Contracting In IT security clearance.

[mcseguy]

Hello

I was resently convicted of growing cannabis. Yes thats right I grew a few plants for personal use and admitted it, I got a �50 fine and about 5 weeks worth of weekend community service to do,I was lucky but lucky for what growing my own herb, sue me! The courts passed me through with no problem, I am a completly straight guy in all regards and I value my own honesty.. yes really..

My question is this, If i wanted to contract in the future and would wish to get security clearance would I be denied. Are there levels of clearance? My criminal record is two counts, one common assult(defending a girl friend at the time) one for growing herb for my own use a few weeks ago.

I am interested in moving on from my prem job presently,  how badly will this affect my posistion, I have never gone to prison and from what i remember interview sheets ask if you have been to prison only, if not then there is no more with regards to criminal record "going for a job?". Comments generally regarding my posistion would be much appericate. (mature sinoir mcse engineer, roaming engineer, client based etc etc been there done it all ie: IT networking, back office, roll outs, network admin, pre sales, post sales i've worked on site at some of the major banks and clients through facilities management companys)

Thanks and hope to see you all in amsterdam one day.

London based IT engineer.

[kestrel]

Your two convictions would become spent after five years, that means if a company were to ask the police for a security check after the five years they would not pass on any information. After this time it would depend on the type of work you want the security check for if for arguments sake you were after a job in a school then the police would notify them of the offence and that it was a spent conviction. You would also have difficulties working for any large institutions irrespective whether your conviction is spent or not.

[Elfin]

Your best bet is to give it a try.  They almost certainly will ask if you have any convictions, and you may need to provide a Disclosure, which lists the convictions, dates and outcomes.  Your suitability will be judged on an individual basis.  However, they may not take kindly to your latest conviction as (maybe wrongly) they'll assume you are a habitual drug user and therefore not suitable to work for/represent the company.  On that note, maybe Amsterdam is your best bet! 

Avoid applying for jobs related to government, public services, schools and anything military and you should be ok.

[rinkytink]

 

I have declared a previous criminal conviction (custodial sentence) and gained MOD security clearance. The conviction was spent but for MOD security you must declare all previous.

 

In my opinion it is best to be honest - if you get the job you will feel much better for it. If you find that you are always getting turned down and suspect that your criminal record is the reason you may have to try another tact.

[lukey121]

Just out of curiosity, how did you get caught for growing them?

[Potatoman]

Firstly, i commend you for standing up for your girlfriend. ANy descent person would. Secondly, who really cares about the plants? Seriously? You wernt exaclty growing acres of opium! You experience seems excellent. If i were interviewing / passing security, it wouldnt bother me. Its not as if you ramraided somewhere or burgeled a house or killed NEone. My point is, just as RINKYTINK says, bite the bullet and go for it. The worse they can say is no, and then you havent lost anything. They would have tho! Good luck, m8. PM

[Potatoman]

PS, let us know how you get on!