When it comes to employment, the things you have done in the past will not always determine the prospects you have in the future. Below we have some steps to Increase Your Chances of Finding Work with a Criminal Record.
Even if you have a criminal history, you should not let that stop you from looking for work when the right opportunity comes along. It is difficult enough to get work without adding to the anxiety of wondering whether or not your past would hurt your chances of being employed. This is especially the case if you already have a conviction on your record for a previous offense. Despite this, you should not let it stop you from looking into more major work prospects. When looking for work, regardless of whether or not you have a criminal record, you should be aware of the following factors to take into account.
Background checks on criminal history are conducted by employers.
They act in this manner for a variety of different reasons. Who could blame companies for wanting to know whether or not they are about to recruit a con artist to serve as their new treasurer? After all, who could really begrudge them such information? Companies that do not undertake stringent checks on their employees run the risk of being held accountable in the event that one of their employees commits an act of violence, steals from the company, or assaults a coworker as a result of the company’s failure to do such checks. Companies that do not undertake background checks on prospective employees are putting themselves in a precarious situation, regardless of whether or not this is a positive or negative development.
There may be mitigating considerations that employers will take into consideration, depending on the nature of the offense you committed, the time period in which it took place, and the type of employment you are seeking. For example, there is a statistically significant difference between a single occurrence of personal drug use where you worked to find a dangerous drugs lawyer while you were a student and a current case of worldwide drug trafficking.
Consider the possibility that your past arrests or convictions have any bearing on the job that you are hoping to land. In that scenario, it is something that can be used against you during the recruiting process, and it most likely will be used against you in the vast majority of circumstances. On the other hand, if you have a criminal record, such as one that includes a conviction for fraud, your chances of being hired for a career in the financial sector are extremely low, if not non-existent.
Disclosing your history requires you to take the initiative.
Although not required, it is highly recommended that you take the initiative and disclose any criminal convictions when applying for jobs and during job interviews, even if the firm does not explicitly request this information from you. Because admitting to having engaged in illegal activity in the past demonstrates a sense of personal accountability on your behalf, it increases the likelihood that potential employers would see your candidature favorably during the hiring process. In addition, you should think about putting a positive spin on your criminal history, and you should express your ideas on what you learned from the experience, as well as how you have evolved as a person as a result of the incident that took place.
When you’re getting ready to go back to work, your probation officer can be a great source of information about jobs you can apply for. They might be able to give you a list of businesses in your area that have a reputation for employing people who have criminal records, so ask them if they can do that for you. Even if some of these jobs might not be perfect, taking them might help you rebuild your work history and pave the road for better chances in the near future.
