FBI background check

I'm a freshman right now, and was charged with possession of marijuana. There is a pretty decent chance I can have the charges dismissed, and, in my state, my arrest record gets destroyed if I'm acquitted. However, the FBI database will always have my fingerprints. I have a few questions: 1. Are there any investment banks or consulting firms that do not do an extensive FBI background check? 2. Will it even matter if an arrest shows in a background check without a conviction? 3. If I do end up with this on my record, does possession of marijuana ruin any career opportunities in finance or consulting?

Best Response

Put down the gavel, jackass. "Never do anything so stupin again"? If this man is a freshman, and possessing weed is the stupidest thing he does throughout college, I would say he has lived a pretty clean college experience overall.

OP- definitely try to get it expunged. If you can't beat it outright, definitely try to get into a conditional dismissal program. Both those things said, no reason to take a chance on it affecting you, if you have the money, get the best lawyer you can (one with great connects to the judge in your county/ district/ whatever). This is not the time to be pinching pennies either.

 
nebben2k10:
Put down the gavel, jackass. "Never do anything so stupin again"? If this man is a freshman, and possessing weed is the stupidest thing he does throughout college, I would say he has lived a pretty clean college experience overall.

OP- definitely try to get it expunged. If you can't beat it outright, definitely try to get into a conditional dismissal program. Both those things said, no reason to take a chance on it affecting you, if you have the money, get the best lawyer you can (one with great connects to the judge in your county/ district/ whatever). This is not the time to be pinching pennies either.

I do have an excellent lawyer, and the worst case scenario is a diversion program where a conviction isn't entered and my arrest record goes nonpublic. However, I'm sure these background checks could access this anyways. No matter what, I will always have an arrest record that can be accessed by fbi background checks. However, are there any places (probably small shops) that don't have such stringent background checks? Do you know if consulting firms don't have as stringent of background checks?

 
nebben2k10:
Put down the gavel, jackass. "Never do anything so stupin again"? If this man is a freshman, and possessing weed is the stupidest thing he does throughout college, I would say he has lived a pretty clean college experience overall.

In the grand scheme of things it's not that stupid but if you ever decide to have possession of illegal substances outside of your own home, everything that happens as a consequence is entirely on you and not appreciating the risks is basically what I would call stupid. There is no need to do things like that, and there isn't even that much want. If you want to try weed go ahead, but there is no reason for you yourself to be in possession of it.

Asatar:
nebben2k10:
Put down the gavel, jackass. "Never do anything so stupin again"? If this man is a freshman, and possessing weed is the stupidest thing he does throughout college, I would say he has lived a pretty clean college experience overall.

In the grand scheme of things it's not that stupid but if you ever decide to have possession of illegal substances outside of your own home, everything that happens as a consequence is entirely on you and not appreciating the risks is basically what I would call stupid. There is no need to do things like that, and there isn't even that much want. If you want to try weed go ahead, but there is no reason for you yourself to be in possession of it.

I was in another kid's dorm room for 5 minutes and he was smoking it before. Wrong place, wrong time, and the housing security knocked on the door.

 

You can do an FBI background check on yourself for about $50. If it's dismissed then it will probably not show up. It depends on the laws in the state you were in at the time. Google fieldprint.

 

Although they might if a "hard pull" is done. But this is usually only the case when obtaining a DoD clearance.

I interned at a defense contractor and had to obtain a Confidential-level DoD clearance. I some juvenile high jinks expunged, and it did not even come up during this background report.

You'll be fine kid.

"Come at me, bro"- José de Palafox y Melci
 

Heres a list of what i plead guilty too. F. Burglary F. Intimidation fo a witness F. Theft F. Receiving stolen property M. Poss. of a firearm by minor M. Terroristic threats M. criminal trespassing

 
Trading4Forever:
this isnt a fucking joke!

sounds like you have a cool head on you.

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

wow your really gonna comment on my crimes? like its something worth discussing i was asking a simple question yes or no do prop firms and hedge funds run fbi background checks? I got off very very light for the type of shit i did, and mafia isnt far from the story either idiots. In Fact my PO brought mafia up in the court which really made me pissed they could have charged me with extortion and grand larceny too but the cops went light on me since i didnt resist and just gave up everything but i never ratted on anyone! I did 1 year as a juvie which sucked but during that 1 year i read a crap load of trading books and acutally even taught some staff there to trade and guess what they dont work there anymore LOL but i got to use the computer everyday to see the markets other kids hated me for this but fuck em all lol

 

i was just trying to get ahead because at the time i couldnt find a job and make money to trade so i stole it greed got the better of me.. kinnda like gekko LMFAO

like my dead hommie said the courts can convict me but only God can judge me...

 

in defense for myself i was mugged a couple months prior to all these crimes and that really made me pissed so i got even with the street i mean i had my jaw broken and jumped by 3 criminals so yeah i was confused but after serving 1 year i got out and didnt get in trouble and even got a min wage job and im straight now...people can change and its not like i did anything like this before...

 

I'll make no snarky remarks about your past, but try to answer you candidly.

Nearly all financial firms do background checks. A private sector consultant does the check but has access to various databases including state court records and the FBI database. Your record will probably show up in a background check despite having been expunged.

Despite your seemingly formidable rap sheet, it might not be disqualifying as what they're looking for is offenses involving financial fraud or dishonesty. "Receiving stolen property" might or might not count.

Your best bet in dealing with a background check is to notify the firm considering hiring you (in writing, after the first interview) that you have a rap sheet from your teenage years, which was all expunged and includes no charges of financial dishonesty or fraud. This will, to be sure, get you dropped by most potential employers, but it's better than starting a new job then being fired six weeks later when the background check is complete.

I leave you with the thought that nearly everyone has one or more skeletons in the closet, and if everyone with an arrest record got zapped after background checks, very few would ever get hired. GL to you.

 

I had the same issue 3 years ago. Got arrested for possession, got fingerprinted. Never got convicted, plead it down to a noise violation. You will be fine. Do NOT bring it up with HR just wait for them to ask you. Unless you lied on your app (which i doubt you did because they only ask for convictions not arrests) you will be fine. I've gone through two background checks one with a MegaFund PE shop my soph year of college, and last year at a BB and everything came out fine. Don't worry about it.

 
slinkybog:

So is it worth giving HR a heads up or will that make it worse and I should just wait?

100% would make it worse. Don't lie if confronted, but don't throw yourself under the bus.

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

I hope not. It would be a shame to lose out on a great opportunity over a stupid decision over 10 years ago. I guess I am just curious if anyone has been in a similar situation and came away in the clear.

 

If you were indeed not convicted and the arrest has been expunged then, yes, you can delete your profile from the FBI database and don't let anyone on here tell you that it's impossible (they have no clue what they are talking about). In fact, it should be automatically taken off. However, they often do not update the records and the clerks make mistakes (I have seen this happen). You can use the same FBI check the banks use. Google Fieldprint.

 

Thanks that's what I thought I'm just very paranoid. Also, although it's not a conviction, I did have to plead guilty for judgement to be deferred. And even though it's nonpublic, would i still have to answer yes to the question have you ever plead guilty or no contest? In your guys' experience, do applications ask if you've been convicted or plead guilty to a crime, or just have you been convicted? I'm sorry for all of these dumb questions I've just been extremely stressed.

 
elephonky:
You're being overly paranoid. Take your chances and, in the extremely unlikely event that it gets uncovered, blame it on youthful ignorance and coming-of-age.

...but in the event that it happens his offer will be rescinded before he has a chance to explain. that's why they give you an option to explain it beforehand in case you think something will come up

 

Pick a PI out of the phone book and give him your own information. For a few bucks, he'll call you back in 10 minutes and give you everything that an employer could possibly get on you and you'll know for sure.

 

You weren't convicted, there's nothing to worry about. People get wrongly accused of many things, we don't live in a society that the mere accusation of something ruins the rest of your life.

(I know you actually did it, but actually doesn't matter. They only look for convictions. I doubt it would hold you back even if you were convicted, it's not like you stole something...that would be something to worry about.)

 

Your first job probably won't pay $100K for your first few years. Even my friends who were getting hired into the front office at hedge funds in Chicago weren't getting that. The only reason people talk about making more than $100K their first year in NYC is because of the ridiculous cost of living.

One quick thought is Accounting- if you have enough Accy classes, you can sit for the CPA exam. Managers at most firms (not just Big Four) typically break $100K or come very close.

Your first job won't pay $100K. Your next job just might if you develop a reputation for competence and productivity.

 

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