Background

[Ronson53]

ok I know this is going to hurt my chances, but I need to know if it totally blows my chances or not.

About two years ago, I took something of value from my job by mistake. By the time I realized I had this item I had already left my position at this company. Needless to say my ex boss feels I took this intentionally, I have tried to resolve this with my previous employer, but I still don't know if she believed me or not. This was a piece of jewlry (dont even know if it was costume jewlry or not) that was found outside of our building and was turned in to us incase someone came to ask about the jewlry. I have numerous references both previous employers and ex customer when I ran a small business that would testify to the fact that I would never take/keep something that did not belong to me. I have been contracted to work in peoples houses without them home and never taken anything, but I am sure that this will not be what this one boss says.

Notes about me:

I have a BBA in accounting, two classes short or my BBA in Information Systems, three classes short of being eligible to sit for the CPA exam. I have never been in trouble with the law, never experimented with any drugs, and have always wanted to help people.

[Roger Dat]

Accidentally took would not be a sufficient reason for me to excuse the action, how does one accidentally take and if so when and how did you return what you accidentally took. If you never returned or made restituiton then your going to have a major problem. If you read this and go oh crap I should return that then apply you still have a major problem. Without more info its tough to say.

[Taz_bb2]

Did you return it right away when asked about it? Is this the only "black mark" on your history? Given all the other variables, expect some "extra" attention to be paid to this employer and the situation. :D

It will come up in the background, so be honest up front about what happened. When the conflicting versions come to light, you should be given a chance to explain what happened.

Misunderstandings happen all the time, and there is generally an acceptable explanation. Getting caught after the fact is a totally different issue.

:cool:

[Ronson53]

yes, of course I returned the item as soon as I realized I had the item. I profusely apologized about the incident to the boss. The way I accidentally took the item was it was actually between a large set of papers I was reconciling I took those papers home with me, only ended up going through a few of them and went to work the next day, I forgot those papers at my house on the desk so I went and reprinted them at work. The papers I had at home sat there for about the next month until I went to clean my desk, at which time I found the item and I was like oh crap. I did not do any restitution as they never asked for any and in my mind it was a very bad accident, but I never wanted the damn thing I don't wear jewlry and my fiancee really does not either unless you count 5 dollar costume earings as jewlry.

[Roger Dat]

Seems reasonable to me, like was posted abovy, DISCLOSE it in your background because it will be found out about. Other than that all you can do is be honest and hope for the best, good references from others will definitely aid you in your quest. Good luck to you.

[mcsap]

So , how did they come to know or believe that you stole it ?

Did someone have to " remind" you to return it ?

[Ronson53]

after I left the company I still did not know that I had the thing, and then about a month later my boss emailed me asking if I knew where it was. I told her know, but that she should check the area of our office where the petty cash box had been (as this is where it was kept). I had given the petty cash to our auditors who were reconciling the petty cash to our books, and since the bracelet (the item in question) did not belong to the church I removed that item and I assume left it on a stack of papers, which then had more of my papers stacked on top of it as the auditors moved my work papers around. The bracelet itself was wraped in a piece of paper (that is how it was turned in) so I am sure the auditors did not pay attention to it as it kind of blended in with the reams of paper it was surrounded by. I apparently took the stack home to work on a little, really did not get much done with it, and there it sat. I only looked into after speaking with my boss, because I really had no idea it was even missing until she asked about it.