The reality is more and more employers are doing background checks, even for entry-level positions. Why?
Studies show that 30-40% of all job applicants put false information on their resumes or applications.
Lawsuits for “negligent hiring” are on the rise. Criminal actions by employee are making companies vulnerable to lawsuits.
Child abuse and abductions have resulted in new laws in almost every state that require background checks for people working with children.
What type of information will a background check look at?
So what do you do?
Be prepared! Check your background, you may have honestly forgotten something and it will look like you are trying to hide something. Employers will hire the right candidate with the right fit, even if you have a less than perfect background. Having this information will help you anticipate concerns an employer may have about hiring you. Have a prepared statement describing what happened. Keep it short, one or two sentences. Then refocus the interview’s attention to your more positive attributes or what you learned from the experience and how it won’t happen again. None of the free sites I checked out were actually free. They want you to try their product and you have to cancel it or be billed. You can also get a copy or your credit report and check court and DMV records.
I have had clients go to the Court House and pay to get their records, so that I know what an employer is looking at, Felonies are not good, but neither are a bunch of misdemeanors. It seriously pays to know what the employer is going to look at, so that you can be pro-active and counter the offenses with the listed strategies.
I also don’t know of any totally free employment histories available either. You can get a copy from your local Social Security Office for around $25.
As an Employment Specialist, I work with people with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness with criminal records and a tool I use in A Letter of Explanation. Writing this letter will also help you prepare for interviews. This is a legal document, don’t distort the facts. Write about three short paragraphs, the last should be the longest.
The first paragraph will explain the incident, keep it short and don’t try to justify your actions. Just the facts, explain your state of mind or substance abuse and how that contributed to your bad judgement. An employer doesn’t want to hear any excuses, they want to know what you learned from the experience.
The next paragraph will deal with the consequences or treatment that occurred. Take responsibility and talk about the positive outcome, ie of finally getting treatment or learning a new trade while incarcerated. Give the detail of the steps you take to stay healthy, like going to 12 step meetings, anger management or medication for Psychiatric Disorder. I would advise not disclosing your diagnosis, especially if your illness is severe like schizophrenia, as so much misinformation still exist today and it scares people who are uneducated about Mental Illness.
The last and longest paragraph talks about why you are a great canidatefor the job, talk about work ethic and positive attributes. Make a list of ten of your best qualities, if you are having trouble ask a former boss, counselor, friend, clergy. Memorize this list, so if you get stuck in an interview you can finish your sentence with one of your best qualities. It is your job to convince your potential employer you learned something from the incident(s) and it won’t happen again.
When to utilize A Letter of Explanation
Don’t hand it out with your resumes! Use it only if your criminal record becomes an issue, and a verbal explanation isn’t possible because you are too uncomfortable to talk about it. It is best if you address the issue head on, a straight short statement. Use your letter as a script. One or two sentences, followed by stating some of your positive attributes. I have also had Human Resources require a written explanation.
Expungement
Expunging your criminal record means that your prior conviction is set aside. If you
have a conviction expunged, you are considered not to have been convicted for most purposes.
For example, you can honestly tell potential employers that you have a clean criminal record.
Your conviction can only be used for very limited purposes, such as increasing your sentence if
you are convicted of a new offense. An expunged conviction is not supposed to appear on your
rap sheet. (If it does, contact an attorney.)
Getting your criminal record expunged can make it much easier for you to get a job,
housing, or credit. Many employers won’t hire you if you have a criminal record. Many
landlords won’t rent to you. And a criminal record may prevent you from getting subsidized
housing or public benefits. If you have a criminal record, you probably already know how much
harder it makes many things in life. If you can get your record expunged, the law treats you – in
most cases – as if you had never been convicted.
