In all seriousness:
Right before I started college, and perhaps over the next year or two, I was convicted of the following crimes (IIRC):
* MIP - Alcohol (misdemeanor)
* Making a falsified report to a public servant (aka lying to a cop, misdemeanor)
* Assault 4 (misdemeanor)
* Malicious Mischief 3rd (or perhaps 4th) degree (misdemeanor, over $50 under $250 damage)
and perhaps a few more (it was quick a string for a year or two, and that was about four / five years ago). I was charged with a dozen more, including a felony assault charge and drug possession, etc, but those were all dropped / not guilty, so I don't think they matter as much, but just wanted to say it for full disclosure.
The records will be sealed relatively soon, and now I'm about to graduate from a non-target top 50 school, Finance & I'Bus, fluent in German (year abroad studying there as well), conversational in French and Spanish, 3.5+ GPA.
How do I explain this? I mean, basically I was a kid and screwed up. Stopped screwing up, and it paid off. It was really simple for me, but I'm not sure if companies will see this, if they can see if once the records are sealed, etc etc etc.
I'm looking for work mainly in Europe now (I want to be a Swiss banking gnome for a few years and learn Italian / perfect my French [as much as one can in Switzerland] / etc), but will also consider looking for work across the USA, UK, Germany, or Austria.
Can you give me advice on how this will affect me in these various countries / etc? Do employers look for this stuff? I mean, my life story is something - I was a druggie on the street but pulled myself up without help, without relapse, into a college graduate, multi-lingual, etc blah blah blah, but do I keep that a secret or rework it to make it less ... revealing about my past situation but more emphasizing the transformation or the end result?
Thanks for your time in reading this, and I hope you can help me figure this out :)
You sound like a great guy.
Your signature should read: 'Nothing can stop me, from making poor decisions.'
Why were you screwing up? Lots of us were kids and didn't run up a rap sheet. Were you just a fucking prick? Did you have family issues? If the records are sealed, I'm not sure why you're worried, but if it comes up you have to be able to sell people on the idea that (a) you had to overcome some real problems and that (2) it's a thing of the distant past. People LIKE reformed rogues but if you revert back to your old ways, you will be crucified.
Well they aren't sealed yet - it might be until next April before I can, which means I'd be a graduate for some seven months already by that time, and hopefully gainfully employed... meaning there is some likelihood of having to explain and deal with these things.
Quick question: should I mention, then, in the interview, that I have these things, and preempt the eventual discovery by explaining it, or will I get a chance after the background check comes back to talk about what happened?
Yeah, family issues could be part of it, a messed-up childhood, and all that BS, and it's probably fair to call the me of then a fucking prick, but in all honesty, I know I bear the blame. I mean, if you talked to me then, I probably wouldn't have been able to excuse myself, and I recognize that and don't try to now. I messed up, but there's no chance of me reverting back to those ways. It's the greatest cost-benefit analysis I've ever performed, and no matter what situational analysis I added to it, there was no way that living like that, continuing like that, would ever be able to match the payout of changing. I watched associates destroy themselves, watched friends die, saw gifted people rot their brains, go to prison, and so on - I lived that life, experienced it first hand, and realized how incredibly worthless it all was - and that I had every ability to change my actions and live a better way. There was no one holding me back but myself, and so I changed. It's as simple as that, really.
So as far as being reformed, I'd say I am, and I'd say that the proof is in the pudding - I reformed myself, and no one had to do it for me. I didn't need rehab, long jail terms (I did two days once ... 48 hours isn't really a big jail term. I read a good book, caught up on some sleep, and then went back to school the next day).
And re: the signature joke, I put it as it is exactly because of this history - there are no excuses, and I can control more or less everything that happens to me. There's nothing that's out of my control - even negative consequences are a result of my actions, and therefore I am to blame - therefore nothing can stop me, because I'm not going to stop myself.
Anyone know about background checks in foreign countries? Would a Swiss or British company run a US Background check on me, for example?
If it were me, I wouldn't mention your fuckups until you are asked. Background checks normally happen after an offer is extended and you accept. Once you start that process you need to disclose everything. From there you can explain your decisions and how they're not representative of who you are today. Whatever you do, don't lie. If they do an FBI background check everything will come up (including any arrest records) and not disclosing it is an auto ding.
I don't know much about the background check process, as the only thing I didn't keep off the record was academic fuckups, but I can definitely help with the conceptual aspect of packaging of your story. I was a knucklehead when I was younger as well.
The key points are to (1) own your mistakes (2) explain how overcoming them (3) made you a stronger, smarter person that would (4) be good for whatever job it is you're applying to and (5) demonstrate that you're ready for the future, free of all that. Write out your pitch and work on selling it from a variety of angles, quickly and effectively. There are people who were hardened criminals who now compete in the Oympics, and guys who get dinged from their plans for shoplifting a stick of gum...how you structure and execute your turnaround determines where along that gradient you fall.
You can chart your own course, but contrary to what you think, you can't control what happens to you, you can only control your reaction. Being proactive is the best insurance and coming to this site was a good move. You've got a winner's spirit, now just focus on moving forward.
Good luck
This made me laugh. Best piece of advice....Tell the truth and nothing but the truth. I have seen plenty of people land jobs in offices (not necesarrily finance) for more serious crimes. The key to landing it is showing them how YOU learned from YOUR mistakes. Own up to it and do NOT lie.
I think I oughtta run a background check on myself, just to remember all shit I got into so I can fully disclose. O.o
Actually, I'm thinking that's a good idea. Anyone know where BBs go for their background checks? I'll get that same company to run a check on myself if possible, to make sure I have everything figured out.
One company, when I was applying for seasonal work a few years back, reported my misdemeanor assault as a felony ... cost me the job for two months till they finally corrected it, then boom, season's over. I'd also like to make sure that doesn't happen again, and if it does, double check with the county and see why the hell it's being false-reported so often ...
So any HR people / advice in here who know which companies perform the background checks for the BBs?
There are literally hundreds of companies that do background checks for banks. Pay for an FBI background check (which is pretty extensive) and you'll get a good idea of what will come up.
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