Received an offer from a big company and they are having me fill out an application for employment. Situation: In the past year, on a trip to Austin... my friend and I were stopped in Bastrop. Long story short, I get lucky and end up with a misdemeanor (Class C?) possession of drug paraphernalia. Since I live in Houston and the charge was in Bastrop, I didn't even bother to fight it... I just sent in a payment for the fine. Do I include this in my application for employment? Thanks for any input.
That probably depends on the wording on the job application. Is it asking only about felonies? Does it ask to include misdemeanors? Does it ask about all convictions? If yes to either of the latter two, then omitting your misdemeanor is akin to lying and they could easily call you on it. I don't see that you have much choice but to be truthful to the questions asked. Either way...your at risk I would imagine. If they don't like your conviction, then you could lose the job. If you omit the misdemeanor, then you could lose the job. That's the way I see it.
Is this a security sensitive position where they are likely to do a criminal background check? I don't know about you, but Class C's are to some people just glorified traffic tickets, and it would be easy to forget about a fine-only citation like that. I certainly can't remember all the traffic tickets I've received over the years.
My sources in the pentagon (Yahoo Answers) say that if you don't include it on your application, then it shouldn't be a big deal http://tinyurl.com/4nn9k2 Although I'd tend to agree with bejezuz on if this is a security sensitive job, I would probably include it on their. If it is a security sensitive job, try emailing a few lawyers just in case or if you have any friends that are lawyers.
It's not a security sensitive position, but I'm positive they will do a background check... I just don't know how extensive it will be. I could care less about listing my "minor traffic/speeding" violations... but I'm paranoid that listing a possession of drug paraphernalia will raise eyebrows. *Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, including those involving the use of motor vehicle ? (You should exclude any convictions that have been sealed, expunged, impounded, erased, or pardoned. In addition, please do not disclose any convictions to the extent the jurisdictional disclaimers and directives below apply). Convictions will neither be an absolute bar to nor necessarily disqualify your candidacy for employment. I don't even know which of my moving violations got "dismissed" or which ones are on my record. Is there anyway to check my record via Internet?
Looking at that question, you're probably going to have to disclose unless you want to take a huge gamble that they won't find it later. If I were you, I'd discuss this with the people who made you the offer before you submit the application so that it won't come as a surprise.
Just some more info I dug up but, it should be a Class A misdemeanor, if it was Class C it looks like it'd be a felony. Do you know if it's sealed or not? It looks like sealed misdemeanors don't matter nearly as much.
I would disclose it. If they do a background check and find out, it will look really bad. We all remember what happened with Almu when he lied to an interviewer.
Is there a way that you can disclose it without disclosing it? Such as, 'I have never been convicted of any crimes involving moral turpitude. I have pleaded no contest and paid various tickets/fines for violations involving motor vehicles."
That's like a huge red flag saying "Please ask me about this." Either way, they're going to find out. Also, while not technically lying, it's shady.
