A criminal background doesn’t have to define your future. Today, there are many programs championing second chances, offering workforce training opportunities designed to help individuals with past convictions build meaningful, well-paying careers.
We talked to our FastForward Career Coaches, who work with justice-impacted individuals every day, to find out what considerations they should take when it comes time to finding career training that’s right for them.
Length of time and severity
Vicki Marrs, from Wytheville Community College, often gets the question, “I’m a felon, do you know if they’ll hire me?” To that, she responds, “For the companies that hire felons, each person is looked at on an individual basis,” she says. “The type of crime, how recent the crime occurred and what the individual has been doing since are all considered.”
Honesty is the best policy
There are many companies out there that conduct background checks, but that doesn’t mean they automatically disqualify candidates with a past. Students often ask FastForward Career Coach Debbie Huntsinger from Germanna Community College how they should respond in an interview situation. “I support answering and responding to interview questions honestly and directly,” she says.
“If the interview doesn’t allow for sharing this information, and an offer is extended, you could approach the company by saying, ‘When I applied, I saw that hiring felons was not a problem for your company. I hope this is still true and that you will allow me to prove my ability and work and excel at your organization.’”
Know your options
When it comes to the healthcare field, for example, there are barrier crimes that will prevent you from working in the industry. By knowing your options before enrolling in career training, you’re setting yourself up for success from the beginning. Coaches like Renee Michelle Chalmers from Central Virginia Community College and Constance Peay from Rappahannock Community College recommend career fields like the culinary arts, construction, customer service, information technology, carpentry, plumbing and other skilled trade areas as industries to look into first. Additionally, students who get career training – with a little bit of business savvy–could become their own boss by going the entrepreneurial route.
If you’re ready to explore opportunities, contact a FastForward career coach today.