Job seekers who have a criminal background often cast doubt on themselves when entering the workforce. Often, there are barriers within themselves that create fear and anxiety around seeking professional employment, along with community barriers as well.

Everyone has the right to fair and dignified employment, and its important for both employers and job seekers to remember a few things:

  • Individuals with criminal backgrounds deserve to seek jobs with room for growth and the ability to “move up the ladder.”
  • A person’s crime does not define them.  However, for people with criminal backgrounds seeking employment, it’s important to be honest and explain what you have done to change your life around when disclosing past crimes to potential employers.
  • There are tax benefits to bring to the attention of any potential employer when being considered for a job with a criminal background (Work Opportunity Tax Program).

Your Attitude Matters

As you begin to prepare your information for a job application, remember employers want to see someone who’s positive and brings their unique skills and talents to the table. Employers like to see enthusiasm and dedication!  While searching for a job, keep these things in mind:

  • Your criminal conviction is in the past, so remember that situation does not own the rest of your life.
  • You’re applying for this job because you feel you are a capable person for this position, and you are!
  • Speak to the positives of your conviction and how it was a learning opportunity, along with anything you have done to rehabilitate yourself.
  • You got this!

Addressing your Past Convictions

Handling Questions on Applications

According to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry's Career Guide, its critical to address questions about past convictions on job applications directly.  Although it can seem better to avoid the issue or make a note on the application that you can talk about it when interviewed, this strategy often backfires.  Instead, they recommend answering the question honestly and, in addition, providing a letter of explanation. 

Writing a Letter of Explanation

As explained in the MDLI Career Guide, there are a few things that a strong letter of explanation should do.  When drafting your letter for potential employers:

  • Recognize that employers might have concerns and be upfront about your desire to address them.
  • Very briefly and factually describe the offense.
  • Emphasize the 3 R's: Responsibiity, Rehabilitation, and Remorse
    • Take responsibility for your past actions.
    • Describe your rehabilitation process (therapy and treatment, for instance) and how it has prepared you for the workforce with a new set of skills.
    • Explain your efforts to become a better, more productive member of our community
  • Highlight your skills and strengths that make you a good fit for this job.
  • Demonstrate a committment to a productive future and be proactive: note how much you hope to meet in person and your desire to continue to grow if you were offered the position.

Also note: These are precisely the same things that you should emphasize during a job interview. Practice saying these statements out loud so you can talk confidently and clearly about your past conviction when meeting with a potential employer in person.

Having Letters of Recommendation Ready to Go

The Montana Department of Labor and Industry's Career Guide (linked above) also suggests collecting letters of recommendation from "people in positions of authority who will attest to your skills and character." Think about asking those who are familiar with your ability to be a positive asset for a business: consider asking former managers and coworkers, as well as your parole officer.

Offer to make these letters available when you submit your application.

Montana Job Service as a Resource for Employment. 

A great resource for the community in Billings is the Montana Job Service. This organization offers plenty of resources regarding employment, available jobs, training programs, job coaching, and even the ability to pay for up to six months of education for potential career-oriented goals.  

Job Service’s job coaches can assist in several ways, including walking through building an effective resume, helping figure out what goals and employment aspirations someone has, providing resources on potential training required for positions, and working through the problems regarding the stressors around seeking life’s opportunities. Whatever people think is a barrier, job service will provide coaching to help break through.

Reentering the workforce can seem overwhelming, especially with a criminal background, and Montana’s Job Service helps to eliminate some of those worries and challenges.

For a list of complete services and education/employment resources, visit Montana Job Service's website.

A Benefit For Employers: The Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program 

One thing that some employers may not know about is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). The WOTC is a federal tax credit that is available for employers that employ people that have significant barriers to employment. Employers have an opportunity to get a tax credit when they hire individuals that are a part of a WOTC "targeted group" which includes, among other targeted groups, qualified ex-felons.

It could be beneficialto let your employer know about this tax credit, and that it would be a benefit for them to hire you. The tax credit they can receive can range from $2,400 to $9,600. The tax credit is in most cases guaranteed if you work at the same place for a year and work 400 hours or more in that year. This tax credit can be something to mention in your explanation letter and talk about during the job interview: show employers how getting the job would not only help you, but help them as well.

 

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