Graduating College in May, Will dropped misdemeanor show up / effect me at all

[laxer971]

~IN NC but will be moving to NY to work in NYC~

So I have 4 dropped misdemeanors in NC simple assault, underage drinking, Larceny( which I'm in the posses of getting expunged) and Intoxicated and disorderly. and One in NJ for fake ID. All of these are drunk college mistakes which I have gotten dropped. They have all Involved alcohol and that why I have cut out drinking of my life totally. I would rather live a long successful life then keep getting in trouble. So my question is will these effect me at all and if so will I be able to talk to them about it and let them know that I have learned from my mistakes and have changed? I am going to be moving back up to NJ and applying to all jobs in NYC I've heard that dropped charges do not show up in the state of NY and lets say worst case they did. I think I would be able to talk to them and let them know I'm really sorry for my mistakes and that I am a new person and dumb making stupid immature choices. Im a great person when I am sober but when I drunk too much these things tend to happen and thats why I have changed. I have already gotten one job offer but they have not done a background check. Please let me know if you have any positive input and then you so much. Im pretty stressed out right now and was hoping to hear from some HR people, Lawyers, or people will similar experience. Thank you tons! ( I'm a good kid that and made some stupid drink choices that I really really don't want to hurt me)

 

[single317dad]

The best argument that you can make as to your "changed person" status is to live your life in a more responsible way form here forward. If a potential employer does see your recent history, that will likely affect their hiring decision. You'll need several years of good behavior to outweigh several years of poor behavior.

 

[Zigner]

You'll need several years of good behavior to outweigh several years of poor behavior.

I'd like to expand on this. One needs several years of good behavior to outweigh relatively small amounts of bad behavior. It takes much longer to build trust than it does to lose it. The same goes for a reputation.

 

[commentator]

My suggestion is that you begin applying for jobs and interviewing as optimistically as if this had never happened. Reveal what you legally must, and don't go out of your way to be overly disclosing.

If and when it comes up, touch on it extremely lightly with something about how the problems you had in your youth were related to drinking alcohol, and since then you have decided to eliminate those types of issues by leaving alcohol out of your life entirely.

Then move on. As little as you can make of it, as little discussion as you can manage and still give the impression that you are a non drinker now and for the rest of your life is the way to handle this. And you will wear it out in the long run. It will take care of itself, but it will definitely take some time and trouble free years in the duration. Good luck to you.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

My suggestion is you forget about those jobs paying reasonable wages and try getting a job in your field through a temp to hire firm or look for a company trying to hire foreigners by offering substandard wages. Expect to be there for several years to prove yourself, before trying to move on.

 

[laxer971]

My suggestion is you forget about those jobs paying reasonable wages and try getting a job in your field through a temp to hire firm or look for a company trying to hire foreigners by offering substandard wages. Expect to be there for several years to prove yourself, before trying to move on.

An what qualities do you have to say something like this. It seems extremely pessimistic and also untrue. Employers are not allowed to judge dropped or dismissed charges by law so I am unsure you would try to bring me down with such a comment. I was looking for positive feed back.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Apply to NASA and all the Fortune 500 companies.

 

[laxer971]

Apply to NASA and all the Fortune 500 companies.

No need to bring someone down when they are just trying to ask for positive advice and make jokes about applying to jobs for foreigners.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

I gave you positive advise. Since it was not that you would get a great job, fresh out of college with a prior record, you rejected my opinion and said you wanted to hear positive advice. I gave you positive advice. It will not get you a job, but it is the positive advice you wanted to hear. The fact is you screwed up royally. Only part of that is going to be hidden. If you were average Joe employer who would you hire? The guy with a criminal history or the guy without a criminal history? If you apply for the jobs Average Bob employee does not want, you have a better chance to get in the door and prove you have changed your ways, while getting several years experience.

 

[single317dad]

An what qualities do you have to say something like this. It seems extremely pessimistic and also untrue. Employers are not allowed to judge dropped or dismissed charges by law so I am unsure you would try to bring me down with such a comment. I was looking for positive feed back.

Well, of course you were. I would argue that part of what got you into this mess in the first place is too much "positive feedback" and not enough "harsh criticism".

 

[PaulMass]

Commercial background checking companies will report everything they have associated with your name, and include a disclaimer that it may not be you, but someone with a similar name.

Every court in the country has people showing up to collect information and hand it off to these companies. You cannot erase your past.

Some employers do a more thorough background check than others. It's really a crap shoot.

 

[CSO286]

An what qualities do you have to say something like this. It seems extremely pessimistic and also untrue. Employers are not allowed to judge dropped or dismissed charges by law so I am unsure you would try to bring me down with such a comment. I was looking for positive feed back.

You are wrong. Employers can use any info they legally have access to, that includes the number of times you've been charged, regardless of whether they ended in convictions or not. Just like they can peruse your Facebook account or other internet presence to decide to hire or not.

 

[Zigner]

You are wrong. Employers can use any info they legally have access to, that includes the number of times you've been charged, regardless of whether they ended in convictions or not. Just like they can peruse your Facebook account or other internet presence to decide to hire or not.

Not so fast...

It would be wise to review http://www.labor.ny.gov/careerservices/ace/employers.shtm

 

[davew128]

Employers are not allowed to judge dropped or dismissed charges by law

Well THATS not true. It may or may not be true that they can't SEE them, but certainly human nature is going to kick in and influence a person if they SEE it.