Many people who are previously convicted of felonies encounter unnecessary difficulties in finding employment after being released from prison.

These difficulties include federal laws that prevent them from holding several jobs depending on the crime they were convicted for, and the unwillingness of some employers to hire employees with a criminal history.

Everyone has the right to equal employment opportunities no matter what their background is. What employers should be looking for, in fact, are those with qualifications such as job experience.

For ex-convicts, the challenge is to show reassurance. Employers want potential employees who will assure that they can satisfactorily perform the job, rather than become a burden to them. In fact, they are more interested on what an employee can do.

Though a particular employer may have reservations, the ex-convict should accept these and work to turn the situation as an opportunity to prove that he or she is the best candidate for the job.

How to explain

The job interview is a great chance to prove one’s worth. To help back up your job hunting, ex-convicts may get help from previous employers, probation officers, priests, or ministers by providing them with letters of recommendation before the job interview.

To help gain a solid reputation, he or she may also volunteer for a non-profit organization for some time.

So how an ex-convict explain his criminal background to an employer? The following are resolute tips:

-  Ex-convicts should not automatically provide information about the crime he or she committed unless asked by the employer.

-  Lying in the job search process is useless since employers have a way to perform background checks using today’s technology. Once they found out, the ex-convict will only get another black mark on his application. In addition, lying about one’s background is tantamount to fraud.

-  Ex-convicts are not obliged to disclose all the information about their criminal history and background. Thus, they should disclose only the information if they are directly asked or if required by law.

-  Prepare an explanation if the job application asks about the criminal history. He or she may write a letter on a paper stating what he or she was convicted for, how he or she felt remorse over the case. The letter should be brief with a respectful tone.

-  Prepare a speech about the conviction before meeting with an employer for a job interview. This is an opportunity to show what he or she did and how he or she has changed for the better.

-  During the interview, the ex-convict should be calm as he or she makes eye contact with the interviewer to show that he or she is sincere.

-  He or she should take the interview as an opportunity to mention government agencies or programs that helped him or her, including the programs he or she studied or completed while in prison.

-  He or she should tell the employer about Federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit. This is a one-time credit the employer will receive for hiring a person with a criminal history.

Tailor fit the resume

Ex-convicts should seriously work to make the right resume that will highlight their qualifications and experience as well. The following are steps to make a fitting resume:

-  Many inmates in correctional facilities were required to perform certain jobs during their incarceration. Experiences such as cooking or maintenance work can be utilized to explain employment gaps in order to show productivity.

-  In this particular case, resume should be crafted in such a way that the list of skills comes first, followed by professional experience, and list of previous employers, if necessary.

-  Prepare an oral or written explanation of the felony, detailing all the circumstances under which it occurred, and ultimately expressing commitment to turn a new leaf.

-  Get in touch with agencies or organizations that can help them find employment. These should have links with employers who are eager and willing to hire felons and ex-convicts.

-  Develop and maintain a list of potential employers, identifying those that are eager and willing to hire felons and ex-convicts. Contact these employers and ask for open job positions.