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honey the codewitch11-Feb-21 1:35

11-Feb-21 1:35

If it got expunged and there was no conviction what's the problem? Just don't mention it on your resume, and if your prospective employer gives you an application they aren't planning on your being a coder for them - you'll be cleaning the office. So there's no box to check about whether you've been arrested before or not (and even if there was you could avoid checking it on the basis of it being expunged)

I'm a freelancer. It would be a pretty bad idea to try to learn the ropes while freelancing. Spend some years working for a dev house or two so you can learn how to do this professionally.

The *only* way to learn how to write software properly professionally is learning from others on the job.

Real programmers use butterflies

Throwaway888xxxx11-Feb-21 2:29

11-Feb-21 2:29

look tbh i get what you're saying, but i rather be a freelancer instead of walking into a job and risk having the arrest show up in a background check. Besides idk if your little "you'll be cleaning the office" comment was an insult as well or not, but thanks for the reply i guess

musefan11-Feb-21 2:51

11-Feb-21 2:51

Try not to take this the wrong way, but if you are going to take everything as an insult, you aren't going to get far with either route.

Also, if the arrest shows up on a background check, then it hasn't been expunged (or you probably have good grounds for a lawsuit).

Regardless, even if your employer did find out somehow, you are legally entitled to withhold that information, so they cannot hold it against you for not disclosing it with them.

The reality is, if you want to be a software developer then you need to start from the bottom. That isn't a freelancer role, you need to find a junior role in employment. It's not going to be easy as you don't seem to have any relevant qualifications. So the best you can do is sell your experience, which probably means you need to start building a portfolio of "personal projects". Maybe invest in some training courses if you can budget for them. And be prepared for a lot of disappointing interviews!

Throwaway888xxxx11-Feb-21 10:36

11-Feb-21 10:36

so are you telling i can take legal action against a company who finds out i have an arrest record thats not suppose to be available to them? I dont see how thats suppose to work.

musefan12-Feb-21 0:43

12-Feb-21 0:43

Nope. Not saying that at all.

Marc Clifton11-Feb-21 3:51

Marc Clifton

11-Feb-21 3:51

Throwaway888xxxx wrote:
and risk having the arrest show up in a background check.

Arrests do not show up in background checks. Only convictions.

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Throwaway888xxxx11-Feb-21 9:33

11-Feb-21 9:33

Marc Clifton wrote:
Arrests do not show up in background checks. Only convictions.

well thats not what i heard from other people mainly here on the internet.

Nelek12-Feb-21 3:12

Nelek

12-Feb-21 3:12

Throwaway888xxxx wrote:

well thats not what i heard from other people mainly here on the internet.

Get out of doubts, ask for one yourself and be 100% sure.

If other existential problems were so easy to solve... D'Oh! | :doh:

M.D.V.

If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.

musefan11-Feb-21 1:41

11-Feb-21 1:41

Throwaway888xxxx wrote:
I've been very skeptical about getting a software job

Why are you sceptical about getting a job?

honey the codewitch11-Feb-21 1:46

11-Feb-21 1:46

I think he meant he's worried he won't be able to get one given his background.

Real programmers use butterflies

musefan11-Feb-21 1:49

11-Feb-21 1:49

I guess as much, but... what background? It only exists for him on a personal level. Professionally, it doesn't exist.

honey the codewitch11-Feb-21 1:51

11-Feb-21 1:51

That's what I said. =)

Real programmers use butterflies

Throwaway888xxxx11-Feb-21 2:25

11-Feb-21 2:25

Because despite it being expunged and that there was no conviction you really think an employer is gonna care about that?

musefan11-Feb-21 2:37

11-Feb-21 2:37

You just don't tell them about it. That's the whole point of being expunged, you don't need to disclose it.

Well, most of the time. I believe there may be certain instances where you would need to. I would have thought you would have been given information about this though during the process?

Also, lets say a person has a criminal record (not you, somebody else) that isn't expunged. Being a freelancer, as opposed to full-time employment, is not justification to withhold that criminal record. Freelancers need to be background checked too.

Throwaway888xxxx11-Feb-21 2:51

11-Feb-21 2:51

no one hasn't even told me about that. So you're telling me i have no chance at being a freelancer as well because i have a record?

honey the codewitch11-Feb-21 2:53

11-Feb-21 2:53

If it's expunged you do not have a record. That's what it means to be expunged.

Real programmers use butterflies

musefan11-Feb-21 2:53

11-Feb-21 2:53

Throwaway888xxxx wrote:
no one hasn't even told me about that.

So do your own research and work it out for yourself then.

Throwaway888xxxx wrote:
So you're telling me i have no chance at being a freelancer as well because I have a record?

I didn't say you don't have a chance, the complete opposite in fact, I am saying you have the same chance as anybody else that want's to be a developer.

Maximilien11-Feb-21 1:48

Maximilien

11-Feb-21 1:48

aside the conviction/expunge ...

Are you good at keeping organized ? (project management)
Are you good at managing your money ? (for taxes purpose)
Are you good at selling yourself every couple of months ? (get new contracts)

...

Lot of good programmers are really bad at all of the above.

Lot of freelancers are good at all of the above but are bad programmers.

I'd rather be phishing!

musefan11-Feb-21 1:52

11-Feb-21 1:52

You missed one... lots of people are bad at it all.

Some people like the idea of being a software developer, but just aren't cut out for any aspect of it.

modified 11-Feb-21 8:33am.

Throwaway888xxxx11-Feb-21 2:16

11-Feb-21 2:16

i dont know whether thats suppose to be an insult or what, but thank you?

musefan11-Feb-21 2:18

11-Feb-21 2:18

It's just a joke based on what Maximilien said... it isn't related to you at all Smile | :)

Nelek11-Feb-21 2:33

Nelek

11-Feb-21 2:33

Try to use the joke icon to avoid this misunderstandings Wink | ;)

I changed it for you, it is easier to spot now Smile | :)

M.D.V.

musefan11-Feb-21 2:39

11-Feb-21 2:39

Even if it isn't a joke, it's not related to the OP, so I honestly don't care for them to misunderstand it or otherwise.

That's like me going on Facebook, finding a conversation between 2 random people, and then accusing one of them of insulting me... nonsense! Smile | :)

dandy7211-Feb-21 5:40

dandy72

11-Feb-21 5:40

I'm reading through this thread in order, and already that's twice you question whether someone's response was meant to be an insult or not.

I'm not sure why you're on the defensive so much. If you have to try this hard to determine whether you should be triggered or not, it sounds like you're looking for external justifications for the state of things.

If you think that's an insult, my honest, best recommendation is: deal with it. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that the world doesn't owe you jack. I'll give you the benefit of full disclosure: how you choose to respond can reveal a lot about you. If you let this sort of thing come through in an interview, you can't blame others if job offers aren't flowing through your door.

If you think I'm being harsh: I just call things as I see them. That's something some people don't always appreciate, much to their own detriment.

musefan11-Feb-21 5:47