Should i disclose a conviction

It is better that you disclose your conviction than to have your job coach do it. You can show your employer that you are sincere, honest and committed to the job. If you choose to disclose your disability, your employer can only ask how your disability relates to the job. You don't have to name your illness or injury, or tell what caused it. You don't have to describe the symptoms or tell what medication or treatment you receive.

Don't over-explain your past in a job interview. Even when you are required to disclose your criminal conviction, you do not have to provide the details of the offense or of your sentence. It is all right to say, "I have put the past behind me.

I am looking forward to the future. Share your strengths and abilities. Talk about your experience and training.

Show that you have a plan for the future. Don't let your disclosure be the main topic of the interview. After you disclose your criminal conviction, move the interview back to why you are a good candidate for the job. Be positive about your abilities. The Fair Credit Reporting Act also protects employees against issues with inaccurate records, including background-check screenings and criminal records that might include errors like incomplete information, misclassification of crimes, not reporting when a person was exonerated, or if the charges were dropped.

Many states also have laws preventing employers from asking about criminal history, limit the amount of information that can be requested, and whether or not the information obtained can be used to determine if an applicant will be hired. You can find out if your state prohibits such questions on an application by referring to State Laws on Use of Arrests and Convictions in Employment. If you have an arrest record of any sort and the charges were dropped, check with the courts you dealt with to ensure the arrest or charge was expunged from your record.

If it wasn't, find out what you need to do to have it removed by speaking to the courts or a lawyer. It's also a good idea to do a search or work with a background-check agency do an online search for reputable companies to see what comes up on your background check before applying for jobs.

It's common for mistakes to show up on your record, as well, so you can be proactive and take care of them before red flags pop up for prospective employers. When completing your application, read the questions clearly and use good judgment as to what you do or do not disclose while remembering your rights. If you have a history of an arrest or charge and you're certain that it's not on your record, then you might choose not to disclose it.

At the same time, if the question is "Have you ever been arrested for a crime? If you do have a record of a conviction, then it's best to disclose and explain the incident instead of trying to hide it.

It will likely come out in the background check and prevent you from being hired because you flat out lied on your application. When you disclose it up front, it shows integrity and gives the employer the chance to consider the conviction as it relates to the job you'll be doing.

If you have a DUI felony, for example, and you're not required to drive a company vehicle, then it likely shouldn't prevent you from being hired in many organizations, as long as you disclose it if requested to do so. If you lied about it and it shows up on your record, then it will look bad and likely result in your not being hired. Again, mistakes happen. But if you've learned from them and moved on, then you deserve a second chance.

It might take some time to find an employer that agrees, but it will happen, so be patient. We want to make this site as good as it can for you, the user. Please tell us what you would like to do differently and we will do our best to accommodate! Sign up here. Are all convictions recorded? Can an employer check my criminal history? What other areas may be affected by a criminal conviction?

All convictions are capable of being spent, except for the following: convictions where a term of imprisonment was greater than a certain period of time convictions for sexual offences convictions against a body corporate. Read more related articles Court Appearances.

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Information for clients Disclosing your Conviction. It also develops trust and understanding for yourself and the employer, and relieves any stress associated with the fear of being found out later.