Tips for Ex-Offenders Returning to Work
If you have been incarcerated in the UK, you will know that one of the best ways to avoid falling back into whatever you were imprisoned for is to get back to full-time work and get some money behind you to get back on your feet. It can be a real challenge to pick yourself up again once you have been released, but it is what is required to ensure that you won’t go back to prison in the future.
5 Tips for Ex-Offenders
We have included some tips and advice to make this transition easier and believe that one of the key underpinnings of rehabilitation is that you have served your time and are entitled to be treated like any other employee. Having said that, there are some extra obstacles that you will face when it comes to work and we have looked at how best to deal with these for you.
1 Honesty is the Best Policy
When wondering whether to mention to a potential employer about a spent conviction, it is worth noting that not disclosing it and them finding out after they have employed you can feel disingenuous at best and, at worst, dishonest.
According to the UK Government website:
“If you have a conviction from a court or a caution from the police, whether you need to tell the organisation depends on:
- if they ask, for example in an interview or on an application form
- when you got it
- what type of punishment or sentence you got
- the type of criminal record check they might request”
You may have stuck to the letter of the law on what you are obliged to disclose, but the employer may look at it as not having given them the whole picture, so it can be best to get the tough talk out of the way first.
It is also possible that you may not be compelled to say anything about your conviction. Some people may find it easier to get through the interview, get offered the job and then tell the employer at that stage so that it wasn’t negatively affecting the interview.
2 Research as Much as You Can
If you aim to return to the kind of job roles you had before your conviction, it is a good idea to read up on the current news affecting your industry. You may find more jobs available now because of the post-pandemic UK skills shortage. This development may open up more opportunities for you than would otherwise be the case, as employers can’t afford to be as hasty in rejecting people with the requisite skills.
Employers are also paying more in many industries where they are looking to fill in the skills gaps in their organisations, so if you can research where those gaps are, there is every opportunity to capitalise on them.
LinkedIn can be an excellent way to connect with people in your industry and get them to endorse your skills. Follow and interact with some of the thought leaders whose content you enjoy and be sure to network and make connections as far as possible. This will stand you in good stead when applying for jobs.
3 Ex-Offender Friendly Employment Agencies
Some employment agencies are geared toward assisting former offenders into the workplace. If you aren’t having much luck looking for work, these organisations could offer the assistance you require.
One well-known business that often employs former offenders is Timpsons, and they may also be worth contacting to see whether they have any vacancies.
4 Investigate Training Opportunities
There are many training opportunities available for people who have been in prison in the UK, and it can be a great way to help you upskill and develop your potential in new areas. Decide what you want to do, figure out what interests you and enthuses you, as you are more likely to be able to stick with it and make a success of it.
Sometimes the easiest way to figure out what you want is to work out what you don’t want. If you are happier working with your hands, you may not want an office job, for example. If you prefer your own company, you may not want to find a job in the retail sector. If you feel comfortable using computers, you may not want to work outside laying bricks. Think about what it is that you don’t want, and the shape of what it is that you do want will become more apparent. Think of it as chipping away at a block of stone to reveal the sculpture within it.
As well as any training opportunities with local colleges and those available online, there is also the New Futures Network, part of HM Prison and Probation Service, which may help you to access some training that will suit your needs.
5 Update Your CV and Prepare For Interviews
Preparing a CV when you have been in prison can be difficult as potential employers will often ask about any gaps in employment. If this is uncomfortable for you to discuss, it can be better to tailor your CV toward placing the emphasis on the skills that you have accumulated.
If you would prefer to gain relevant experience before applying for jobs in a particular sector, it may be worth exploring volunteering opportunities first. This will also allow you to say they were your most recent employers and request a reference from them.
If you find it useful, we have an article with tips for how to write a CV. This should enable you to find the best methods to ensure that your CV passes muster in this day and age. Covering letters are also important when contacting potential employers, and you should always take great care with grammar and punctuation in both documents. Employers can place great importance on them and see them as an initial test of competence.
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