A criminal record can be a serious burden for your career. It not only affects your current job situation, but it will also make it more difficult to find future employment in the same field or industry.
That is why you need to act quickly when you get into trouble with the law. The sooner you start to take action, the easier it will be to put your life back on track and move past this bump in the road. In this article, we’ll discuss how to get a job if you have a criminal record.
PRO TIP: Read this article to learn how to get your criminal charges dismissed before you start! There are things you can do that will benefit you big time!
Understand Your Rights
The first thing that you need to do is find out what your choices are. In some cases, you might be able to get a job if you have a criminal record with an employer who has been willing to give ex-offenders employment opportunities. However, there are also many people who the law prohibits from hiring criminals.
For example, in most states, professionals such as nurses and teachers may not hire employees who have a history of drug abuse or a felony conviction on their records. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to consult with your state’s labor department or attorney general before applying for any positions that require a criminal background check.
Check the Criminal Records for Errors
If you’ve already tried to find a job with no luck, then you’ll need to find out if your criminal record contains any errors. It is very common for judges and police officers to make mistakes on records, so it might be possible that a clerical error is holding you back from employment opportunities. If any errors are found within these records, contact those who reported them and insist that they fix them right away.
Try to Get the Record Expunged
Some people still believe that once you commit a crime, your life is over. The truth is, ex-offenders can move on with their lives after they’ve served their time and paid their fines.
PRO TIP: Did you know that it’s super easy to get drug possession charges dropped with the help of an attorney? Read more in our blog post!
Train in Fields That Aren’t Off Limits
For many ex-convicts, the only way to get back into society is by getting an education (and vocational training). If specific industries overlook criminal records (such as law enforcement), you should look for employment opportunities in those areas. This might also be the case if you were convicted of non-violent crimes against other people (such as assault and battery).
Look for Opportunities to Broaden Your Knowledge
Even though you can’t always climb the ladder in your field of interest, there are still ways that you can gain more valuable skills and experience. Some people get a part-time job at a retail store. Others start working for non-profits that are located in the neighborhood where they live.
Find an Organizations That Will Help You
If you’re still having trouble getting a job, then you might want to try searching for organizations or groups that help ex-offenders find employment opportunities. Many cities and towns have mentorship programs and other resources to support their local ex-convicts in rebuilding their lives after prison. Some of these programs are also specifically geared towards helping ex-convicts find employment opportunities.
Conclusion
Getting a job if you have a criminal record isn’t easy. However, there are many things that you can do to make yourself more employable. By following the steps in this article, you should start looking for work again soon. Just remember not to give up hope until you’ve exhausted every option!