Will A Criminal Record Prevent Me from Applying for Jobs?
If you have a criminal record from your past, even once you have served the rehabilitation time, and the convictions are classed as legally spent, sometimes this may put you off applying for a job. You may believe that because of these past crimes, no one will employ you. This, however, is not necessarily the case, and it’s perfectly possible to find employment to earn a reliable and honest living. This article will explore this further.
Application Forms and DBS Checks
Often application forms ask applicants to check a box saying whether you have had any past offences that are spent or unspent. Some companies, dependent upon the role you are going for, may use this to filter applications. This may especially apply though if the job involves working with children, or vulnerable adults. However, companies should not discriminate against you based on a past criminal convictions if they’re not relevant to the job role.
Other jobs will request that you complete a DBS Check, and this will give them more detailed information of your offences. This DBS Check allows the employer to assess if you appear to be a risk to their customers, other employees, or the business. If they think you post a risk, then they can reject your application form.
Will the Job You’re Applying for Involve Travel?
A number of companies will not perceive past criminal offences to be relevant to the role that the job would involve; and you may have lived your life as an upstanding citizen ever since. Once your conviction has been spent, then they will employ you, and encourage you to be a productive member of society and hold down a career and enjoy life.
However, if the job role you’ve applied for involved a lot of travel, this could cause some issues, because when you apply for visas to enter countries, or work abroad, your past criminal history may arise again then. Border security may ask you questions about your past criminal history and depending on the crime they could stop you from entering a country.
Bad Reputation
Some employers if they hire you, may not forget your criminal past. They could be judgemental, or prone to jump to conclusions if things go wrong in the workplace, allocating the blame to you; unfairly based on your past behaviour.
Well Known Businesses That Will Allow People with a Past Criminal History
The construction industry can often be forgiving to people with past criminal offences. In the construction industry it can be more important that people are prepared to get up early and turn up to work reliably and work hard. Clearly the work involves a lot of physical labour too.
Companies such as Virgin Trains, Timpson, Halfords, and Greggs will allow their employees to have past criminal offences.
It is also work exploring the New Futures Network, and Business in the Community (BITC)
There will be other businesses too, that are keen to help ex-offenders to reintegrate into society after release from prison.
If you have a criminal record, you may face some issues when applying for jobs. But always be open and honest with prospective employers and with perseverance you will find the right business for you, where you can become a real asset.
