Will they hire me if i was fired for theft before?

Question

I was fired from my old job for theft. It was something small, and at the time i didnt even consider it to be theft. i have a job interview tomorrow with a company. if they ask me why i left my last job, and i told them i was fired, (giving them a good explanation as to how i have learned from my mistakes and how it can barely be considered theft) will they consider hiring me, or would they have a policy not to hire ANYBODY that committed theft. im 17 years old.

Answer 1

honesty is the best policy

Answer 2

i would tell them the whole truth!!  

Answer 3

I wouldn't lie, but I'd steer clear of this as best I could.  Learning your lesson is great but if a boss has several applicants to choose from they will probably immediately eliminate the one fired for theft.  Just say you wanted to pursue other interests, or something.

Answer 4

Do NOT tell them why you were fired.

Trust me, because of legal issues,your last place of employment will not tell them either.

Just tell them you had a difference of opinion and you really do not want to talk about it.  

1) This will actually make you look mature about being fired, and

2) It seems to be true.  You didn't think of it as stealing at the time.  (I ate a cookie that was about to be thrown out once on the job and was told it was stealing.  We definitely had a difference of opinion.)

You are young and you learned your lesson.  Now learn this one: Don't tell them about it!

And don't ever take so much as a pen from work in the future!

Answer 5

It's a tight job market.  When presented with a choice between someone who was fired for theft and a whole bunch of people who were not fired for theft, who do you think will not get the job?

Answer 6

Wow...  well, here in California, your previous employer is not allowed to disclose WHY you were terminated.  All they can answer is "Yes or No" to was so-and-so fired and would you ever hire them, again.  

Assuming that you do have worry about that coming up, own up to it, right away - it's ALWAYS best to be the first person to deliver bad news about yourself.  You are young enough to where you can play it off as "I was young and dumb" - don't try to say you didn't know it was theft or in any other way redirect the blame.  Own it,  explain how you've learned your lesson and mean it.  If its a national company they may have a theft exclusion - you don't want to work there, anyway.  SMaller companies rely on interviews and how you come across.  Be sure to dress well..