Preparing To Win
For someone hampered by a significant background issue, such as a felony, there are three possible outcomes when pursuing employment: green light (the employer accepts it, move forward), red light (they will not, full stop), or yellow light (maybe, case-by-case review). The challenged job seeker must prepare for each scenario; however, the third deserves particular attention because this category can produce opportunity and (significant) disappointment.
Evaluating on a case-by-case basis means, as a practical matter, some offenses will be out-of-bounds and quickly judged as a no-go, and some will be judged as less severe and perhaps familiar to the employer, they’ll receive a green light. The rest will be in the gray area, and various factors will be considered, such as work history, education and training, recommendations, and references—and, in no small measure, a candidate’s presentation and likability.
Regardless of the specifics of the process and the “other” things weighed, the formal background check will be the tail that wags the dog, the Mondo Factor influencing the final decision. With so much riding on the background check, you would think every background-challenged job seeker would secure a copy of their criminal history.
But no, many don’t. The result? They aren’t prepared. They fly blind.
Reentry and searching for the all-important First Job should begin by getting one’s background/criminal history report. In the best of all situations, this would happen before someone is formally released from incarceration, completes a substance abuse treatment program, or officially comes off the street via a reintegration program.
However, based on my experience (past and present), this rarely occurs because organizations and programs are balkanized, doing this but not that, mandated one way with little leeway to stray from their designated lane. Furthermore, the handoff from one organization to another frequently sucks. My apologies to those few that excel in this area, but they know that, on the whole, program coordination (if there is any) is abysmal.
In general, background reporting takes three forms: criminal history reports from the FBI and the states, and private vendors’ reports that cover criminal history and other areas. The how-to-get-it information for all these options is readily available, although selecting a vendor for the private route can be confusing. For this reason, I recommend starting with a state-issued criminal history report if all offenses occurred in one state.
In any case, the point I am making here is that getting your report is NOT DIFFICULT. What is difficult is recognizing the importance of taking steps to proactively get your report without someone else leading you by the hand to do so.
So why should you? There are numerous reasons, here’s my top three:
Preparation. You can’t plan your search and fully prepare for what’s ahead until you know what prospective employers will find when they check your background. Not knowing means you are indeed flying blind. You need this info, and you need to get it directly. No copies of what other people found. No. Get it yourself. Moreover, doing this is very proactive and gets you started with the right mindset.
Verify Accuracy. Errors are not uncommon, so check your report, line by line. Other people can make errors, certainly, but you can too. Often, reentering people forget minor charges and details of how the charges were filed, such as if there’s been some back-and-forth before or in court. But know this, until an official report is changed, it stands. Even though there may be inaccuracies, employers will see what’s listed when they run the check.
Control the Narrative. How can you explain your background situation to anyone else if you’re uncertain what they will see when they eventually check? What you say up front must match what they will find. How you introduce yourself and your background issue can determine the eventual employment outcome, especially when there’s a case-by-case situation in play.
There’s a lot more I could say about background checks and criminal records, but I’ll sum it up here: You need to get your report(s) and do it yourself because the success you experience (or don't) will depend in large part on what other parties find out about you. Knowing helps you prepare and you are not likely to succeed if you try to wing it.
Okay, so why don’t people who reenter do it independently? First, some do, which is excellent, but many (most) don’t, which is not so good.
No bandwidth. Reentry starts as other stuff ends. Too many puzzle parts fly around, leaving precious little time to focus on any one thing. Many such things become lost in the tornado, like the image above.
No money. Even though the cost is minimal, there’s still an associated cost and hassle, so some things lag while others take precedence.
No interest. Angry at everything with no desire to be proactive in the planning sense. This, of course, is counterproductive, but it happens.
No awareness. The importance of doing this and obtaining this information is unseen. It’s not top-of-mind or anywhere else. It’s just not on the radar for whatever reason.
There is no plan. Reactivity rules the day. It continues. Wants and desires may be there, perhaps in a big way, but there’s no roadmap or game plan for achieving them.
Reentry success requires a Free Agent mindset where you see yourself driving the bus, being proactive, and as someone who prepares. Knowing everything you can about the one big thing that separates you from the other 70-odd percent of the US adult population (your record) is on you.
You are competing with them. They have the advantage.
So take yourself seriously. Plan, strategize, and use everything in your playbook to take on the fight in the Marketplace. Why are you any different from any other competitor? You aren’t. The Marketplace takes each participant as they come. Be prepared to win regardless if you lose. Challenge yourself to take something of value from every situation and encounter.
Learn, adapt, go at it again. Prepare.
Task #1
Get your background report. Get it yourself. Get it today.
Onward!