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Home > Jobing Community Blogs > Blog Post: Job Fair Etiquette For E...

Blog Post: Job Fair Etiquette For Ex-offenders

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posted Sunday, February 17, 2008 9:58 PM

by Steve Temple, Community Reintegration Coalition

Many ex-offenders attend job fairs and find that most of the employers apparently do not want to hire them. They end up walking away frustrated, rejected and jobless. We at the Community Reintegration Coalition have found that there are many more employers who are willing to hire the ex-offender if they would just approach them with the right attitude and a little knowledge of what is expected by employers. Below you will find some ideas that may open up many more doors for you. We can’t guarantee that every employer will greet you with open arms, but you may find a lot more doors open than ever before.

Come to the job fair dressed as if you are ready to interview. Dress one step up from the normal dress worn in that field or business. If you are applying for a construction job clean jeans and a button down shirt are ok, if it’s an office job a suit or shirt and tie are the rule.

Have resumes and cover letters ready and don’t forget to fill out any applications properly.

Be willing to spend lots of time with a potential employer. Don’t just run up, hand a resume to them and leave. Spend time and talk about the job openings that are available. Develop a relationship with the recruiter, because he or she is the one who will be bringing your resume to the attention of the person who may hire you.

Find out first if the employers can hire you. Don’t ask the recruiter if they hire ex-offenders or felons. Ask the recruiter “What is you company’s policy for hiring ex-offenders”. A recruiter most likely will answer in the negative if you ask if they hire ex-offenders but if you ask about the policy, it frees them up to be a little more open without making a general statement.. Most companies do not have a general policy against hiring ex-offenders. The will be willing to look at your offence on a case by case basis. A great deal of this depends on what your offence is and how it relates to the job. For example if you have a felony for forgery you may not be appropriate to an employer who is looking for a position to fill in accounting. However, that same employer may be willing to hire a person with a forgery felony in a maintenance position.

Don’t let the fact that an employer runs a background check keep you from applying for a job. Many employers who run background checks do so because of legal responsibilities but will still hire an ex-offender. They are required to do this to prevent negligent hiring lawsuits. However if your felony dose not directly relate to the position you are applying for most employers are going to be willing to look at you as a potential employee. An employer should only deny employment if a “reasonable relationship” exists between the conviction and employment. This means that most employers will hire you if your conviction does not pose a “reasonable threat to others”. However, it is up to the employer to set that standard. It is in your best interest to persuade the employer of your value as an employee and to diminish any concern that exists of any harm that may come from hiring you. You should let employers know about the Federal Bonding Program, which is a federally guaranteed bond for up to $25000 covering, theft, forgery or any form of malfeasance. This program is free to the employer. Ask a CRC representative for more information about this program.

Don’t get upset or angry with employers who can’t hire you. It is not personal! They may have government contract that preclude them from hiring persons with criminal backgrounds. They may work with a vulnerable population such as nursing homes or child care. Remember, there are lots of opportunities out there for you. Keep a positive attitude and don’t close any doors. I have worked with many employers who could not hire an ex-offender but referred them to other employers where that person did get a job.

Steve Temple GCDF

President,

Community Reintegration Coalition

Federal law discourages employers from having a blanket policy of denying employment to individuals with criminal histories. Guidance from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requires employers to make individualized assessments about the appropriateness of hiring a particular applicant (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Notice No. N-915, Policy Statement on Issue of Conviction Records under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, [February 4, 1987]). Employers must give full consideration to certain factors including:

The nature and gravity of the offense(s);

The time that has passed since the conviction and/or completion of the sentence; and

The nature of the job held or sought.

Tags employment, job fair, teams, steve temple, reintegration, community reintegration coalition, ex-offender employment, adoc, employment help, arizona employment, employment of ex-offenders, prison help, ex-offender blogs, arizona department of corrections, ex-con employment, re-integration

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Community Comments

john	Monday, April 14, 2008 5:08 PM
Which corporations hire felons? I am not able to find a job at all in Texas with felony theft charge that is 8 years old now. I went to college and got an mba and it seems like it was a waste since nobody will hire me. Maybe that is just Texas, though. Are other states more felon friendly? I am seriously thinking about moving off to Europe if I can't get a job soon....

Rodney Walker II

Saturday, January 3, 2009 3:57 PM

I have a few felonies that I have been convicted for involving theft of others property, as well as felonies I never was convicted for, but I believe still pop up as being charged and incarcerated for. I have served time for my past actions and I have been doing everything I can to be a better and more productive citizen in society. Unfortuanetly, I cannot seem to get a good paying job due to the mistakes that I have made in my past, yet I am skilled in many different areas and could really be an asset to the companies that i apply for.

wayne barnes	Tuesday, February 17, 2009 1:56 PM
no matter what you do u cant win,something should be done about this some people do change,

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About This Author

Steve Temple

President, Community Reintegration Coalition

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About Me

Steven Temple GCDF, President of The Community Reintegration Coalition (CRC) has been an advocate for ex-0ffenders for over 20 years in various rolls ranging from employment to housing.