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Career Tips for Those Who Have Been in Jail

By | Sierra Powell

A rap sheet can make finding employment and the ideal professional path difficult. However, you shouldn’t fear that it will close the door to a promising career.

Some doors will undoubtedly close, especially if your crime is relevant to the profession you wish to work in — for instance, a child-related offense will ban you from dealing with kids.

Nevertheless, you’ll have to expend extra effort, focus, and thoughtfulness to persuade employers that you’re a strong candidate. And by following a few tips, you can set yourself on a path to success.

Evaluate and Improve Your Skills

Consult a national database to identify which jobs are a good fit. However, be open to new possibilities; who knows what you might discover.

Then, evaluate areas in which you’d like to grow, whether you’re contemplating an entirely new job or preparing to take on a similar role you did before incarceration. Government organizations offer free, individualized guidance on educational options.

Volunteer to Gain Experience

Perhaps you put your life on hold by failing to secure reliable and timely bail bonds from Bail Hotline, a Santa Ana Bail Bonds company. This wasted time is sufficient to get you off your professional trajectory, underscoring the importance of refresher tasks.

Volunteering allows you to gain expertise in the field after being unemployed for a while. Thus, it heightens your chances of finding paid employment. It also communicates to potential employers that you are motivated, open, and capable of personal growth.

Restructure your CV

Always make the skills portion of your resume the most prominent feature. Also, include any relevant employment or professional experience you’ve had. And if questioned about a criminal past on a job application, be honest.

Include the following information in your CV:

  • Any training, education, or certifications.
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Letters detailing your volunteering endeavors

Remember that your parole or probation officer can help you secure a job. And so, make an effort to befriend them. Ensure you arrive on time to parole appointments, have a positive attitude, and complete your program. Giving them an easy time may motivate them to put in a good word for you.

Decide How You’ll Present Your Criminal Past

Your criminal history will always come up during interviews; therefore, you must consider how you present it.

Keep things simple from the outset. Speaking about it from the start will allow you to control the conversation; rather than waiting to be asked.

However, before discussing it, mention three or four of your positive traits. Then consider the “turnaround talk” which includes being honest about your time in prison or jail, but also explaining what you did to turn your life around. This conversation should change your employer’s perspective, allowing them to empathize with your predicament and, possibly, offer you the job.

It’s also essential to rehearse your explanation’s language and phrasing. Being coherent is essential in showing your employers how you’ve grown or how confident you are.

If you have multiple convictions, combine them instead of listing them, which may attract more attention than necessary. Be sure to accept responsibility rather than justify or minimize your crime. This is important in pinpointing your growth.

Show Your Personal Growth

Before you begin the application process, compile a list of the good lessons you’ve learned since your conviction. These may include:

  • New abilities or accomplishments attained since your release from prison
  • Changes in your disposition
  • Problems (behavioral, economical, emotional) that you’ve conquered to become a more resilient individual

Before beginning your job search, remember to familiarize yourself with obligations and rights regarding your record’s disclosure. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act of 1974 enables ex-offenders seeking employment or applying to school to suppress such information after a certain period. Verify the specifics of your case, so you do not continue to disclose your criminal past when it is no longer required.

Being jailed for any offense creates a bad rapport; thus, you’ll have to go above and beyond to prove to prospective employers that you’re the best candidate. Thus, when offered the opportunity to pay bail, take it without hesitation.

 

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