People who face felony charges often hope that they will be able to get off of those charges. This isn’t always possible. When you do have a felony on your record, you might find that it is hard to find a job. Interestingly, this might be the one time in your life when you’ve needed a job more than any other. This is because finding employment is often a condition of probation or parole.
While there are many restrictions that come with being branded as a felon, there are some actions that you can take that might help you improve your chances of finding suitable employment. Here are a few tips for you to try:
Attitude and appearance matter
You need to dress for the interview that you are heading into. You should even dress well if you are only picking up applications. You never know if a manager will ask you for an interview on the spot. Being prepared for this can go a long way.
Prepare for the application
It is a good idea to have a resume ready. Even if you have to fill out an application, you can attach a resume. Plus, the resume will have all the applicable dates and other information you will need to supply on the application. Don’t forget to have references ready. It is a good idea to have at least three references on hand. No more than one of these should be a family member.
Own your mistakes
It is easy to try to avoid having to discuss your criminal conviction, but this can work against you. If you have to check yes to the question about a conviction, it might go a long way with the interviewer if you own the issue that led to the conviction and make a quick statement about how you’ve turned your life around.
If you are not able to find employment, you may find that you are facing a probation violation. Instead of arguing with your probation officer for days or sometimes weeks, consider the advice and guidance that an attorney can provide.
Source: Help for Felons, “10 Tips on Getting a Job With a Felony,” accessed April 06, 2018