Criminal History: Current Economic State & How it Affects You

The latest Unemployment Rate is 9.2% which equals to 14.1 million Americans. Among the highest unemployed are teenagers (24.5%), blacks (16.2%) & hispanics (11.6%). Keep in mind that these numbers are very optimistic because Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not account for people who have been out of work more than a year. This change in calculation by the BLS occurred in 1994 and has underestimated real unemployment ever since. According to Economist John Williams from shadowstats.com the real unemployment rate utilizing the old BLS measures from 1994 would be an astounding 22.7% ending July 2011.

So what does that mean to you? According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics there were over 7.2 million people who were under some kind of Correctional Supervision in 2009. So how do you manage to find a job in times such as these if you are someone with a criminal background? In a time when even people with college degrees are having a hard time landing a job... how will you fight with them for yours? The answer is simple and yet a very challenging one for most of us. The answer is Persistance! You must be ready for a fight like no other in terms of the challenges ahead and the work that must go into establishing yourself back into your community,  family or wherever it is you want to be. Here are some keys for influencing potential employers to look past your criminal history.

1) Do not waste any more time! The time to build your future is today!

2) Relationships: Who do you know that can vouch for your character, work ethic & sound moral judgement?  If you do not have many strong relationships due to being out of society for awhile then start to build those relationships today. As you embark on your job search you will need references which will come from the relationships you have nurtured. 

3) Do not give up on continuing your education! Continuing your education is a MUST! Particularly if you do not have a High School Diploma or GED. Obviously, individuals with a college degree will have a better chance at landing a job than those without. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you pursue your education: 1) You can get into college with a GED. 2) You can get into college with a felony. 3) You can work and get a earn a degree at the same time, this includes while you are on probation or parole.

4) Resume: There are many great sites on building a strong resume (Google it). If you do not have a lot of work experience then you want to focus on any skill sets you might have such as: computer office products (word, excel, powerpoint etc.), mechanical work, technical training and any other trade you may have learned.

5) Honesty: Do not under any circumstances lie about felony convictions or mistakes you have made in your past. If you have been recently released from incarceration then it is very likely people have attempted to indoctrinate you into believe that you cannot land a job unless you lie about your conviction. This is a fallacy and will tarnish your credibility in your job search. Lying on your application is an automatic knock out for employers! Do not lie!

6) Dress right for the occasion! Dress as professionally as you can for the job you seek! That means no sneakers, jeans, shorts etc. The first impression of you in terms of appearance will help to combat any past criminal conviction that may come up during the interview process.

7) Follow up after your interview: You will hear varying ideas as it pertains to when and if you should follow up after an interview. Personally, I always follow up after a week. Typically, I will thank them for the interview & offer to answer any further questions they may still have. Subtleness + Persistance is key to differentiating yourself from everyone else.

8) Know what a Pre-Adverse Action Letter is and be prepared to answer to a criminal background check. Almost all companies today will perform a background check and your criminal history will come into play even if you have moved to a different state. Federal Regulations require a company to notify you via a Pre-Adverse Action Letter if a "hit" occurs on all background checks. Do not make the mistake and believe that the final decision has been made at this point. From personal experience I can assure you that you still have a chance to land the job. Typically you will have 5 days to repsond to the "hit" and offer evidence either in writing or voice recording what they found. Look at this as your opportunity to sell yourself one more time: take responsibility for you past mistakes, put it into context of how your past experience has made you a better person & accentuate any accomplishments since your conviction such as attending college, volunteering your time for a good cause etc.

Your journey toward landing a job will not start and end with the first job offer. Your journey starts today and will not end throughout your career. If you can take one thing away from what I have shared, I hope it will be that the key to landing a job is PERSISTANCE. You will only move forward if you have the mindset that nothing can stop you from achieving your dreams and rebuilding your life. I have personally experienced everything I have shared with you here in terms of the preparation and challenges to landing a job. For those who are newly released from a Correctional Facility... Remember, unlike before where time was not your best friend, time IS now your best friend! The more time you spend doing the right thing and displaying your good character, strong moral judgement & persistant nature the less resistance you will meet in your job search. Good Luck!

Source List:

Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/cps/
Shadow Stats http://shadowstats.com
Bureau of Justice Statistics http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/glance/corr2.cfm