I was wondering if someone could answer this. Last July I was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor (providing alcohol to anyone under 21). It's a felony here in NM. My lawyer got a plea bargain where 2 counts were dropped while two were reduced to a misdemeanor. I requested a conditional discharge for those two; I'm on probation which will be done in November. I lost my job during the fiasco last July. Since then I've had two offers by reputable companies declined due to the background check. My question is this: since I"m not convicted of a source Felony, why/and or when will companies rehire? I've been told it's the fact I'm on probation. Is that the main reason? I"m a college student, 22 years old, & I'll tell you right now that I would've had the jobs had it not been for the criminal record. In fact, both companies had offered positions that then were later declined (due to the check). I had informed both companies about the situation, and both seemed not to worry. I've trying calling both companies HR dept.: there is no information they will give me. I'm meeting with my lawyer this week; yet I doubt he'll tell me something I don't know. I'm very outgoing, professional, & have many well-qualified references. They are both multi-national corporations. Apple & Walgreens, specifically.
Is it probation, or will I have to wait many years to qualify for a job with a check, regardless of my other qualifications?

In this economy, when there are so many candidates for every position, employers are looking for clean background checks.

I think you keep applying, prospective employers keep checking. Eventually it clicks.

Your record (depending on the type of check) will ALWAYS be visible to some employers.

People with any arrest are having trouble getting jobs at McDonalds right now, there are often at least 40 applications for any job and often 100 or more for better jobs.

So a person with any legal issue are likely not to get hired unless they find a way to sell theirself better or first.
Or get hired by small companies where the owner may be the HR and the Manager and the hiring person.

Hi, I'm in a very similar situation. I had a cwof misdemeanor for first time offender. Its not a conviction but I'm on probation for a while. I was offered employment also twice and later turned down. The second time just happened a few days ago and I'm trying to get in touch with the H/R person. I will explain to them that I was offered the job which I accepted and then I was denied, since I have no convictions and I answered all questions on the application truthfully I will ask the reason for failed background check and for the companies policy on background checks. Legally I should not have failed with no convictions so my strategy will be to be diplomatic and polite and if I don't get hired, pretty much I'm going to threaten to sue the company, and you know every company is afraid of lawsuits. I might try that strategy and I'll let u know if it works. Also the reality is that probation is a joke, the probation department and court want u to get a job and be productive but at the same time it prevents you from getting many jobs. And this is coming from a criminal justice major with a bachelors degree. Its unfair and sucks but we need to just wait it out. Good luck.