A criminal past may make it more difficult to get work, but lying about it may be a crime in and of itself.
If you have previously been convicted of a crime, you may find it more difficult to seek certain work prospects. Several businesses do background checks on prospective workers. It is the employer’s right to refuse you a job because of your criminal history. They may look to see whether you’ve been arrested or convicted of a crime in the last seven years. Yet, in certain places, employers cannot refuse you a job based on your criminal past unless they can show a link between the circumstances of the conviction and the employment.
If you have a criminal past, don’t lie about it; if they find out, you may lose your job and be disqualified for unemployment benefits. Moreover, lying about your record is a criminal in and of itself.
Revealing your criminal past to a prospective employer does not guarantee that you will be rejected the job. Be optimistic and try to stress how much you’ve improved from the time you committed the offense. Make sure you have references that highlight your character. Lastly, be realistic about the kind of offences that might jeopardize your chance to secure particular professions. It’s better to be truthful and demonstrate how you’ve grown and learnt from your experience.
You may get a copy of your record from the Department of Justice in your state.
