Having a criminal record can make you feel self-conscious in a job interview. You may worry about how you will answer questions about your past without incriminating yourself.
Strategizing about how to respond to inquiries about your criminal past can boost your confidence. With some careful forethought, you can complete job interviews with poise and professionalism.
Discuss lessons learned
Your perspective about the likelihood of getting a job can make a considerable difference in your interview experience. Focusing on your mistakes and allowing guilt to take the lead can diminish your marketability and leave you vulnerable to failure. Contrarily, embracing your past and focusing on the lessons you have learned can help you carry yourself with pride and confidence.
Think about how your experiences have shaped you and allowed you to grow. Share stories that illustrate your personal progress and then talk about how that progress will benefit the company. According to Monster, a sizeable number of employers do not bypass candidates simply because of a criminal record. That means if you do things the right way, you have a winning shot at moving to the next step in the hiring process.
Highlight personal strengths
If you have valuable strengths that a company asked for on a job listing, make it a point to highlight those. While imprisoned, you may have encountered opportunities to develop and strengthen valuable skills including leadership, critical thinking and conflict resolution. You can share how various situations allowed you to refine your problem-solving skills.
You can answer questions about your past without painting yourself in a bad light. Your enthusiasm and confidence can help interviewers see past your past. With your help, they can envision your potential to make a substantial difference in their organization.
