After you serve time in jail, you may face great difficulty transitioning back into society, especially when it comes to securing a job. Depending on the nature of your criminal conviction, you may have many fewer options for employment, legally speaking. This does not, however, mean that finding work is impossible after incarceration.
The reality of the matter is that most of the jobs you may have available will be less lucrative than some of the options you had prior to incarceration. There might be practical reasons for this, such as the loss of a professional license that prevents you from re-entering an established practice. However, the severity of the conviction may mean that many types of employers simply pass over your application. At first, it is wise to keep all your options open so that you do not remain jobless indefinitely.
Once you begin the interview and application process, you may need to consider carefully how you disclose your criminal conviction. In some cases, it is wise to be upfront with a potential employer and inform him or her honestly about the matter while expressing that it does not affect your qualifications and will not play a part in your performance. In written applications, you may choose to exclude this information until it is requested or comes up naturally.
Once you secure a job, you may with to consult with an attorney to determine how to protect your rights in the workplace and avoid unfair discrimination. An experienced attorney can help you protect your rights and your future.
Source: U.S. News & World Report, “How to Find a Job When You Have a Criminal Record,” Jada A. Graves, accessed Nov. 17, 2017
