We all have a past. Some of our past activities create gaps in our history that are easy to explain, while others are not. It is important to ensure that you present yourself in the best way possible. This includes being able to manage awkward conversations. You can polish your delivery to explain questions about job-hopping, or being fired or incarcerated. Some employers will request tests or other kinds of effort from you, and you can be ready for those as well.

Incarceration

Other absences from the workplace can be more difficult to explain. Incarceration is one such example.

If you have received an official pardon for a crime for which you were convicted, you do not have to mention that on your resume, nor do you have to bring it up in an interview in most cases. Make certain that you know the law where you live (this is your responsibility, just as it will be that of your potential employer). Depending on the type of work you do or intend to do, any conviction can affect your ability to be employed under bond, to work with children, or cross international borders.

In addition, a conviction can interfere with identification or security clearances. If you apply for a credit card, for example, and your previous address happens to be a penitentiary, you may feel as though you have no hope, but that is not the case. You can obtain other types of identification (such as a pre-paid credit card, library card, etc.) and re‑establish credit through utility or rental companies (if you rent a home) by paying all of your bills on time.

Speak with your parole officer, a representative from your bank, and a career counselor. (These resources can be accessed at no cost, in some circumstances, through state and provincial agencies). They can help you overcome some of these issues.

Temporary work assignments allow you to work on short-term assignments while gathering steady work references. This means that you will also gain credible access to the hidden job market and get work based on referrals from your network (i.e., former supervisors) instead of trying to submit a resume that has gaps in it.

Ask parole officers, clergy, and career counselors for help securing work, and be open to their suggestions and help. Sometimes we ask people to help but then don’t want to hear what they say. Yours is an awkward job search. You will need help.

Part of the common culture within the prison system includes substance abuse. If you were part of this group, stay involved with your counselors and support systems throughout your job search and as you undertake work.

A functional resume will emphasize your skills and put less emphasis on dates. However, employers are usually aware of this, and they will ask about gaps in your resume.

Returning to the Workforce After an Absence

If it has been a long time since you had a steady job, expect that there will be an adjustment period for you and your family. Having to be at work on time for every shift, preparing clothes the night before, making lunches, and ensuring that bus fares are on hand can take organization. These skills improve with practice.

Expect that you may have to prove yourself as a reliable, punctual, and trustworthy individual if your references are outdated. This can often happen to parents who have taken several years off to raise their children.

You may feel as though you are being challenged because of your decision to raise your family, but in many cases, you could be encountering wishful thinking by another parent who might have wanted to stay at home, as you did.

Work is healthy. Being a part of the workforce is a positive contribution that we make to society. Don’t shy away from things that you need to do because they are hard; you can adjust.

Job Hopping

Job hopping, or frequently changing jobs, used to be a real negative on a resume. In some cases it still is, but to a lesser extent. Up until the 1980s, it was common for people to work for the same employer for 30 years or longer before retiring.

Economic shifts in the ‘80s and ‘90s, as well as changing attitudes toward work, have resulted in people looking into the labour force more frequently than they did in the thirty years prior. Current figures say that people may change jobs between 10 and 15 times throughout their careers. These changes can be across different occupational categories. This means not only changing employers, but also the fundamental aspects of what they are doing to earn a living.

Job hopping is not necessarily perceived as negative when you are moving up and achieving your career goals. It can be important to manage the way that you leave a job, however, since you may want to return to that same company in the future for additional advancement or challenge.