Job Hunting with a Criminal Record
If you’re one of the approximately 65 million Americans with a criminal record who has tried to find a job, then you know first-hand just how much your past mistakes can haunt your current career efforts. Recently, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) adjusted federal hiring guidelines to help prevent unreasonable screening of job seekers with records. But there’s a catch to the government’s help – the new guidelines apply only to old arrest records or convictions that are totally unrelated to the line of work being applied for. Whether your arrest and/or conviction was related to your current profession or not, here are some tips to help overcome this difficult stumbling block when job hunting.
Be Proactive: The first step in overcoming a criminal record is to see if you can have it expunged (sealed). While you cannot have your record completely erased, depending on the nature of the offense and the length of time that has passed, it may be possible to limit who has access to it during background checks.
Be Up-Front: Hiding a record is the worst move you can make. While the new law is supposed to protect those who get flagged by a background check after they have been hired and are performing satisfactorily, the reality is that a company can easily find some grounds for firing you upon discovering such a critical omission. Know the specifics about your charges and conviction, and be honest with the interviewer about the circumstances surrounding your offense and what you have learned from it.
Be Flexible: You may not be able to leap straight into the paid job market with a criminal record attached to your name. Consider a government or privately sponsored “re-entry” program tailored to helping those with records obtain job experience. Another option is to perform volunteer work for a worthy organization. This not only builds professional skills, but gives you valuable references and indicates a positive change in character.
Be Selective: Applicants with criminal records might want to steer clear of large, conservative corporations with layers of bureaucratic rules and inflexible hiring policies. Your best bet is to seek out small, entrepreneurial companies whose more free-wheeling environment may allow for taking bigger chances on whom they hire.
While the new EEOC guidelines offer some help and protection for job seekers with records, the bottom line is that in today’s highly competitive job market, a criminal history can be a significant disadvantage. If you’re trying to overcome difficult circumstances to find the right IT job, the professional staffing specialists at Triumph Services can help. We take the time to get to know our candidates personally, and determine the best opportunities for their individual skills and situations. Contact us today!
