or something I guess.
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February 2nd, 2010 at 10:37 pm |
Besides that I just found out.. I was goin on a fishing trip into Canada with family in april and hell I cant even cross the border with a DUI on my record…. Anyone ever heard of that? Guys this is nuts I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy.. A beer can ruin soo many things
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