"I’ve done my time but I can’t get a job because of my record." I have heard this from countless former inmates that hope to put their pasts behind them. The key to staying free and enjoying an independent life is finding stable employment. Studies have shown that a former inmate with a full time job is less likely to go back to prison

The fact for ex-offenders is a criminal record is there to stay. It is not going to change. What must change are their attitudes about their records. There are people in the world that will hold their records against them. There is nothing that can be done about that. There is a bright side. The economy is strong and there are new opportunities for growth. Along with that growth, comes a labor shortage. Because of this labor shortage, employers are willing to hire qualified people from any source. One of the growing untapped labor sources in the country are those who are classified as "ex-offenders." More and more employers are finding that hiring ex-offenders makes good economic sense. People that have been to prison, that are committed to overcoming the past, make excellent employees. Most are disciplined, hard working, and honest.

The key to finding employment is to have a definite plan of action that will lead to a job. One thing that I tell job seekers is that they are about to begin a marketing plan designed to sell their product. What is the product? It is their set of skills and attitude. In order to get the job they want, they must be able to let a prospective employer know exactly what they can do and how it can work for them. Being able to identify and describe skills will give them a huge advantage. They must then identify employers that can use skills that they have.

Finding a job is a number game. The more job leads they find, the more interviews they will get. The more interviews they get, the more offers they will receive. The challenge for them is to get as many quality job leads as possible.

If all goes well, the interviews will come. The interview is the time where the product is matched to the employer’s needs. To get the job, one must effectively sell oneself. This is done by proper appearance, presentation of qualifications and poise. There must also be an attitude of trust and sincerity that will make the employer feel that they are right for the job. Preparation is the key. Get a friend or family member to help you practice for upcoming interviews. Anticipate questions and practice your answers so they sound genuine.

Getting a job is not an exact science but increasing your odds by being prepared will put in the best position to get hired. Good Luck!