Yes, Even With a Conviction, You Can Get Hired

Alex Woodward |
Alex is a Growth Marketing Manager at Snagajob, where she works with sales to help connect businesses with the right workers. Her first hourly job was as a barista at Caribou Coffee.

Robin, a fellow Snagajob member, shares the following:

“I have been applying for several [jobs on and off Snagajob] and have gotten interviews. All the apps ask about convictions for felonies and misdemeanors. I currently have a misdemeanor from 2008 and I always disclose it. At the interviews they act like they didn’t see my answer and then when the subject comes up the interview is over. So, I tried a different approach and started disclosing the fact that I have one and a copy of my background check. I offer to provide them with a copy, say I’m available to openly discuss during an interview. Since trying that approach, no interviews. The conviction is an assault charge, which I know is a person-to-person crime and looked down upon heavily, but mine is from a fight with my younger sister. My question: Will anyone ever hire me? If it was any other crime or a felony, I’d be working.”

This is a tough situation to be in, and one that is unfortunately shared by others. The short answer? Yes, someone will hire you.

Let’s dig into this, though, and see if we can’t provide more advice on navigating the slippery slope that is discussing prior convictions with potential employers.

Understanding the basics

There are plenty of jobs for people with criminal records, and they’re just that: jobs. You don’t need to start a Google search with “jobs for felons” or conduct a deep dive investigation into companies that hire felons. 

Instead, take some time to understand the basics behind this type of job search, as well as how you should conduct yourself both on applications and during interviews.

First, the harsh reality: There are some companies that don’t hire ex-offenders. Similarly, there are companies who might not have a policy etched in stone, but view convictions as easy write-offs.

Still, there’s hope. And lots of it. A joint study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management and the Charles Koch Institute unearthed a few positive pieces of data.

Roughly 2/3 of the surveyed HR professionals claimed that their companies had experience hiring individuals with criminal records. Moreover, these same professionals suggested that the quality in hiring of ex-convicts was either the same or even better than those with no background. A large contingent of workers also supported the idea that they’d be open to working alongside ex-cons.

All good things that point to plenty of opportunity in the job market. 

Ever heard the phrase “flip the script?” That’s what you want to do when addressing a past conviction. It happened. There’s no denying that (and doing so will not be productive), so the best thing you can do is face it head-on…

…and flip the script.

Most companies require you to disclose past convictions on a job application. If they don’t, you can almost guarantee a background check will be completed if you’re considered for hiring. Not being upfront about your criminal history could prove costly.

That said, answer only what you’re asked. If the question on the job application is about felonies and you have a misdemeanor, then answer “No.” There’s nothing wrong with that—it’s the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. 

Look, we get it. Applying for a job is already a nerve-racking process. Add this task into the mix and the process can feel overwhelming. But know this. Lying about a past conviction will. Not. Help. You. 

An employer can run a background check at any time. If it’s not done before you’re hired, what if it’s done sometime in the future? If so, say goodbye to your job. You lied on your application, and more likely than not, are walking out the door with your personal belongings in a box. 

Same goes for an interview. Say you lie on the application, but then try to explain yourself in-person. Not going to work…you’ve already proven yourself to be dishonest. The employer knows it, and chances are you aren’t getting a call back.

Be honest, tell what you need to tell on an application, and wait for the results. The basics.

Flipping the script

Here’s what we mean by flipping the script—turn that memory you’d like to forget into something positive. Better yet, show this to your potential employer. The ones willing to give you a chance aren’t trying to chastise or make you relive a bad time in your life. But they do want to see how you’ve grown from such a not-so-great experience.

Show them.

If you score an interview and the subject comes up (almost guaranteed it will), there are three related questions that you should ask yourself and answer for your employer.

1. What happened?

Keep this brief. You’re not trying to leave an employer in the dark or come off as hiding anything, but you also don’t need to cover the nitty-gritty. Give the employer the details they need to know in order to understand the situation. 

Employers want to be able to tell whether or not you’ve accepted responsibility for whatever happened. That comes from how you tell your tale. Framing is everything—if you shrug off what happened or act like it was nothing more than an inconvenience to you, an employer’s going to press the eject button fast. 


2. If jail time resulted, what did you do while incarcerated?

Did your misdemeanor lead to jail time? If so, what’d you do while imprisoned? This is very important to spell out because it can show how you grew from the experience. If you took classes or participated in various developmental programs while in jail, be sure to share this with the employer.

If you didn’t go to jail, this is still relevant. What did you do to better yourself and learn from the situation? Did you volunteer in the community? Take development classes related to your specific incident? Employers want to see that you took the opportunity to make the best out of a bad situation. 

3. What are you doing now?

Especially if your incident occurred many years ago, it’s important to detail what you’re doing now. Are you still volunteering in the community? Are you furthering your education? What positive activities are you currently involved in? 

The idea behind this is simple: Have you truly learned from your mistake and moved on with your life in a way where history won’t repeat itself? Your job is to explain yourself in a way that clearly shows how one mistake doesn’t define who you are.

Flipping the script is important, and requires some thought beforehand. If you can, it’s helpful to plan a response prior to your interview. You know the question’s bound to come up, so why not be as prepared as possible? 

It doesn’t need to feel forced…just intentional. What happened, what came from it and how you turned over a new leaf. Do that, and you’ll be in a better position for employment.

Returning to Robin’s dilemma

Let’s circle back to Robin’s dilemma and provide some more actionable advice. 

Robin, hopefully what we’ve covered so far has been helpful. However, there’s one last thing you can do: stick with what you know.

That’s good advice for anyone traversing this unique situation. If something’s working, stick with it. Now, in Robin’s case, it might seem like nothing is working. However, she was still getting interviews by disclosing the truth. 

Handing over a background check might feel like a good move, but in reality it gives the employer a lot to read. The better option is to just be patient and, when that interview call inevitably comes, walk in with confidence and give your rehearsed spiel. 

The results might surprise you.


We’re here to help

Remember, there are plenty of jobs that hire felons because there are plenty of employers willing to hear people out. And that’s what you need to find, an employer willing to listen to your story—someone who understands what you’ve done to move forward, and how you’ve turned a negative experience into a positive life lesson.

At Snagajob, we’re always here to help answer any questions you have about the job search process, as well as help you find places that might be a good fit. Do you have other questions about discussing criminal backgrounds with employers? Let us know in the comments!