Ex-offender in NC looking for a job
Q: Hello, My name is Cal an I have been trying to get a job for almost two years now an every time I fill out a application they will not hire me because of the misdemeanor marijuana charge I was convicted of in 2010. In North Carolina it has to be at least seven years before they stop looking at your background an will not hire anyone with this charge. So my question is are their any steps that I can take towards getting a job in this state?
Ex-offender in NC looking for a job
A: Hello Cal,
I’m sorry you are having so much trouble. First of all, don’t assume that your lack of success is because you are an ex-offender. I’ve been in this business for a long time and I have seen ex-offenders with far worse issues than yours get jobs. People hire ex-offenders and felons everyday. Maybe your approach needs some help. There are so many things that an ex-offender can do to make his job search more successful. I’m going to pretend for a second that you are a student of mine. I have a checklist for my students before they even start to look for jobs.
Do you have a list of your skills? You should be able to talk for at least ten minutes about the skills you have to offer. Why should I hire you if you cannot tell me why?
Do you have a resume? Everyone should have a resume. It presents all of your positive qualities in one neat package that you can leave with a prospective employer. If you do not have a well written resume, I suggest you get some help putting one together.
Do you have proper interview clothing? I suggest that men at least have dress slacks, a light colored shirt and a coordinated tie. You should also have a pair of shoes that you can shine. No boots, no sneakers…shoes! You should also have a neat haircut and a neat looking face. Do you look like an ex-offender or a businessman? Understand one thing, an interview is a business meeting. You should always look like a professional who is there to conduct business! Always dress like you have an interview even to fill out applications. You will never get a second chance to make a first impression.
How are your interviewing and presentation skills? Without proper interview skills, you are wasting your time. An interviewer has just a few minutes to decide if an applicant will be considered. You must make those few minutes count.
If you don’t have a positive answer to any one of those questions, you need some help. There is one place where an ex-offender can get help in all of those areas. That place is your local One-stop Career Center. Across the country there is a network of centers that offer free services that can get you ready for work and assist an ex-offender in finding a job. In addition, these centers that have training options that could prepare you for a career.
Services include:
Career preparation and advising
Workshops (Resume Writing, Interviewing Skills, and related topics.)
Computers with internet access and word processing
Daily posting of thousands of job listings
Employment referrals
Printers, fax machines, phones, and copiers for job search use
Many career centers have counselors who offer career guidance. Often these counselors have experience working with people with criminal records. You can find out what career options are available to you based on your conviction.
You can find the One-stop Career Center nearest you here:
NC JobLink Career Centers for Job Seekers
This will get you started. You may find that with a little work and a change of approach, you could have a job quickly.
I hope this helps
Are you an ex-offender or felon who has a question about finding a job with a criminal record? You could have your question answered right here. ‘Eric Mayo helps Felons and Ex-offenders get Jobs
Email your question to: BelievePublications@comcast.net
