How to Get a Job after Prison
After sleeping uncomfortably, operating in fight-or-flight mode, and having your every action monitored by others, you now are responsible to make decisions about how to live your life. You have the opportunity to re-write your story—consider who you will be and what you will do. Freedom is a beautiful thing, but it can also be alarming, especially when you’ve lived in a very structured environment and haven’t practiced decision-making for some time.
To rebuild your future, it is important to understand the challenges ahead: gainful employment, housing, overall health, justice compliance, and social and family connections. Today we’re focusing on securing a job. It is important to develop your narrative. It’s also important to know which organizations are open to hiring individuals with a record. You can simplify the process of finding employment by breaking it down into smaller steps.
If you were recently released (or you know someone that was), here is what you should know about finding a job after prison:
Step 1: Know That It Is Possible
We all enjoy the feeling of accomplishing something for ourselves through hard work and determination. Keep in mind that many incarcerated individuals have gotten a job after prison. Even though the journey may be difficult, it is important to keep a hopeful mindset throughout your job search. Remain determined, believe that finding a job after prison is possible for you, and continue in your search until you find work.
Step 2: Remember Your Strengths
Write down a list of what you are good at. If you’re not sure, you can ask friends or family for their input or take an online test.
Recalling your strengths is important for a variety of reasons. First, it can give you the boost you need to present yourself confidently to an employer. To be able to show them what you got, you first need to know it yourself.
Second, it can guide you on what career path to pursue if you are unsure. You may be looking to head in a different direction. You should be aware that certain career paths have restrictions based on previous offenses. Looking at your strengths can help you determine some potential career options. For example, if you are detail-oriented with an interest in helping people, you may want to look into becoming a paralegal. To read about a formerly incarcerated individual taking Blackstone’s online Legal Assistant/Paralegal Program, click here.
Third, it can show you what to highlight in your resume and cover letter to prospective employers. Keeping your strengths in mind, you can strategically highlight them throughout your application process.
Step 3: Consider Your Education/Training
If you already have the education and training needed to secure a position, that is a great item to highlight on your resume. You may have taken an education program during your time incarcerated, such as Blackstone’s correspondence Paralegal certificate program. Any education or experience you have can help to improve your resume, and you can format your education during prison the same as you would in other circumstances.
Step 4: Highlight Work and Volunteer Experience
You want to avoid gaps on your resume as much as possible, and list any valuable work experience you gained while incarcerated. If you worked while in prison, you can list your employer as the state or the county rather than writing the facility name. To acquire experience, you can volunteer in a related field or anywhere in your community. You are welcome to list volunteer experience on your resume but be sure to clearly label it as volunteer work. To avoid emphasizing the gaps in your work experience, you can use a functional format for your resume.
Step 5: Use Your Resources
Be sure to check out any organizations near you that assist formerly incarcerated people with finding a job after prison. As a first step, check out the Community Partners Map from Second Chance Business Coalition to search what career resources are available near you. For example, Goodwill offers services for re-entry after incarceration.
There is an online job board and resource center designed for formerly incarcerated individuals that you can utilize: Honest Jobs. Their job search platform contains over 300,000 job openings, all from fair chance employers open to hiring individuals with a criminal record. You can even check your compatibility for the job based on your conviction. Their national database of over 200,000 programs can also help you find the resources you need during this time of transition like food and transportation.
While trying to get a job after prison, another great resource to reference is CareerOneStop’s Job Search Help for Ex-Offenders website. It discusses how to get your record expunged, how to talk about your conviction in a job interview, and more.
Beyond resources specific to formerly incarcerated individuals, you can utilize a variety of online resources for tips on interviewing as well as resume and cover letter writing, such as our Career Center.
Lastly, make use of any personal and professional connections you have when searching for employment. Others may be more willing to help you than you think, and research demonstrates that 50-80% of positions are secured through networking.
Step 6: Apply, Apply, Apply
In most situations, you have to apply to many job openings before securing a position, and often times it will take more time and dedication to find a job after prison. Make sure you know your rights as a formerly incarcerated individual seeking employment. Apply to as many places as possible, and be open to opportunities that do not exactly match what you are looking for. Your first job after prison may be a steppingstone to your next position.
Following these six steps should help you feel prepared to enter your job search with confidence. Remember, there will be many obstacles. Having tips, strategies and resources can help you move forward. Believe in yourself, take advantage of local and national programs, and get involved in your community.
Disclaimer: Blackstone Career Institute, an accredited school, cannot guarantee employment, job promotion prospects, or income increases.
