Posted on 02/20/2007 3:44:25 AM PST by Brilliant
If you have a criminal record in your past, are you forever barred from rejoining corporate America and taking advantage of professional opportunities? Not necessarily. It is achievable, but definitely an uphill battle, says Pat Kendall, career coach and author of "Jumpstart Your Online Job Search and eResumes: Everything You Need to Know".
According to Kendall, an estimated 80 percent of companies perform background checks on job applicants. Today's terror-aware atmosphere and litigious society makes employers responsible to a greater degree for checking out the candidates they hire.
It can be very difficult for most employers to get past a conviction on an applicant's record, so be prepared for rejection. You also have to realize you are starting over fresh after a conviction and must begin the laborious process of gathering experience and gaining society's trust.
Here are some suggestions for getting back to employment:
1. First, consult legal council about the possibility of getting your record expunged, sealed or the conviction reduced. These actions may not be available for every case, but it is definitely worth looking into.
2. Contact local human services organizations in your area to see if they offer programs and support for ex-felons. For example, Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago, www.metrofamily.org, operates the Young Fathers Initiative, a program that helps young dads, many with felony records, re-enter the workforce and reconnect with their children. Quincy Roseborough, case manager for Metropolitan's Young Fathers Initiative, says "There are companies that will hire ex-felons as long as the crimes are not violent crimes."
3. "Take whatever job you can to start rebuilding your experience and credibility," Kendall advises. Now is not the time to be picky. "Many of our clients start with jobs in manufacturing and fast food," Roseborough says. "The pay is mostly minimum wage and often the hours are long. But, some have opportunities to go to warehouse jobs where they can learn to drive a fork lift and gain other skills." Take the job and use it as an opportunity to showcase good job performance and to rebuild your experience and others' trust in you.
4. "Look to personal contacts and friends to help you get a job," Kendall asserts. Someone who knows you will not be as wary to take a chance on you.
5. Seek employment with small and local companies. "We promote looking for jobs with small companies and independent businesses and employers, instead of major chains," Roseborough divulges. Local businesses may have less stringent hiring requirements and are more willing to give you a chance.
6. Consider self-employment. Walt* was convicted at age 19 of drug possession and attempted sale. After serving time in prison, he took odd jobs in various auto shops and car dealerships to learn about car repair. He now works as an independent contractor and operates his own auto repair business.
"We encourage the young men we work with to look into entrepreneurship. We suggest taking up a trade that a felony record wouldn't hinder, such as plumbing, construction or janitorial work. You can be your own employer with these skills," Roseborough says.
7. "Don't put the conviction on your resume," Kendall declares. "Consider putting it in your cover letter and enclosing letters of recommendation. Be honest and upfront." Most applications will require you to indicate if you've ever been convicted of a felony. If the question is not on the application, you don't want to let the process go too long without coming clean. You should let them know early on that you have a past record because it will show up in the background check.
8. Be professional and confident. "Many young men we see lack people skills. We tell them that when they go to an employment office or are in an interview if they are dressed appropriately, speak well, and have confidence it will show," Roseborough says. "We explain that their resume is like an ad in the newspaper, but they are the 'product;' and they have to go in and 'sell' themselves. Some employers will take a chance if there is a nice presentation."
9. Don't harbor false hope. "It's going to be hard. Having a felony on your record is a real obstacle, and it is only getting harder," Roseborough warns. You will be rejected. Just don't give up.
10. Seek emotional support. Whether it's family, close friends or a professional counselor, you will need to talk to someone for encouragement. Many ex-convicts experience depression when they meet repeated resistance in trying to once again find employment. Having that support system will help you stay focused and motivated when you feel discouraged.
*Name changed to protect his identity
Me and and my 'stupid' experiences with ex cons...
Hehehe.....lol
You are correct.
Depends. Some felons are career criminals, and some just overreacted in a fist fight or got caught holding a bag of weed. Some are felons because of a moment of stupidity, others have been rehabilitated, and others will never fit into the mainstream of society.
What's left out of the article is that most states have a fund to help felons find jobs -- what they do is underwrite liability insurance, to reassure employers that they're not taking a huge financial risk by hiring ex-cons.
Ok..what do you propose we do with ex-cons?
Start felon factory
I offer no solutions. You defend them.
No I didn't defend them I defended helping them find jobs.
Do you employ them or simply enforce this absurdity on others?
I can't even begin to comprehend your question. Enforce what absurdity? And no I don't employ anyone but I do work with prisoners and know several who have 10+ years of good citizenship.
I know at least as many.
How many do you hire?
Keep in mind the trend to make lots of things felonies. Carry a can of mace in your glove compartment in Michigan, even one that is 20 years old? A five year felony. Accidentally cover up a "wetland" on your property? Felony. Do I even need to start on the potential for "hate crimes"?
Not saying don't be wary of someone with a felony record. Just pointing out the trend for legislators to criminalize more and more of us.
2. Senator
3. Representative
4. DNC
5. Drive-By Media
6. NBA player
7. NFL Player
8. Hillary's Team
9. Clinton's Team 10.Murtha's Lawyer
There's a woman here in Northern Virginia who is being charged with a felony for throwing a cup of ice at another car while stuck in traffic. It happened on Interstate 95, and noone was moving (so to consider it a potentially dangerous traffic incident is a stretch). She is being convicted of hurling a missle at another driver.
"GEORGE: I didn't know he'd get fired.
JERRY: He'll probably kill his family over this.
GEORGE: What if he's waiting for me outside? He pointed at me! Did you see him point?!
JERRY: A lot of ex-cons become busboys. They seem to gravitate towards 'em.
Last time I checked, time machines weren't invented.
Seriously, I understand your point. And truthfully, probably 75% of felons commit another crime, but I think this article is aimed at the 25% who honestly really have changed their lives and wish to "move on."
There was a time in America where you did your time and your debt to society was already considered paid - now a felony is a lifelong sticker that a person can't shed.
What about a guy who got into a bar fight with some jerk who was hitting on his girlfriend, and beat some guy up, and got a felonious assault charge? That's the whole premise of the movie Con Air but it does happen. The character in that movie is NOT a bad man, he is in fact a pretty good man.
LOL!!
What do you mean? Do you mean how many have I helped to find jobs? I told you I'm not an employer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.