Will a 'bad sounding' criminal conviction from long ago keep me from finding work in the field? 22

[Catman9000]

Hello,

I will be graduating with my BSME in May of 2013. I plan on beginning my job search long before that, possibly as early as October. I'm going to be completely honest with any prospective employers, mostly because it's the right thing to do, but also due to the fact that a bit of verifiable dishonesty on an application can easily bite back.

In 2004 I was young, dumb and full of...bad ideas, I was convicted of misdemeanor criminal sexual abuse for having sexual relations with my high school sweetheart. I've kept a clean record since.

Years later, after getting my priorities straightened, I found out that I had a passion for machine development and decided to pursue an ME degree. Having never taken so much as an advanced level math class, chemistry or physics in high school and being awful in those subjects, I wound up needing close to 2 years worth of various science prerequisites before even setting foot into a Calc 1 class.

I'll most likely graduate with a 2.8 GPA and (God willing) some intern experience, although it's not much - I've really worked hard to get this far. At this point I desire nothing more than to live a normal, professional life.

Any helpful input would be really appreciated.

 

[bigTomHanks]

Excellent job on getting your life back on track and getting your degree. Unfortunately anyone with children is going to cringe when they find out your background and wouldn't trust you for a minute. If I were in your position I would offer my services in person to small companies on a contract basis. Put on some nice clothes and walk into small businesses and ask to speak to the owner/manager. Explain that you are looking for contract, part time, or full time work and sell them on the skills that you have to offer. Smaller companies have the flexibility to bring someone on with very little questions asked and once you are in I wouldn't say anything unless specifically asked. Do what you have to do to get some experience and earn some money and then you must start your own business. You cannot be fired or judged by HR if you are the owner of the company.

 

[kylesito]

That's probably true but extremely unfortunate for this individual. Obviously I don't know the exact circumstances of the situation but they said it involved their high school sweetheart. To me, that sounds like a senior - freshman/sophmore type of thing. Something that wouldn't make much of a difference 3 years from then but because of the age difference around 18 it meant all the difference in the world. I know a few people in this situation and it's too bad. They aren't sexual predators in any sense...just someone who liked the wrong person in high school.

Anyway, I think bigTom's response is a good one. If you get the experience and maybe in a year or two can get your record clean, you will end up doing OK. The toughest part for you will be building the relationship with individuals first in ways that don't require your record to be brought up. At least then they will know you for your present state and not your past.

Good luck to you....


PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi

 

[SLTA]

Let me go out on a limb here -

I am a date rape survivor from my teenage years. Catman9000, I hope to God that your "bad ideas" were consensual. That would be the first question I'd ask as an employer, seeing that on your record. If they weren't, you'd best start working with a local rape crisis center, get some training, and show that you truly understand how much hurt can come from that. Be honest and open with prospective employers.

If it was consensual, then be prepared to explain that, but also to be doubted. Men may not care about your record, but most women will. Of course I have no idea how much folks can ask about this, legally, but I'm just letting you know where I come from as a female business owner.

 

[CalculatorDave]

The key word here is "misdemeanor". I've never seen a job application where misdemeanor offenses had to be listed.

Behave yourself.

 

[Catman9000]

I appreciate everyone's honest opinion. To clarify, not that it's too relevant, I was actually 17 when I was arrested, in Illinois the age of consent is 17. I've also given serious thought to the fact that many states don't allow companies to do background checks that go back further than 7 years, sunny warm Texas, New Mexico or California sound like great places to live anyway.

I understand that some responders may be a little irked with my past, however wouldn't you (especially the tax burdened independent contractors and business owners) much rather have someone like me spending my time and energy working hard at getting a normal, professional life together verses collecting welfare for the rest of my life? I honestly believe that the best possible way a man in my position can repay his debt to society is by becoming a contributing member of it. Am I wrong?

 

[patprimmer]

16 year old girl, 17 year old boy, absolutely consensual with no undue pressure in theory should be OK with just about anyone.

30 year old man, 12 year old girl should get you drawn and quartered.

The ages that fall between change the shades of grey.

Date rape should get you drawn and quartered no matter what ages.

I was very confused by misdemeanor felony.

We all have misdemeanors on our record, unless you never got a parking or traffic ticket.

Regards
Pat
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[berkshire]

Pat,
16 year old girl, 17 year old boy, absolutely consensual with no undue pressure in theory should be OK with just about anyone.
It does not work that way in some states in the USA.
They have statutary rape laws, where if a girl is under the age of consent she cannot give it. If you are of the age of consent and you have sex with such a person you are guilty of statutary rape, ( the common term for sexually mature but underage girls is jailbait.)
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

 

[mechmama]

Where I'm confused is how does one get charged with such a crime, if it is consensual (as pat said above). Maybe some situation where you are in a public park when it's closed, in a car, and the cops come knocking on the window & ask you to show IDs? I can't think of too many situations where it is that innocent (consensual) and you still get busted. Also seems from what I remember from the stories I've heard, the cops just tell you to move along, unless there's alcohol or drugs involved. Maybe another scenario is getting busted by an angry daddy?

 

[berkshire]

It brings up the scenario where a cop comes across 2 teenagers sitting on opposite sides of a car reading books.
The cop asks their ages, and the boy is 19. When asking how old the girl is, he is told she will be 18years old in 15 minutes and 20 seconds.
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

 

[ivymike]

Dad or mom would be the usual suspects...get mad at one kid or the other, then "teach a lesson" by involving the police

 

[IRstuff]

Obviously, if the case is correctly described, there are probably millions of teens that could have been convicted for the same offense. Nonetheless, what an employer is most likely to find, assuming they do their due diligence at all is that the OP is a registered sex offender. The fact that this will go away in a few years is secondary to the find. The fact that it might have been a teenage indiscretion is likely to be secondary to the find. Some companies may overlook this, but I would guess that most companies will run away. And the rationale is, of course, trivially apparent; few companies are going to take the risk of having the OP going postal, or whatever, at a later date, and investigation will reveal the criminal history. That's when the sharks, er, lawyers, start to circle in a feeding frenzy from the smell of money.


TTFN
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[Maui]

mechmama, it's usually the result of an angry parent (almost universally the girls's parents) finding out that their child has engaged in sexual intercourse. Oddly enough, in the United States if it was consentual and both the girl and the boy are underage when this happens, I've never heard of the girl being charged with the crime. It is always the boy that is charged instead. And for the rest of his life he must explain during job interviews the details regarding his arrest and conviction for his crime.

The price of such an indiscretion can be quite high, but teenagers rarely think about potential consequences in the heat of the moment.

Maui

http://www.EngineeringMetallurgy.com

 

[KENAT]

One thing nagging in the back of my mind. From what the potential employer is likely to find in a background check, or even from copies of legal documents the OP could provide etc. will it be possible to corroborate the OP's version of events?

Sadly, many sex offenders try to make it sound like this kind of situation or some other mix up when it isn't. Many of them are master manipulators/con men so it is difficult to have much confidence that any given person with a recorded conviction really was just a victim of circumstance etc.

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[IRstuff]

I think that'll depend on how thorough the background check is. My gut feel is that the checker will see "rape" and be done with it, and put into their report, "convicted of rape." The bottom line is that unless there is an overwhelming reason to want this person, no one will bother asking for an explanation, or for more detail. Only someone that really wants to hire this person would try to find out how bad it really is.

For most people, a listing under Megan's Law is sufficient for a veto.

TTFN
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[Catman9000]

Alright, can we please stay on topic. I ask that future posters please consider only what I've told you, accept it at face value and comment on that topic and that topic alone. Please do not post speculations, opinions or judgement on past events or my personal character, they are greatly not needed, do not help my situation at all and are a waste of everyone else's time reading.

 

[lacajun]

Catman, seems like good training for you, in my opinion. If you can't handle this, how are you going to handle any greater pressure over your past?

After rereading sita's post and your next post, I'd say there is a nagging question about consent. She went out on a limb and exposed her soul. You responded with getting arrested at 17, which in no way implies innocence of rape. Your response put a question in my mind and it's not left.

I would rather have you productive in society but I also want you to be honest with yourself, if you're not. While you are older and wiser than in high school, so are all of the people here and you've asked for their advice. ;-)

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[KENAT]

Catman9000, my 30 Jul 12 12:15 post was meant to be on topic. I didn't' mean to imply you may be lying, if you took it that way apologies.

My point is that once aware of the conviction, even if they don't nix you at that point, a potential employer may want to verify your story etc. and I was asking how easy that is to do.

If it's hard to verify, some may not bother and assume the worst.

As to your point about being self sufficient etc. I'm sure most of us condone that and encourage you in your endeavors.

Doesn't mean we're universally comfortable working around, or in some cases having our loved ones etc. working around, convicted sex offenders.

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[Catman9000]

I have no issues sharing what I can, when I can. However, I chose this handle (one which I've never used anywhere else on the web) precisely for anonymity. Unless someone on this forum is directly offering me employment I have no significant reason for disclosing anymore information than I already have with any of you. If you do not want to believe in what I'm telling you or in the justice system that is fine with me.

Besides my arrest record, court docket, disposition, terms of conviction and my rap sheet, I really have nothing that could corroborate my side of the story. And honestly, how many of you keep your love notes/photos/chatroom sessions from high school anyway?

Just as an aside, I'll also agree that my case is quite indeed an extraordinary one, but it does actually happen to young people across the nation more often than you may be aware of.

I didn't come on here to discuss the past or the complexity/idiocy of the legal system, if you have further questions about punishments: civil, criminal or otherwise concerning sexual offenses - that is something you should take up with a lawyer and not me.

Just as a final reminder; we are talking about what someone in my situation can expect to happen in the days ahead not what I've done in the days behind.

Finally, unlike many of the fellow students I share classes with, I never took an advanced math, a physics or chem class in high school. So when I finally did choose to pursue a BSME while in community college, I had to complete 2 years of required prerequisite algebra classes(math 094, 095, 098, 131, 135), 2 intro level physics(098, 105) and chem classes (100, 103) before I could ever even set foot into a basic engineering class. Despite the best wishes of some folks, I didn't come this far in my studies/life to 'f*** off and die', that's just not part of the plan and I'm too far a resilient of a person to allow that to happen.

 

[UcfSE]

Two more years. Sounds like grad school will take up that time, then you won't have to be registered when you apply for work.

 

[lacajun]

Many here know what it's like to catch up in college. You're not alone. It's hard work and you've come a long way. Your desire and drive are commendable. I'm glad you're continuing with positive steps in your life.

You aren't the only one who's been young. You goofed up as a kid. Who hasn't goofed up as a kid and an adult?

Your days behind are going to be discussed at some point and that may have an impact on your days ahead. You'll need to be able to handle it. You're getting defensive and rude with your responses. You'll die, figuratively, in an interview with experienced people.

People exist who know how to push buttons to crack others, break them down, and make them spill the beans in very short order in interviews. I've been in interviews like that and cracked. I'm not Pollyanna. I've been through crap in life that would bury, literally, most people. I'm not stupid. Yet, I cracked and went where I shouldn't have gone. Graciously deal with folks a bit longer than you have here. They've not been too tough on you, from my position.

Employers are going to push for the facts of the situation. You need to prepare yourself to provide factual answers without getting defensive and rude. The flow of this thread is something you can use to prepare those answers. People at potential employers are going to think just as the people here have. They may even articulate those thoughts in an interview. It's not been a waste for you.

You seem to have some outstanding issues about the whole thing. It may be in your best interest to square those away long before you begin interviewing. Otherwise, one of those high-pressure tactic people will crack you and you'll be spilling the truth before you know what's happened. That won't be pretty because you may learn things about yourself you didn't know and in front of others in the interview. Then what?

The pure truth of life is always best to deal with regardless of how ugly or beautiful it is. Truth does not change.

Reveal what you deem necessary and are comfortable with. But be nice because you did ask for help and revealed some of your situation. Stick around and continue learning. The people here are good and knowledgeable.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC