I have been fired from my last two jobs for lying on my application. Both times I checked the box on the application that said "No I have not been convicted for a felony". Don't get me wrong I would love to be able to tell the truth and not fear rejection. But that's not how society works. The first job I was there for a year and a half before they ran a background check. Only because they had theft in another store. It wasnt fair to run them in one store and not others. WHATEVER! Anyway's my regional and district manager's were behind me all the way. After giving my story to the Corporate Investigator I was relieved of my duties 3 days later. I was manager of my own store. I had key's and combo to store safe and control of bank deposit's. And all was great until the "CHECK". Even my parole officer said it wasnt fair. I'm still not working, a year later. To scared to lie anymore. What are we supposed to do?

Tracie,

I don't know what you should do...Others have talked about bosses and employers that are supportive and understanding of people who were in in the past....I hope someone comes along who can give you some ideas....((hugs))

Deb

My daughter doesn't lie on her applications and she still gets jobs. It's harder, but she seems to have pretty good luck with it. But the fact that a person lies on the application probably goes against their honesty and reliability just as much or more than being honest in the employer's mind.

Pardon...

Like you said in the post (and not the title) you were fired for lying,...not for being a felon.

I don't know what the felony charge was, but if it was theft or deception related, ...they really do have a concern with the risk factor. To that extent, that's the world we live in.

I am really curious how you could be on parole and your employers NOT know you were a felon. What kind of parole officer doesn't introduce himself to the boss? Did you serve time on it, or just eat the felony conviction?

It seems unusual that a parole officer wouldn't be hot on your job and your home placement and otherwise meddling in your life.

Does your parole only require that you mail in a copy of a paystub as proof of continued employment?

Sorry you are out of the job you were doing so well (otherwise).. There should be some other place which will either not work with the Magic Question, or you may circumvent that with a Resume. Don't know how you'll explain the last job you 'left'.... but..

Good Luck.

Tracie,

Hey, harsh reality here and I am supportive of your struggle. But I have to agree with Life2 that your termination was for lying on the application rather than for being a felon. They may have hired you knowing the truth - or maybe not, but resume fraud or lying on an application form is cause for termination 'with cause' and difficult to defend anywhere.

I work in the staffing industry and have thought long and hard about this... I have a Partner getting out in a couple of years and we will face the same challenges getting work. I have no answers unfortunately that will be the magic pill for employment.... But, here are some thoughts....

You say that your Regional and District Managers were behind you? Can you get letters of reference from them? Maybe not on company letterhead but personal letters? Would they be willing to do this? This may help. Also, getting employment if often WHO you know - networking is the key. Who do these past managers know in the inudstry that they can contact for you? Often people 'forget' the very people that can help them the most? Can these people refer you to someone? Another company? Store? Would the same company be willing to give you another chance now that the truth is out in the open?

Who do you know? Talk to everyone - friends, neighbors, your church, your doctor, your dentist... everyone that you come in contact with. Use every contact that you make in day to day life as a potential for a job.

Use Temporary Help Agencies. A lot of agencies do background checks but a lot of the companies that they staff for do not require a background check. Talk to every Temp Agency in your town or city... Be honest with them and see what they say.

Here is another thought of mine. I am not sure if it has ever been tested and it may expose you more than you want to be exposed - so think it through before you actually do this.

With the Internet and job boards - Monster and the like... My thought is that you put out a 'plea' for employment exposing your past. (Don't go into details of the last situation because it suggests that you lied on your application) but expose your felony convictions in the first paragraph of your resume - expose the hardship that you are having getting employment - pull on a heartstring or two. My thought is that if you are this up front with the situation some employer may read this and want to help? There have got to be people out there that can relate. With 2 million people incarcerated in the US there have got to be a lot of employers that have a family member or friend that is incarcerated that will feel an obligation to help?

The downside to this is that you are exposed. BUT, with Monster and other job boards you can have a resume uploaded with a 'blind' address and contact information - just a button for the employer to click to send an email. This way you can protect your privacy of residence and family members around you.

I personally would do this. I would think at this point that it could not hurt???

Just thinking out loud...

When I was released I went through an employment agency. They know what companies do and do not have a problem with hiring x-felons. I was working for a great company within a week. A friend I made while on the inside was just recently released in CA. Goodwill industries have a record of helping x-felons get started again. She is working as a store assistant manager in just a few weeks of being there. They care about what you can do for them, not what you did prior. Check to see if there is one in your area.

Good luck. Hope things work. I have a great job and feel very lucky to be working with a group of people that do not care about my past. Yes I hear wise crack jokes, but I know they are not meant to be mean I just work with a lot of sise guys, but I am good at giving it back.

so tracie..whose falt is it that you lost your job.
you said and i quote "I have been fired from my last two jobs for lying on my application." DONT LIE. you either check the FELONY box & see what happens. OR you continue to get fired for lying. or just dont work!! i mean, obviously IF you have gotten fired from your last 2 jobs..are you looking for sympathy? are you looking for me to feel bad for you? are you looking for kind words? well, i DONT want to sound rude..but you wont get ANY of that from me.

i myself have 2 misdemenors (why does that look like its spelled WAYYY WRONG? lol)..and that cost me 1 job. which is FINE WITH ME. didnt want to work PERIOD! lol

(dont take what i saw the wrong way..) BUT. its not my fault you have felonys. and its not my fault you LIED, and it sure as hell is NOT my fault that you got fired. so, PLEASE i think you need 2 just TRY to check "THE BOX" and see what happens. ya never know UNLESS you try
good luck. bye

Tracie,

Job hunting can be a stressful thing for anybody, no matter what your education, skills and abilities and prior work experience might be.

The most important thing is to be prepared for the process.

Sit down and do a little inventory of your past work history and any volunteer experience you might have. Write a list of adjectives describing the responsibilites you had on the job and the types of personality traits required to do the job well. For example; if you ever worked as a Babysitter what were some of your responsibilites and what kinds of traits do you have that makes you a good babysittier? You may have been responsible for the safety and well being of an infant. Now this requires someone who is responsible and able to make sound judgements.

After you have done a complete inventory, it is important to put it all down in an organized fashion, a resume. Often times a resume is your first impression a prospective employer has of you. You want to sell yourself, all of those qualities, abilities and experience you posess that will be an asset to this new employer.

Now, the job application. Have your resume and a list of referneces prepared to leave with each application you fill out. On the application itself, write neatly, fill it out completely*, be honest and don't lie. *When you get to the question that asks if you are an ex felon or have ever been arrested for law violations, leave it blank. If a potential employer finds the rest of your application appealing and notices something in your resume they feel may be an asset to their company, you may be asked to come in for an interview.

If you are given the opportunity for an interview, go in prepared. Dress appropriately, have good hygiene, don't chew gum or walk into the interview with a coffee mug in your hands. Do a little research about the company you want to work for, know something about what it is that they do. Be prepared for all ot the standard questions most employers ask, and they will ask why you left that one particular question blank on the application. Now, this is your opportunity to be honest, forthright and provide the employer with the information requested. Often times by this point, you have had many chances along the way to have left a good impression. Some employers are willing to ex-offenders a chance. You might be surprised.

Give it a try and best of luck job hunting,

Aloha, Freya

Tracie, damn that sucks. I know you are feeling like you are stuck between a rock and a hard spot. I dont think you came on here and told us this personal information for us to criticize you. You know what you need to do and who am I to tell you? Hang in there and let us know who the job search goes.

I know where I work if you lie on an application, it has to be something that would have caused them not to hire you in the first place to get fired with cause. I work at a union job. In prior arbitration cases, if you lied about something that would not have made a difference in the hiring process, they cant fire you. Maybe you could train for a career that is union. Just a thought, you might not be interested.

i started woking for a store chain (large one that biggens with a W) after i had been arrested but before i pled guilty to felony charges i worked there a year and half got promoted to a customer servie manager before they discovered i had pled gulty to a felony about three months after i started...they fired me on the spot for pleading guilty to a drug related felony. now i too have shell shock, im afraid to apply for jobs. i understand the fear you have too and wish i had some hopeful advice besides to keap your head up .

Good will industries hire ex felons.
Salvation Army
Home depot will as well, as long as you are honest with them, and or crime is not theft related.
It sounds like it's not a ex felon problem, that it's more a should I tell, should I not type of problem. and when it comes down to it,job honesty and reliability override all other past mistakes and such. YOu have been fired from two jobs for being dishonest. sounds to me as if you have not learned much being locked up. Now why not try being straight with everyone no matter who they are especially prostptective employers, it might just change your life!

Good luck

Ps, my job knows every bit of my past, and trust me it's NOT squeaky clean by any means. they hired me, because of my honesty.

Along with back ground checks,
Fingerprinting,
CPR/first aid, adult/children certification.
checking job references.

I thought for sure they would NEVER hire me. thank goodness I was wrong. but truthfully it was because I was totally STRAIGHT with them..left nothing for them to find out about.
And it was really hard to do, but the results are because of my willingness.

Hey Tracie, I'm sorry that you lost your job. This is a lesson learned. I too am a felon, and the judicial system considers my crime violent. I had a legally registered firearm in my possession, and I did 3 1/2 years for it. I just recently got a new job at which I did not lie about my being a felon. I answered that question by writing, "please see me regarding this question". I did not answer with a yes or no, and I did'nt lie. By that time, this employer was curious and called me for an interview. I explained myself, to her and also made it a point to let her know that I have changed, and I'm not that same person that I used to be. She thanked me for my honesty and said she would call me. I thought, here we go again, she's not going to hire me. The next day she called me and said, "I've got good news for you, your'e hired". Good luck in finding a new job, and just be true to yourself and grateful. I'm sure something will come up. I was out of work for almost 4 months, and my last job I worked for a little over 3 years, (since I was released from prison). Take care.

I too have had this problem in the past, only I didn't lie on any application. The job I wanted and had, asked to do a background check and I straight up told them what they would find. They decided not to hire me and I was really bummed.

As for the parole officer, I was on parole in Los Angeles county and my parole officer never ONCE came to or called my job!!! Not all parole officer's do. If you show that you are working and staying out of trouble, most of them will basically leave you alone. That has just been my experience.

Now, I have the greatest job in the world. I have voluntarily told my boss my situation and the only question I was asked was "Did you learn your lesson?" Nothing more has ever been said to me about the situation. There is also another person working there who did 10 years for a very serious charge. So there are people out there that understand we make mistakes and they don't hold it against us. So keep trying and I hope you find something. GOOD LUCK!!

Monica

Recently I interviewed a man for a postion as a substance abuse counselor--he had over ten years experience and was a licensed professional. It was a good interview. I offered him the position and he accepted. He was told by the hospital recruiter that a background check would be done as part of the hiring process. Three felony convictions came up on the check. His application denied any felonies. He was not hired...not b/c of the felonies [all drug posessions] but b/c he lied on the application. Actually I want some clinicians who have this type of background [drug users w/prison time and CLEAN time] b/c most of our clients come from the criminal justice system and need to have positive models that demonstrate the possibilites for a successful future. Had the applicant told me the situation it could have been a win-win for all--him, the program, and most especially, our clients!!!!

LIfe said it well. It is best to tell the truth cause they will find out

WOW! I cant believe the response I got. Thanks everyone for the advice and REALITY CHECKS!!!

Life2 and Tebkrg thanks soooo much for your very enlightening thoughts and suggestions. they were more appreciated then you'll ever know.

By the way I now have a job, bartending. I love it! And the tips are great. LOL

Question: My situation goes like this... I am working for a temporary agency. When I registered with the agency my crime was under investigation. The agency has moved me around to various clients. I took my guilty plea in August and am up for sentencing in November. The client would lke to hire me within the next few weeks. I really love this job. But it is possible that I will be away for 6 months so accepting a job right now will mean leaving the job also. Besides the fact that I know that they will most likely do a background check when they hire me. Puzzled... should I ask the temp agency to move me to another assignment? Or what should I do?

...my two cents worth. Don't tell them. The really good jobs will not hire you if you answers yes. If it comes up later, they've had a chance to see what you can do. Better to have some chance than no chance. I realize every situation is different. Also, once you say yes, EVERY TIME something comes up missing, every time something of a criminal nature occurs, YOU will be the first looked at. Maybe not formally, but those side stares and quiet suspicions will kick you in the guts everytime.

A short story. I was working at large company (they didin't know) and discovered a guy in Shipping from a temp agency had recently done a very long stretch. We got to be friends. He said something that haunts me to this day. He said that when something was missing or stolen THAT HE AUTOMATICALLY FELT GUILTY. Any headshrinkers out there figure that?

Thanks offpaper...I am really glad you responded. I spoke with my agency and they said that once they get their fee to convert me then I can come back to them if things don't work out with the client. That is good so at least if they fire me once they do the background check I will still be able to start temping again.

Hallo!

In many instances, personal experience, is all about "Attitude".

As to "Previous felony", my response is; "Yes, and...........". I am NEVER on "Defence".

Years ago, a gentleman from the federal system actually advertised this as an ADVANTAGE; "Criminal Mastermind Seeks Employement" He asserted that inasmuch as he could control a multi-million dollar "Importing business" he was certainly skilled and productive.

Then again, where I used to reside, I assisted two fellows from the feds I knew, to start an inter-net coffee house, "Two Ex-Cons Cafe".

Certainly, if one is in the employment game, one should "Accentuate the positive, diminish the negative".

Just my opinion!

Apropos posting by "Offpaper", ja, I know that "Looking askance" at one over the issue.

To this day, when one of the "Good people" pulls this little stunt, the AUTOMATIC response is hatred.

Not subject for arguement this note, briefly, most laws are "Malem Prohibitim" (Acts that are merely prohibited but not "Evil in and of themselves" or "Baby No-no" laws as one person called them. "Drug laws" are an example of this).

One should NOT "Feel guilty" or diminished if one has not initiated an act of force against another. (The only "Evil" crimes)

Oddly, government itself is guilty of this evil daily.

Now, consider this, and question, "Why should this person's attitude affect me"?

Took me a while (And after smashing a few faces) to realise that there is no such thing as "Magic" and no-one can "Project" into your mind and MAKE you angry/guilty et.al.

It is YOUR reaction to them.

In effect, they are stupid, do you allow the stupid to manipulate you?

Niemand,

Thanks for the response. Excellent attitude to have and portray. I have heard this from several people. I am going for it. The company that I work for wants to convert me from temporary to a direct hire. This is going to happen in the next week or so. I am prepped for the worst after I answer the question "Yes". If they descide they do not want to hire me after that then I will go on. It is certainly their right to not hire me but they have spent alot of money having me work for them these last 4 months so I guess I have gotten everything I can out of this situation. I am prepared for the worst.

Hallo Monica!

Thank you for the response. Ja, I keep the "Cynical-optimism" outlook, "Expect worst, hope for best".

Am never disappointed this way!

Keep fighting! You are yet a human with rights irrespective of what anyone tells you!

This information may or may not pertain to your current situation, but most screening services that perform background checks for employers cannot report conviction information more than seven years old. Unless seeking employment at companies that perform tight security checks (i.e. Boeing), it is likely that past convictions more than seven years old will not be found out by a potential employer.

Some ex-cons who are hired after having lied about their past on their application make the HUGE mistake of opening their mouths about their past to coworkers. Anybody who has lied to his or her employer about anything should trust NO ONE, no matter how well-meaning a person might seem.

This is a wonderful "Read&Heed", Yes!

Had I the power, I would allow only ONE billboard message in country; "You have the right to remain silent, Shut up!"

Having had in hand "F.B.I. Training manuels" (They "Fell off back of lorry"), the vast majority of people "Hang Themselves" with own mouth.

The operative procedure is to ALWAYS consider security. YOURS. Those warm, kind, wonderful people you know will burn you at stake at first opportunity.

On parole or supervised release and have a girlfriend? Guess who can send you back with just a telephone if she knows about it......if "Bob" at the "Shop" decides he dislikes you, if prior offence known...........

Great advice by poster, "Zip it"!

Hey PTO,

What of this notion? I have plead guilty to 1 count of bank fraud. Have not been sentenced. Is my charge a felony or a misdemeanor? The guidelines state that my sentencing range is 12-18 months. If I am sentenced to 12 months this is considered a misdemeanor....If more than 12 then a felony. So if today i am to answer this- Have you ever been convicted of anything other than a misdemeanor? - What is my answer? By the way I have accepted the position and am just waiting for HR to ask for my application. I have been on their payroll for 5 days now and HR hasn't asked for the application since day 1.

Monica!

Quick answer is this; Irrespective of what the actual sentence is, if you COULD be sentenced to one year or more, that defines "Felony Conviction" Were the statute having a MAXIMUM sentence of one year or less, then non-felony.

By the way, just a point of information, do NOT allow ANYONE around you with firearms OR ammunition. This is an up-to-ten-year FEDERAL felony. (Utterly against Bill-of-Rights but that is different argument) And the feds just LOVE this one. Do not even go into markets with arms, or visit friends with arms as this can and IS "Constructive possession" if someone wants to push the point.

As to the "Guilty-plea", until you are "Sentenced", you may reasonably answer "No" being "Misinformed" )Or "Confused", the "I am just a girl" thing if it "Bounces" later. By "Technical Definition" one is "Guilty" from the point plea is entered.

"Bank Fraud" eh? Ah, where were you when I needed a partner? :):):)

Kind Respects and Good Luck!

Thanks for the clarification. So since the guidelines say 12-18 months then it is a felony. Damn! I am holding on to this employment application until they demand it! jSounds pathetic I know but my kids need doctors appointments and I need this job with its benefits to pay for the appointments. Once Christmas and the appointments are over they can kick me out on my kiester if they want. I know I am going to do time but before I go I have got to get the kiddies in good shape. With meds and stuff..... Thanks for the help!

Hallo Monica!

Ja, well, under the circumstances, why not simply answer "No", and keep working?

As I mentioned, just use the "Confusion" of "I have not been sentenced yet, thought I was not convicted until then" .

It MAY not be part of public record until sentence entered anyway and you might "Skate" on any "Check" into records.

Just go do! They cannot have you shot for it now can they?

it IS best to tell the truth, my husband had a good job before his arrest, he went to his new boss and explained the situation and was hired and worked BEFORE he went to prison. He comes home in February and his job has been held open for him. He told the truth about what he had done and that he was indeed guilty of the crime. His boss is big on honesty and owning up when a mistake is made.

Hallo!

Lovely story on PERSONAL basis with previous relationship with employer.

You are confusing this with going out and seeking NEW employment with no previous experience with employer.

Obviously your husbands employer one of the rare ones. Good fortune to him!

I have been out of prison for almost two years now and I can tell you that the best thing to do is lie on your application. When I first got out I told the truth with no results. At the time I really believed that 20-30% of potential employers wouldn't care. I have discovered that it is around 99% that won't hire felons and the rare 1% that do is mostly with hard manual labor at minimum wage. Do I get fired when they find out that I lied on my application? Yes! I just got fired from my last job for lying on my application after about 8 months. Would I do again? Yes! Because I had a chance to earn some money. It is better to work a few months and get fired than to do nothing for a few months. My wife is also a felon and just got fired after they ran a background check on her after five months. Oh, and she was fired for being a felon, her last job was obtained with a resume, not an application, so no question about felonies. Both of us have college degrees. Hers is completely worthless as she can't get licensed. As a software engineer I can look for small companies that tend to skip background checks, but those are very scarce in this area, so I have been doing low pay menial jobs at minimum wage. I am not sure about other states, but every time we get fired for lying on on application we are allowed to get unemployment compensation. Both of us find it very discouraging at times. But with the occasional job, unemployment compensation, food stamps, and scrounging we manage to survive.

Ah yes, "Joys of Life-Time Eighteenth-Class Citisenship" in "Pig-Nation"! You have however the Right-Of-It, better SOME and "Take-Chances" than none-at-all.

Tell the truth and you won't have this problem again.

Perhaps You have not Original-Poster's Message-Read/Comprehended?

"Telling-Truth" get naught but "Lower-Caste Labour" (If that). Entire U.S. System is "Life-Of-Poverty/Screw-Down" Post-Conviction. (Built-In Recidivism Programme)

Above, Kalei, had an absolutely fabulous method of filling out the application "please see me about this". Great thinking !! The yes/no response would either lie (not a good idea) or if you didn't lie, and just marked "no" would turn off a potential employer. If they are curious enough to call you in and ask, lay it out on the table. I personally have hired ex-cons without fear and it was because they didn't lie to me. This was way before my son ended up in prison! You did the crime, you did the time, now pull yourself up by the bootstraps and hold that head up high! Good luck!!

Perhaps You have not Original-Poster's Message-Read/Comprehended?

"Telling-Truth" get naught but "Lower-Caste Labour" (If that). Entire U.S. System is "Life-Of-Poverty/Screw-Down" Post-Conviction. (Built-In Recidivism Programme)I read it and I stated my opinion.

I have heard of alot of success stories with Temporary Agency's. While it is not the highest level paying employment, it does get a foot in the door that can leed to something bigger and better.

There are also some companies that are known for hiring ex offenders. However, the ones I am familiar with are in Florida (Jacksonville) and Kentucky (The Rivers). These are male orientated jobs.

If all else fails, have you thought about placing an advertisement in the newspaper listing your qualities and what type of employment you are looking for.

Have you checked into the State Employment Agencys?

My very best to you, good luck in your search.

Yes, Thank-You, much appreciation for Your "Opinion".......

Apropos; "Advertising", recall Years-Gone, individual did so (Seriously) with some success! "Former Drug-Lord" was Title! Out-Line involved "Complex Organisational-Skills" as well; "Management".

Another thing to keep in mind, assuming you do check the box and don't get the job, is that you not getting the job may not be related to it at all.

It's easy to think that "I checked it, I was honest and I didn't get it", but the simple fact is that you don't get every job you apply for, with or without a record.

Lying on an application can get you walked to the door. It's simple.

Welcome to the job market. It can be tough on the outside, too, but keep trying.

I would also recommend telling the truth. Some companies don't ask THE question, but if they do you need to answer it honestly. If you lie, they might think you haven't learned from your past mistakes and wonder what you have planned.... I am suprised you are not required to tell them about your record; some PO's would consider that suspicious and flag you... Down the road it may be possible for you to get your record expunged. I am not a legal expert, but I believe it has to be 7 years after you exited prison. If you have a person felony, they might not let you expunge your record. I don't have any comforting words, consequences can be rough - but if you hang in there it will get better.

Depending on the state you live in you can have your record sealed, or you can at least have the felony reduced to a misd. Most applications ask " have you ever been convicted of a felony in the last 5 years" If in fact you were "convicted" more than 5 years ago even if it's 5 years and 1 day you can mark NO on the application and be telling the truth. They cannot fire you at that point without good cause. Unless you are in CA, Ca id an "at will" employer state, they dont have to have a reason they can fire you for nothing and it's legal here!


I have been fired from my last two jobs for lying on my application. Both times I checked the box on the application that said "No I have not been convicted for a felony". Don't get me wrong I would love to be able to tell the truth and not fear rejection. But that's not how society works. The first job I was there for a year and a half before they ran a background check. Only because they had theft in another store. It wasnt fair to run them in one store and not others. WHATEVER! Anyway's my regional and district manager's were behind me all the way. After giving my story to the Corporate Investigator I was relieved of my duties 3 days later. I was manager of my own store. I had key's and combo to store safe and control of bank deposit's. And all was great until the "CHECK". Even my parole officer said it wasnt fair. I'm still not working, a year later. To scared to lie anymore. What are we supposed to do?

Another thing to keep in mind, assuming you do check the box and don't get the job, is that you not getting the job may not be related to it at all.

It's easy to think that "I checked it, I was honest and I didn't get it", but the simple fact is that you don't get every job you apply for, with or without a record.

Lying on an application can get you walked to the door. It's simple.

Welcome to the job market. It can be tough on the outside, too, but keep trying.
I get every job I apply for, without a record. I honestly do. My husband, with one felony conviction, has applied to about 300 jobs and had at least a dozen interviews, maybe two, with no success. Several interviewers have seemed excited to hire him, and even said the felony would not be a problem, but once his paperwork gets to HR, the opportunity mysteriously dries up. Others say he's a perfect candidate for the job, until he mentions the felony, then... so sorry, but no.

And he's required to tell his potential employer as a condition of his probation, whether or not there's an application with a check box question.

Even employers who find his resume on Career Builder, which says "YES I'm a felon" (career builder asks this), still call him every day, and then end up saying they can't hire him b/c of the felony. Hello? then why did you call?

He is very frustrated at this point, as am I. We honestly do not know what to do except keep applying and keep interviewing.