I have 16 year old felony for possession w/intent to distribute marijuana. It is the only time I have ever been arrested or convicted in my life of anything. I have many years on tour and casino boats with my 100 ton. I have AB unlimited and RFPNW. I plan to take BST also. Before I start taking classes I would like to know if you think it would make it unlikely for me to be hired due to my past crime?
I am sure there are some mariners in my situation but I also realize that it is something we are not proud of, and don’t expect a lot of comments for this very reason. However this being a good anonymous site I hope that I will get some encouragement. It is a hard chore to find gainful employment as a felon, I have struggled my way since 1999 with not many doors opening for me. Of course I will be totally honest on my applications and interviews as I always have, as hard as that is for me and I imagine any other felon that has been refused honest work because he made a stupid decision in his life. The Coast Guard has renewed me three times since this incident of 16 years ago and I would hope that if they are willing to give me another chance so would an employer.
I would also hope that some of you HR Ladies and guys that are lurking here would also voice your opinion as well, even if it is under the usual guise of; “I used to be with HR for another company, etc”.
hopeful,
[QUOTE=Squidward;138361]I have 16 year old felony for possession w/intent to distribute marijuana. It is the only time I have ever been arrested or convicted in my life of anything. I have many years on tour and casino boats with my 100 ton. I have AB unlimited and RFPNW. I plan to take BST also. Before I start taking classes I would like to know if you think it would make it unlikely for me to be hired due to my past crime?
I am sure there are some mariners in my situation but I also realize that it is something we are not proud of, and don’t expect a lot of comments for this very reason. However this being a good anonymous site I hope that I will get some encouragement. It is a hard chore to find gainful employment as a felon, I have struggled my way since 1999 with not many doors opening for me. Of course I will be totally honest on my applications and interviews as I always have, as hard as that is for me and I imagine any other felon that has been refused honest work because he made a stupid decision in his life. The Coast Guard has renewed me three times since this incident of 16 years ago and I would hope that if they are willing to give me another chance so would an employer.
I would also hope that some of you HR Ladies and guys that are lurking here would also voice your opinion as well, even if it is under the usual guise of; “I used to be with HR for another company, etc”.
hopeful,[/QUOTE]
You will be able to find jobs. There will be companies that won’t hire you because of that, but at least half of them are not going to care.
[QUOTE=Tugted;138375]Can you get a twic?[/QUOTE]
Yes I’ve have had TWIC for 5 years
I know guys with 5+ felony charges and they all have jobs and some are serious charges
Felonies used to be a requirement. Homeland security is changing all that…along with wages that have attracted people to the field with a much lower percentage of salt running through their veins
A felony especially an old one is no big deal, the only thing that will stop you from getting a TWIC card is a terrorist charge or blowing stuff up.
The USCG actually has a timetable on their website somewhere that has a list of sharges and how long you must wait to get a license or MMD after the conviction. If I remember right murder was 10 years.
I have a felony record for Trafficking that dates back to 1986. By 1990 I had my MMD and qmed and got my first license issued in 1993. A one time drug trafficking precludes you from getting a license for 5 years.
Some companies are funny about felony records let me just say IMO that if they have 2 applicants with identical work experience but 1 is a felon they will take the non felon, but that is just my opinion not a fact. I do know that to lie is worse, I checked no in the felony box back in 1991 for a job as an Asst. Engineer at a major hospital in Miami I was hired than they did a background check , found out I lied than rescinded their job offer. I learned from that lesson that a lie will screw you every time.
as long as you can get a twic and your mmc, you should be fine, everyone has a past and if the twic people and uscg grant you your credentials to work, I see no problem, good luck