Very Educated Mother with Plenty Job Experience

Updated on September 30, 2010
R.W. asks from Lancaster, TX
7 answers

Hello I am a 34 year old mother of two, I have a high school diploma and college and I have a lot of Job experience, 5 years ago ihad a returned check from a grocery store for $35, It ended up going to the courts, I paid restitution for it and took care of it, I was told by the DA to plead guilty since I did write the check, i did not knowing what else to do and now it is showing on my background as a Misdemeanor theft by check for less then $500 and I am having a hard time getting any job, does anyone have any information, on a great company that I can work for or any thing I can do. I have even tried to get it expunged and sealed and I can not do that. I want a job and a career what can I do, please help

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

You don't say what your college degree is in? It could be that your area of expertise is extremely competitive right now and have nothing to do with the check issue.
That said, I got into a bit of trouble in college, nothing big, but I too have to check that box and I have always been clear and explained the situation. They ask for much more than just "felony" convictions these days.
However, it is really a non-issue once the employer sees explanation. And time is a great nulifier. Meaning, if it happened one time, five years ago and no issues since, many employers understand.
Keep at it!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Just be honest. Next to the box, write "will discuss" and you have nothing to hide.

L.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

Why would they even know? On applications they only ask you if you have been charged with a felony, which you have not. I would omit it from any job interview, most companies do not do a criminal backround check, and if they do it would only come back as a misdemeanor, and you can explain what heppened to them at that time. I wouldn't bring it up if I were you unless asked about it.

Will it be removed from your record after 7 years?

I have never heard of someone not getting a job because of a misdemeanor like that.... I am sure you are not the only one who ever wrote a bad check.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Most corporations and companies take past misdemeanors and legal issues into account based on what they are. Most will let you write a letter of explanation, and this should prohibit you from being hired. My husband is a recruiter for a LARGE conservative bank, and you wouldn't believe what some people have in their backgrounds and still get hired -by a bank no less!

Do you actually have a college degree? Many times it's difficult to even get a call back if you haven't finished college. There are lots of different training programs you can research that train you for certain professions and DO NOT require a college degree but pay extremely well or at least decently. If you have no degree, you should look into going back to school, going to grad school or something like court reporting, medical transcription, dental or medical assistant, vet tech, etc.

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T.R.

answers from Orlando on

A bounced check will not prevent you from getting a job. I too, have one that shows up on my record (it's the only thing) from over 20 years ago, when I was 18. Mine was for Albertson's grocery store. When I got the letter from the store, I went to go pay, but they said it already went to collections and I had to go through their process. Well, their process was court, and that's where I paid. At any rate, I have held an upper management position the last 12 years of my career and have passed background checks to get jobs. On my record it says OBTAINING PROPERTY BY WORTHLESS CHECK (I just copied that from the county court records system online) You can look yours up too, it's public record. I would check out your record to see what employers are seeing, if it's only ONE bad check, it won't be the reason for not hiring you, a lot of people make a mistake in balancing a check book!
Good luck!

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B.M.

answers from Chicago on

Where are you applying? Have you been told, specifically, by prospective employers that your misdemeanor is the reason they won't hire you? We are in a recession, after all - lots of companies haven't been hiring for a while.

However - most job applications only ask for felonies and some only if the felony was a violent crime. I worked as a hiring manager for YEARS in retail and this is not something that any retail organization would probably look at. I doubt you would have to even list it on the application.

Some run a background check - but mostly they look for credit - which if it's on your credit report might adversely affect you, but only if you haven't been good about other financial responsibilities since then.

I think you can also write a personal statement and include it with your job application if you have had to list misdemeanors. Simply explain the situation.

MANY companies are getting ready to hire extra help for Christmas. They will keep the good employees after the holidays, so you may have to work part time and then prove yourself to the organization.

Also - look at a temp agency. Again, you don't have to list anything except felonies and I don't think they do a background check.

Good luck.

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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

hello
charged and "convicted" are two different things. IF you were NOT convicted which is usually what the job application ask, then you neednt put it on your application.
btw, what type of degree and or experience do you have? this way, perhaps we can give better suggestions as to your job search. :)

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