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Miles212 · May 19, 2009, 01:25 PM

About 4 years ago I made the worst mistake of my life by stealing a $50 phone card from Target. No police were called and they told me it wouldn't go on my record, but I remember having to fill out a report admitting that I stole from my employer. I think this was an esteem report, but I am not sure.

I have had 2 jobs since then (Grocery store-3 years) (Sams club-8 months). I had to quit Sams club because full time overnight hours were conflicting with my college schedule. I applied for CVS a few months ago, but got turned down because my target theft ended up showing up.. Why did my target theft not show up on my grocery store and sams club when they both conducted background checks as well? It sucks that a minor $50 phone card theft is ruining my job opportunities so much.

Currently, I don't have a job at all. I have been having a hard time looking. I decided to randomly put in an application for the new target going up in my town. I was called today (2 weeks later) for an interview. This sucks because I KNOW I would be a shoe-in if I didn't have theft on my record. I didn't include my target job history nor my theft.

My question is. Should I be completely honest in the interview and tell them about my theft or should I not bring it up? What worries me is I could be completely turned away if I do mention the theft, but on the other hand they could also understand the mistake and give me a chance(doubt it). Or, I could not mention it and it wouldn't show up, or they would see me as a liar and never hear from them again. I just have a feeling it WILL show up because Target is the place I have employee theft back where I used to live 4 years ago.

I am sorry for the long post! I can't wait to hear some answers from you guys!

ballengerb1 · May 19, 2009, 01:42 PM

Something is not right with this story. If no police were called then you have no record, heck you were never arrested so what makes you think you were turned down because of a bad record, did someone say that? You may not lie on an app or during an interview but if they do not ask you are not required to tell.

Miles212 · May 19, 2009, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Something is not right with this story. If no police were called then you have no record, heck you were never arrested so what makes you think you were turned down because of a bad record, did someone say that?? You may not lie on an app or during an interview but if they do not ask you are not required to tell.

I applied for CVS. I got a letter back saying I was denied employment because of what was contained in my background check. The included the background check with the letter and it mentioned my target employee theft clear as day.

Miles212 · May 19, 2009, 02:43 PM

Cliffnotes pretty much are: I got fired for theft at a target in another state. Is it even worth going to an interview for a different target? Or will they know immediately once my name is put in the system? Like a red flag saying this person stole from this company before?

ballengerb1 · May 19, 2009, 02:44 PM

You need to get your own background check done to see what is there. If you were never arrested or charged there should be no mention of this, it legallay never even happened. Background checks show arrests and convictions. Did you list CVS as a previous employer or reference?

Miles212 · May 19, 2009, 03:22 PM

I've never worked at CVS. When I applied for CVS the only job history I listed was Sam's Club and Publix. Both of my previous jobs supposedly did background checks as well. Sam's Club told me they would do a background check after my interview and contact me when it clears. About a week later they called and scheduled my first day so I guess it didn't show up. Why did it show up for CVS though? I didn't list target whatsoever and THERE background check showed my theft from target and said they could not offer employment because of this.

I was never arrested or charged. I DID however sign a form admitting to the fact that I did steal. I paid back the $50 and was fired and told to never come back.

justcurious55 · May 19, 2009, 03:36 PM

What do you mean it mentioned your target theft? My understanding of a background check was what ballengerb1 stated, only arrests and convictions...

Miles212 · May 19, 2009, 04:16 PM

CVS conducted a background check on me after I submitted my application. I don't know how, BUT the background check showed my employee theft from Target. They sent me the exact report for proof in the mail. It said right on the paper from ChoicePoint solutions that I was fired from target and the reason being employee theft.

ballengerb1 · May 19, 2009, 04:35 PM

That is not a standard crimial background check. Here is what ChiicePoint offers but you must join their organization Retail Theft Database, ESTEEM, Workplace Theft Contributory Database

Miles212 · May 19, 2009, 04:48 PM

Yeah, I thought it was ESTEEM. Once I did some research that sounds like exactly what I filled out for Target when I was fired. Does that mean CVS got an Esteem report? There's probably no chance of me getting into the new Target store because I am sure they will get an Esteem report like my old Target, correct?

ballengerb1 · May 19, 2009, 04:52 PM

Not everybody uses Esteem so what the heck, take your chances. How old were you when the $50 bad decision happened?

Miles212 · May 19, 2009, 06:17 PM

16

Miles212 · May 19, 2009, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by ballengerb1

Not everybody uses Esteem so what the heck, take your chances. How old were you when the $50 bad decision happened?

I understand that not everyone would. My previous job at Target in another state DID use Esteem. Aren't the chances pretty high that the same Target company would use Esteem too? Also, would there be some kind of information in the Target database about my theft at this company and red flag me or anything like that? I just want to know if its even possible to work at the same company(but different store) that you got fired from for theft.

Fr_Chuck · May 19, 2009, 06:28 PM

Ok, I will assume Esteem is some background search company. That is the issue, there are dozens of companies ( never even heard of that one) but some companies use different ones.

The problem here is you were never convicted, and there is nothing on your real police record, and that is all applications ask for

justcurious55 · May 19, 2009, 10:15 PM

If one target uses ESTEEM its likely that all of them do. And since as far as I know target is just one huge company they probably do have your name in the database but some companies have different rules about re-hiring. Like my company, when they type in our ssn we come up and even if we were fired from another store, we might still be able to be re-hired in a different one but never the one we were actually fired from. It's mostly up to the manager of the store we're applying at. I don't know what target's policy is though. It could go either way like you said but chances are they will find out whether you tell them and trying to hide it might make you look dishonest, like a lie by omission you know.

lenbennett · May 23, 2010, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by Miles212

About 4 years ago I made the worst mistake of my life by stealing a $50 phone card from Target. No police were called and they told me it wouldn't go on my record, but I remember having to fill out a report admitting that I stole from my employer. I think this was an esteem report, but I am not sure.

I have had 2 jobs since then (Grocery store-3 years) (Sams club-8 months). I had to quit Sams club because full time overnight hours were conflicting with my college schedule. I applied for CVS a few months ago, but got turned down because my target theft ended up showing up..? Why did my target theft not show up on my grocery store and sams club when they both conducted background checks as well? It sucks that a minor $50 phone card theft is ruining my job opportunities so much.

Currently, I don't have a job at all. I have been having a hard time looking. I decided to randomly put in an application for the new target going up in my town. I was called today (2 weeks later) for an interview. This sucks because I KNOW I would be a shoe-in if I didn't have theft on my record. I didn't include my target job history nor my theft.

My question is. Should I be completely honest in the interview and tell them about my theft or should I not bring it up? What worries me is I could be completely turned away if I do mention the theft, but on the other hand they could also understand the mistake and give me a chance(doubt it). Or, I could not mention it and it wouldn't show up, or they would see me as a liar and never hear from them again. I just have a feeling it WILL show up because Target is the place I have employee theft back where I used to live 4 years ago.

I am sorry for the long post! I can't wait to hear some answers from you guys!

Miles - If you are still reviewing replies a year past your question, please send me a private message and I will gladly give you some feedback. (I am a consumer attorney).