Hello All!

I'm in a relatively complicated situation at the moment. I figured that APC was probably the best place to start to look for an answer. Any input is greatly appreciated. Here it goes...

Without revealing too much information as to jinx myself, I just got a call back from an airline offering me an internship position. Yes, they already had me come up for an interview, and ended up offering me a job. A week later, I got a few HR requests for more information. I filled these out, but noticed that this post-offer paperwork was a tad more in-depth than the originals were.

I am a 24-year-old new college grad with a CFI ticket. When I was 19, I was hit with the local "no tolerance" law and ended up being charged as a minor with [the DREADED] DWI. I fought through it, and was one of the 3% of my fellow statesmen that were fortunate enough to be granted the diversion program. So, all things considered, I'm golden, right?

Not really. My DMV report is clean, and my interviewer has a copy of it, along with my clean criminal record. When they run through the FBI database, however, I assume they will come up with my arrest and wonder about it. So I'm sitting here wondering why it is that I'm even worrying; after all, I'd think they'd do all of the background checks prior to the offer. Anyone know about that?

Here's the kicker. This newest round of paperwork (post-offer, mind you) is the first I've had that has asked anything remotely pertaining to my arrest at age 19. Was I convicted of DUI/DWI? NO. Of anything other than a speeding ticket? NO. Does the FBI know about it? MOST LIKELY. The newest questions were: "Has your drivers license ever been suspended?" and "Have you been through any pretrial diversion program or participated in probation for...?"

The answer to both is "yes." This state suspends all BAC suspects for a minimum of 30 days. The charge was resolved and no conviction was placed on my record. Honesty is the best policy, I say that and mean it; I was asked about it (honesty) in my interview; and, I'd rather be up front about it beforehand than end up 1200 miles away from home and have them find out and end my job in an unfavorable manner. I manned up and gave them the information they wanted.

From your experience, will they retract my offer for the job?

 

If you were age 19, you would not be a minor.

Airlines often run background checks AFTER you show up for class (not sure how that might work for interns). They don't want to spend the money until you show up (not everyone shows up for new hire class). They can always fire you during training if anything comes up on the background check...but they should give you the opportunity to disclose during the interview process.

In the case of an intern, I suspect they would be looking at SIDA access to airport secure areas and insurance requirements for driving company vehicles. You will have no problem with SIDA access, not sure if insurance could be a problem with no conviction (I doubt it).

If you feel the need to be less-than-honest, better talk to a labor lawyer and find out if they can hold it against you. Generally, I would say be honest. It might cost you a job offer, but that is better than getting caught lying and getting fired. You were young when it happened...as time passes it will be less of an issue.

 

I had a similar situation with my current employer, as well as an internship in the past at American Airlines. When I was 20 years old, I got a minor in possession of alcohol, but was never convicted. I ended up serving a pre-trial diversion program, but I had to answer yes because of the wording on the application. I would recommend not covering it up; it didn't prevent me from getting the job in either situation, and I would imagine covering it up would be worse if they do find out. What I did was answered yes to the question and wrote a note in the comments saying see attached. Then, I just typed up a word file with the location of the court, the date of the trial, the outcome, the case number, and a brief description of what happened, and the outcome. You should be able to get all that information if you call the court. If I remember correctly, at American Airlines, they didn't even ask me a question about it, and at my current employer it was brought up at the interview, and I just told them how I used it as a learning experience, and that my record has been clean since. I know the last thing you want to do is disclose anything you don't have to, but if you're not sure I would err on the side of caution so you don't have any explaining to do later.

 

In many states, Minor=<21, Juvenile=<18.

 

Thanks a bunch!

Those helped me quite a bit, my nerves were hiked up there for a while. An HR friend and a few airline buddies told me roughly the same thing, i.e. not to worry about it. I never felt the need to be "less-than-honest," though I can't say I find minimizing what happened as being so. I didn't attach the court information, but did provide it in the field that requested details of the pretrial diverson program. My license was suspended, so I provided that, too. I don't know what else to do; my HR buddy told me that if it was really a significant issue to the job, they'd [probably] call me to chat about it before I started.

I'll post back in a while, after things are settled, with more detail of how things pan out. Thanks again!

Oh BTW, in this state, yeah; you're criminally liable as an adult, but the offense (being alcohol-related) is somewhat lessened in severity since I was a "minor" in that sense.

 

spend some money and get your fbi record or go to a local fbi office and tell them your situation- they will help you out.