How to reply to "Have you ever been convicted of a crime" on a job application?

If being drop dead gorgeous is a crime, then color me guilty as charged mister.

With this economy don't worry you probably won't get the job.

Otherwise list all felonies for sure. I had a misdemeanor and didn't list it. It had been dismissed though. I got the job but h r advised me to list it in the future.

Hello I have had a very similar problem. When I was 17, which in michigan is a legal adult, I got convicted of 3 misdemeanors all at the same time, great huh? I never was to worried about it job wise because on apps they only ask when it comes to crimes if you are a felon. But now that I am past my crazy teens years and well into my 20s I now see on most apps the question, "have you been convicted of a misdemeanor?" I did some researching, and the state of michigan along with many others have a law on the books that says an individual has the right to NOT disclose the fact that they were charged with a misdemeanor. So if you are not a felon but have a misdameanor just, still just check "no". if ever in the future they ask you why you lied, just tell me them the law says that I didn't have to, because its true. So don't forget, the law says you have the RIGHT to conceal your misdemeanor conviction. Obviously there are a few exceptions, times when you must. But that does not include non-government jobs.

Yeah, you have a right not to disclose it. It's called don't fill out the application. The form still always asks at the end something along the lines that you have filled it out truthfully to the best of your knowledge. Since you know you lied on that (whether or not you HAVE to tell them is a different matter. It's still not truthful), you can't correctly sign that part. So, I guess if you want to not disclose it, fine, but don't sign that last part. But, I'm pretty sure if you don't sign that part, there's no way you're going to get a job.

You've already committed a misdemeanor. Time to be a changed man. Give up the lying. Represent yourself as you are and be candid about the truth. If that's going to affect your future, well, too bad for doing what you did to get that misdemeanor in the first place. The world would be a better place if people actually thought about "how will this affect me future" before they did something instead of trying to chalk it up to being a "crazy teen".

I have three misdemeanors: marijuana possession, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license. I am totally honest about everything and make no attampt to hide any of it. When asked about my criminal record, my approach is to 1) act embarrassed of it, 2) do not bore the employer with claims I can't prove about how being reformed, and 3) make a "positive" statment containing verifiable facts that work in my favor. I state that my convictions are embarrassing blemishes, that I don't like to talk about the details and that I am no longer entangled in any legal problems. A solid work history and good references can overcome a criminal record, especially if your crimes aren't related to violence or dishonesty.

Man you guys are dumb. Never admit anything, ever. If you admit it you'll never get any job worth keeping. Most places will claim to do background checks but don't actually do them because they are expensive. And it's not illegal to lie about that on a job application. Sheesh. If you admit it, you are definitely 100% out of a job. If you lie, you are ~50% likely out of a job. Simple math.

I totally agree with you with it should be job specific. I was recently offered a job and the next day they withdrew the job offer. Im in IT Support and my felony was 6 years ago. I have gone to college and now working on certifications. Apparently I was the man for the job but someone less qualified got the position because of my past. I think its worng to hold something over someones head especially if they have shown alot of changed since then. Even after all the changes I have made, what should stop me from selling drugs again and becoming a bigger criminal if no matter what I do, I am still labeled as a criminal!!

usmcflguy wrote:

I totally agree with you with it should be job specific. I was recently offered a job and the next day they withdrew the job offer. Im in IT Support and my felony was 6 years ago. I have gone to college and now working on certifications. Apparently I was the man for the job but someone less qualified got the position because of my past. I think its worng to hold something over someones head especially if they have shown alot of changed since then. Even after all the changes I have made, what should stop me from selling drugs again and becoming a bigger criminal if no matter what I do, I am still labeled as a criminal!!

If you sold heroin, meth or something extremely addictive and destructive, you have demonstrated you have a heinous side to your character that has no regard to the well-being of others. I wouldn't hire you.

If it was for a lesser drug, i.e. marijuana or a non-addictive prescription, I would have a different opinion.

I think it's more wrong of you to hold your competition's qualifications over his head than it is to hold your criminal behavior over yours.

your frustration is understandable. you will likely have trouble getting employed by a fortune 500 corporation, as well as smaller businesses. the applicant pool for everything is so deep, there is no upside for them to take a risk on a person with a felony record, no matter how sh!tty or unjust that feels. it's hard for everyone out there looking for a job - as you know. HR departments look for anything to narrow down the applicant pool for jobs when they get 100's of resumes for an opening. keep trying and work your network of colleagues.

He may not sound educated but he has a point. I have several misdemeanors incurred in my youth (worst is a dui) and have never disclosed them to any employer. My meager criminal record from the distant past is not relevant to anything I may do today. It obviously falls under the heading "youthful indiscretion" and I refuse to initiate the conversation by volunteering the information. If they dig up my record I accept whatever consequences there may be.

K, Vonnegoat wrote:

fwersaerweasfsd wrote:

Man you guys are dumb. Never admit anything, ever. If you admit it you'll never get any job worth keeping. Most places will claim to do background checks but don't actually do them because they are expensive. And it's not illegal to lie about that on a job application. Sheesh. If you admit it, you are definitely 100% out of a job. If you lie, you are ~50% likely out of a job. Simple math.

You sound like an uneducated person. Not born mentally retarded, but relatively dumb. Kinda like my dog, he didn't goto school very much either.

...?

Brad ONeil - SR - Coe College wrote:

Yes. A lot of stupid sh*t is illegal for no logical reason.

Are you in high school?

Convicted? No, never convicted.

One Thanksgiving, I was convicted of littering and creating a public nuisance. I described the situation in rigorous detail-including eight-by-ten colour glossy photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining what each one was- on my paperwork when I was drafted-and even though I had rehabilitated myself-it got me out of Nam.

You know the part where they say "a conviction will not necessarily lead to rejection of your application" or whatever?

It's a LIE.

When an employer lies on their own application, what right do they have to expect the truth from the applicant?

violating drug prohibition isn't "heinous," you fascist piece of shit.

little lance wrote: If you sold heroin, meth or something extremely addictive and destructive, you have demonstrated you have a heinous side to your character

I worked with a guy who just looked at the guy and said, "Convicted? No."

As a business owner, there is no way in hell I would hire a convicted criminal. Sorry, not going to happen. We have laws and rules for a reason. If you cannot abide by the law of the land, why would I trust you in my company?

Actions have consequences. Grow up.

Bad Wigins wrote:

violating drug prohibition isn't "heinous," you fascist piece of shit.

little lance wrote: If you sold heroin, meth or something extremely addictive and destructive, you have demonstrated you have a heinous side to your character

Hey guy who can't read and who believes in inaccurate leg length/stride length theories, he didn't say "violating drug prohibition". He said "sold heroin, meth, or something extremely addictive and destructive". Do you even know what fascist means?

sucks to work in HR lol