Assault Charge - Will I never get a High Finance job?

I saw someone post something similar earlier, so here’s my predicament:

I fought someone at a mall at age 17 and got arrested for aggravated assault (felony). I got the charge down to misdemeanor assault and completed 1 year deferred adjudication. This means my case was dismissed w/o conviction. However, my background check will still show the arrest and charge.

I’ve heard that in “Ban the box” cities like NYC and Chicago, firms cannot consider criminal record until after extending a conditional offer of employment. However, they can still rescind an offer if they don’t like what they see on my background check.

2 questions:

Will investment banks, specifically in “ban the box” cities, deny me employment based on my current criminal record?

Should I consider a move into consulting or IT, where their background checks aren’t as strict?

9 Comments
 

the background check at any large firm will include a rap sheet which will have your criminal history. Since you weren't convicted, the arrests may not always come up. I'd try to get your record expunged. 

 

I can’t get it expunged, but I will try to seal it when it becomes available. Do you think this’ll be a deal breaker for firms? I know there’s ban the box laws, so will they rescind an offer based on my “rap sheet”?

 

I had a few convictions and served community service for them, I told HR when they were doing due dilligence after I got an offer. But they said it didnt come up on the search, so they asked no further questions. It was after the 5 year time limit. 

 

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