Dear CareerBabe...

Dear CareerBabe:

I spent some time in jail 15 years ago for non-payment of income taxes. When I apply for a new job now, can companies find out about this? Do I need to include this information on my employment application? What can happen if I don't?

Signed:
Should I Tell?

Dear Should I:

Per Bill Baker, President of HireRight, a company that specializes in pre-employment reference checking, 15 years is too long since most reference checks will go back five, seven or ten years.

However, if a prospective employer asks a question about your prison record, and you lie on your application, then this can be the reason you are not hired but in reality of course, simply having a prison record may be the real reason you are not hired, even though you receive a written statement that you are not being hired for another reason. So should you tell?

While employers hire ex-criminals all the time, they seldom hire people whom they think or know lied on their job application since, theory goes, if you are willing to lie on a job application, you might also lie to the company when you're an employee. But if you tell the truth voluntarily, you can also offer an in-depth explanation about why you were willing to risk jail time instead of paying your taxes.

You should also read the Computer Currents article called "Checking Up: Background Checks Are Touchy Business".

The moral is: tell the truth, it’s the safest way.

Best of Luck!

CareerBabe accepts no responsibility for specific decisions of individuals and advises each individual to seek specific advice on their specific situation from qualified professionals.