Can Withheld Adjudication hurt my chances to get jobs? ~ Jobs for Felons: How felons can get jobs

Hello, I am a mechanical engineer and I have not worked in over 5 years. I apply for up to 66 job postings a day and I rarely get a call back. I have a felony but it is "adjudicated withheld" which means I really do not have a felony. However, I discovered how easy it is to view my record online recently and I feel I am having trouble getting a call back because of it. In light of this, would it be advisable to include something on my resume or cover letter so I can at least survive the first round cut and get a return call?

I am too late in my career to throw it away and the idea of working for UPS or at a warehouse is not appealing.

Please tell me what I should do.

Thank you,

Can Withheld Adjudication hurt my chances to get jobs?

David,

Frequently I get questions regarding Withheld Adjudication. In Withheld Adjudication, there is an initial plea of guilty. The prosecuting attorney will offer a deal where certain conditions will placed on this plea. It is my understanding, once the conditions of the deferment are met (commonly a fine and probation,) the charges are officially dismissed. Because there is no conviction, you can legally answer “no” when the question is asked “Have you been convicted….” This will still stay as a charge and will appear on background checks as a charge and not a conviction. To absolutely certain of the status, you should check with the prosecutor or the probation officer associated with your case.

Regarding making reference to your charge on your resume or letters, I would suggest that you do not. Only talk about your charge if you are asked directly. If you are, you answer that the charges were dropped.

As I encourage all ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs, pay careful attention to the wording of the application. If it asks for convictions, you only have to list convictions. If it asks for arrests, you must list all arrests. If the charge is still a concern to you, you may qualify for expungement in your state.

I strongly suggest that you seek legal advice concerning this as I can only offer general information. You can contact your local legal aid office. You may be able to get low-cost or even free advice about deferment as it relates to your state.