D.E. Shaw Background Check Process - SCREWED?

I do not work at Shaw nor do I have friends that do - but generally speaking, all companies run criminal background checks at some point, and it does not sound like the bkgd check you went through 'transcripts, references, past employment, credit history' involved any sort of criminal history check.

Also, considering that most firms shop out their background-checking, I would not expect Shaw's practices to differ largely from 'generally speaking.'

I went through on campus recruiting to secure a job offer. I applied for the job, interviewed, and was given an offer, pending a background check. This was in December 2008. After clearing the background check, I was extended an offer that December. I am still in school and expecting to graduate in May, and will be starting full time in September 2009. I was told by HR that I will need to have another background check performed because of the time lapse between my offer acceptance and the time I begin working. The time gap is 9 months, and so it seems appropriate that I am getting screened twice. I don't know your situation but if your time gap is shorter than mine, you may have dodged a bullet. Hopefully that's the case.

Last thought: If your court date is after your start date, then you may have lucked out as well. I BELIEVE, but am not certain, that your record will not reflect any charges until you are proven guilty. Good luck.

two.N.twenty, are you part of the Rotational Associates Program ?

What was the charge? Even if it doesn't show up on this background check, if they find out later you could be just as screwed, if not more so. It is probably in your best interests to be honest.

That said, as 2n20 pointed out, if you haven't been convicted of anything there is nothing to tell - being indicted is not evidence of anything, despite what the media might like you to believe.

I said in another post I actually spent a few days in jail and have always been upfront about it. I follow it with a I was 18 when it happen and matured a lot since then. It was a something I learned from and never made the same mistake again. Be honest, upfront and let them know that it will not happen again.

just curious, why would you post recognizable info? (worked for 2 years in India).

SAC,

my pending employment is not with DE Shaw. so if you are referring to their rotational program, or any rotational program for that matter, then no.

it would be even funnier if that's your real birthday in your profile ...

it isn't. :)

Yeah because im sure De Shaw employees are just lurking on WSO. Stop being paranoid people.

Even if there are D.E. Shaw employees on W.S.O., they're obviously not going to admit it.

"I'm a fly Malcolm X, buy any jeans necessary."

There was really no reason to disclose the company you'll be working for, or specific details about your background (working in India). Shaw's class isn't that big; you might as well have posted your full name in the OP.

I would not be surprised if DE Shaw has a program that trawls through the internet aggregating mentions of their firm

I thought felonies were only relevant?

Misdemeanors are made available to the public? I don’t remember anyone asking me if I was ever convicted of a misdemeanor during the interview? What would that be? Getting caught at house party with beer when you were 16? I wouldn't worry.

I am a headhunter who has recruited for DE Shaw. They are very diligent, however, once you have started there the dismissal would be due to the crime having an impact on you ability to perform your task or imperiling your character.

Feel free to contact me at [email protected]

you are screwed.

i believe you have to disclose any pending criminal charges, including misdemeanors, if you are given an offer of employment at a firm that is under certain government regulations, e.g. most registered broker/dealers. not sure if de shaw falls into this category, but in some states a company cannot deny you employment based on a misdemeanor charge or conviction that has no direct relation to performing your job duties or does not jeopardize the safety of the workplace.

so depending on what "serious misdemeanor" you are charged with, you may or may not be okay. for example, you may be safe with a DUI, but likely not with larceny, assault, etc. then again, they can always come up with some other BS reason to pull your offer outside a criminal history. either way, i'd keep quiet for now and hope it doesn't come up, and if/when it does, be upfront and honest and hope for understanding.

I'm not sure if a hedge fund like DE Shaw requires its' traders to have a Series 7 license, but you have to disclose all convictions and even court action against you to the SEC under penalty of perjury if you need to be registered.

Can you tell us about the nature of the misdemeanor? Did it involve fraud or theft from an employer? Or was it more like criminal trespass, getting into a bar-room brawl, DUI, or lacking car insurance? If it's not something that would concern the CFA or FINRA, I'll give you 80% odds that it won't affect your offer, but you need to disclose it in advance to HR.

Yeah. The telephone conversation will be a little awkward. But it will be a heckuvalot less awkward than them calling you after the criminal background check comes back- or worse, getting to the Series 7 questionnaire and admitting to a misdemeanor (or worse, lying on the questionnaire, getting slapped with a felony for perjury and becoming clearly unemployable in any professional discipline).

This is your FIRST job offer in finance. It's not your last. Be honest and straightforward, and worst comes to worst, you'll just have to spend a few years at another firm that's not quite as snobby about misdemeanors. In ten years, nobody will care about whether you worked at DE Shaw or Citadel and a misdemeanor from college probably won't be of interest to anyone if you stay out of trouble after that.

I would not be surprised if DE Shaw has a program that trawls through the internet aggregating mentions of their firm

If an offer gets pulled, you can still recover from it and line up another job. But if you get fired, that's a lot harder to recover from.

Hello guys, in texas reckless driving is driving 20 mph over. I got clocked right at 20 in a small town. I got arrested and charged with misdemeanor B. I got an offer should I just tell this upfront and let them know since court starts in nov. I think it will go down to a C easily or even thrown out. So my question is would a misdemeanor for driving hurt you for i banking.