What Should I Include in My Letter of Explanation About My Criminal History?
Telling the truth about your criminal convictions is critical because this honesty gives you the best opportunity to demonstrate your honesty to an employer. If you are applying for work, have a criminal record, and know the employer is going to run a background check, you should have a letter of explanation (LOE) prepared.
How Do I Figure Out Whether an Employer Will Do a Background Check?
If you have a criminal record, you should try to figure out if a company does a background check before you apply, and if so, what kind. For a big company, there is probably a lot of info about this. If you have felonies, you should pay close attention to this information. If the company has a policy that says they do not hire people with felonies, unless you have some fantastic connection at the company that can override policy, you are probably wasting your time.
Should I Lie About My Criminal History?
Absolutely not! You should always be prepared to tell the truth - but be strategic about it.
When Do I Disclose My Criminal Background?
Like many things in life, the answer is “It depends.”
As I say in many other blog entries, always tell the truth, but be strategic about it.
Depending on the situation, you may not ever need to disclose your criminal conviction history.
Where Are the Best Places to Look for Employment In Early Recovery?
When I got sober, I had some early setbacks finding work because I applied at the wrong places. I had a significant job gap and criminal convictions to contend with and applied at some large companies that couldn’t hire me due to their inflexible policies. Big mistake!
Unemployment and Recidivism
A recent study by the ACLU found that 75% of formerly incarcerated individuals are still unemployed one year after release. But this isn’t just a problem for people with criminal records…