I threw an egg at a car ~6 years ago. This resulted in a “criminal mischief” misdemeanor, probation/restitution.
I just got offered, and accepted, a sales job with a huge company that could make me 2x what I’m making right now (at least a few years down the road).
They told me now that they offered it to me, and I accepted, they will do a background check. This has not been my experience with any other employers- they all do it ahead of the job offer.
My current employer (small business), said my misdemeanor didn’t even show up.
I recently got offered a job with a very large bank (turned it down) but they said no problem when I told them about it.
The job I was just offered, the application only asked about felonies. I am debating on emailing HR and telling them straight up, is this a reason they would withdraw the job offer?
What state are you in? That might determine the likelihood that a conviction will show up in a background check. For example, in California, they would generally have to check public records county to county to find out. That is, unless it’s a public employment position, in which case they can get the info through the State DOJ, but they would have taken your fingerprints to do that.
Many background investigations do not even bother with criminal checks.
Are you sure the application only asked about felonies? Any way to double check on that?
If the app didn’t ask about misdemeanors, then it might not be an issue and the best course may be to not bring it up voluntarily. If it did, and they find out, you may be in trouble – in which case it may be better to come clean. Lying on an application will often get you fired or rejected, no matter how remote or insignificant the underlying “sin.”
That said, most employers I deal with could care less about a 6-year-old criminal mischief conviction that involved egg throwing. But then there are those that are weird about that kind of thing.
Your lucky that incident wasn’t a felony. A pal of mine in school threw an egg from a moving car at another and he was convicted with a felony of launching a missle from a moving vehicle. This happened one week after his 18th birthday too. But it never got in the way of his career. In fact he got some administrative position with the CIA.
Are you sure the application only asked about felonies? Any way to double check on that?
If the app didn’t ask about misdemeanors, then it might not be an issue and the best course may be to not bring it up voluntarily. If it did, and they find out, you may be in trouble – in which case it may be better to come clean. Lying on an application will often get you fired or rejected, no matter how remote or insignificant the underlying “sin.”
That said, most employers I deal with could care less about a 6-year-old criminal mischief conviction that involved egg throwing. But then there are those that are weird about that kind of thing.
Thanks, I know the app did not ask, because I normally go out of my way to be truthful on that sort of thing. It specifically asked about felonies only.
I did a specific county search and it is still on public record, but I’m not sure if it would come up on a more general background check.
My old manager from current job just got hired in to this same position too- and he had an underage consumption charge about 5 years ago.
We have the same rules that the company you applied to have as far as felonies and background checks.
Misdemeanors do not show up on our background checks, UNLESS it requires a DOD/DOE security clearance. Even then, it can be waved unless it involved drugs, and even then there is a time restriction (and I think 5 years is well outside the who cares date).
Like others have said, I would not say anything and see what happens. (and I bet nothing does)
Just don’t lie about it. If asked, (in person or on the application) fess up. Most employers will excuse something like egg throwing but lying on you application is a huge no no. They could fire you for that 10 years down the road.
FWIW, most states have laws in place that make it pretty easy to expunge (remove) something like your “crime” from your record. You might want to look into that so you don’t have to face this dilema for the rest of your life. It also wouldn’t hurt to dig out your file if you have not looked at it since the big event and see if you actually have a record. In my state, it is fairly routine for first offenders on misdemeanor offenses (particularly silly stuff like throwing an egg) to get a suspended sentence that ends up disappearing from there record (ie no conviction) if they serve out a probation period. Who knows, you may have gotten lucky and not even know it.
As everyone says, you should be fine. If they didn’t ask, you didn’t lie.
Most I’ve seen say felonies only too. But for professional licensure, states ask for “misdemeanor, felony, or DUI convictions or pending charges”. I’ve got a misdemeanor from 10 years ago about as bad as yours, and I note it and states will still license me.