How Career Seekers Should Address Criminal Records in the Recruitment Process

There are several steps in the recruitment and hiring process. At any time during this process, you could be asked about your criminal background. For the purposes of this article we will talk about how to address this issue in an interview. The question is how you, as a job seeker, talk about your criminal records. We will discuss this difficult issue and also provide some suggestions.

Can Employers Ask You About Your Criminal Record?

The general answer is that it depends on the job. If your job is to be a security guard at a bank, they would like to know whether you were involved in an armed robbery! In certain states, employers must notify potential employees that they are requesting a criminal background check.

Honesty is the Best Policy

Clichéd as the proverb may sound, honesty really is the best approach. Never, ever lie on your resumé or lie during an interview. Take responsibility for what you may have done. You don’t need to divulge all the challenging details of your past, but you must address the issue openly and sincerely because this builds trust. Keep reading on how to spin this in a positive light.

What Did You Learn?

Make rehabilitation and personal growth your cornerstone. People make mistakes. The point is, when we do, have we learned anything from it? Will we repeat those mistakes? Show your potential employer what you have learned and what steps you took to overcome your issues. This can include counseling, education, volunteer work, and other actions you have undertaken for personal improvement. Employers are genuinely interested to see how you have progressed and changed.

Be Prepared, Take Responsibility

No matter what your background, it is always a good idea to go into an interview prepared. Have a written statement ready where you document clearly what steps you took to rectify your past actions. This is an extremely important step. In this explanation, you should focus on accountability. Don’t make excuses. Don’t dwell on all the things that went wrong. Highlight the lessons learned. Present your narrative in a way that shows how resilient you are and that you are eager to face life and move forward. Make sure you show that you understand the consequences of your past actions.

Talk about Your Skills and Qualifications

You are after all at a job interview. What your future employer wants to know the most, is whether you’ll be able to do the job that you’re being hired for. They are also interested in making sure that your past actions will not interfere with your current situation. If you can show them you have the right skills and qualifications, and that your past behavior is not going to leech into the present, most employers will be willing to give you a chance.

Be Informed

You must know your rights. Become intimately familiar with your local laws. As mentioned before, certain states, counties, or jurisdictions have the “Ban the Box” law. This law prohibits hiring managers from asking a potential employee about their past criminal record. This, at least, allows you a point of entry, after which it is up to you to prove your merit.

Seek Out Support Organizations and Groups

There are many organizations that help people with criminal records to get hired. Many are non-profit and may offer assistance without requiring remuneration. They will be able to guide you to other support groups and networks also. These places usually provide you with resources, training, and counseling. The best part is the mentorship and counseling programs that help individuals gain the confidence that is needed to be able to talk about these stressful topics and slowly make progress.

Practice, Practice, Practice

This part is so important that it is worth repeating! No matter what your background you should never walk into any interview unprepared. Practice what you will say in front of a mirror. Practice with a friend, and role-play. This is yet another way the above-mentioned groups and networks come in handy.

So, what’s next?

Hope. Never give up hope, but also have a strategy. Mistakes happen. If you are taking strides to correct them, if you have a goal, and make a plan to reach that goal, then you’re on the right track. Keep the pointers from this article in mind. Being honest and having self-reflection are at the core of self-growth. Create your best strategy, and go for it!

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