Background Check--Dismissed shoplifting misdemeanor...

I want to apply as a Legal Analyst at Goldman & Sachs, but I have a shoplifting misdemeanor charge on my record. I have not been convicted, should I still chance it and apply. Be as honest as possible, at this point I need more truth than hope. Thank you for your help.

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"ss1239" Did you apply and were you fine? In a similar situation and hoping to get some advice!

Generally, shoplifting is frowned upon. Any offenses relating to lying, cheating, or stealing will be the worst for employers (obviously murder etc is bad but aside from that). But, as it is dismissed, it should not be considered.

Just because it should not be considered doesn't mean that it won't be considered.

So I had this interview with a hedge fund in NYC. I worked my ass off to get this interview. I literally paid for this finance conference ($400), to find a hedge fund CEO, network with him, and then land an interview with his team. So I did that and I had this interview with these two wise guys a week later. They were maybe late 30s. I was late 20s at the time.

I filled out all the forms. No convictions, nothing on record or on papers.

So out of nowhere mid interview this one guy asks "Have you ever been arrested?". Now, I know my way around this question without lying. I said without hesitation "I've never been convicted of a crime."

This guy was like "but have you been to jail?". Again, I affirmed "I have nothing on my criminal record." No joke, he persisted. I have no idea why. He said "have you been cuffed and taken to the station." Finally, I gave in, I was like yes, but was found innocent of the accusation.

The interview went downhill from there. We had a good 30 min talk before that about the industry, role, and the part I would play in the company, but then it just went to crap.

I wouldn't be too worried if it is dismissed though. I've been to hundreds of interviews and never have faced anything like that before, but damnit this was the only hedge fund interview I could land ........ frustrating. Looking back, I don't think I could/would have done anything different.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
"SmartThinker" I got caught robbing someone at gunpoint. Do you think this will show up through a background check or am I probably good?

You're probably good, depending on your lawyer. Johnny Cochran right? Yeah you're good.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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