Before hiring anyone, most trade employers will do a background check that includes criminal history, driving records and past employment. If they’re diligent, they will also attempt to contact the people you list as references to see what they say about you.
If you have a clean background, have never been in significant trouble, and are confident your references will speak well of you, then you need not read any further. Congratulations.
However, nobody is perfect. Many of us have so-called skeletons in our closet that we’d prefer to keep hidden. If that describes you, it will make it harder to land a decent job in the trades or most other worthwhile fields. But not impossible.
My first piece of advice is not to lie when asked about your background. Lies may get you past the job interview stage, but they always come back to haunt you. This doesn’t mean you have to volunteer negative information of a minor nature, such as being suspended from high school for some violation of school rules. However, if it’s likely to show up on a background check, it’s better to address the issue up front rather than wait for it to be discovered.
That’s because if you come clean up front, an employer may cut you some slack. That’s unlikely if you compound your past trouble with a lie. Even worse is to get settled in a good job but get fired later when the truth comes out for whatever reason.
If you got in trouble years before but have stayed out of trouble since, you can chalk it up to youthful indiscretion. “I’ve grown up and learned my lesson,” is a statement that will gain you sympathy from many employers. Of course, it depends on the nature of your “indiscretion.” If you’ve been convicted of a felony and served time in jail, you may be limited to applying for jobs with employers known for giving offenders a second chance. (I’ll address this issue in my next blog.) If it’s a crime involving drug usage or dealing, you have a good chance of landing a job if you can pass a drug screening, which most trade employers insist on these days.
If the job you’re applying for involves driving a vehicle, your employer will almost certainly do a background check of your driving record with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. DUIs and reckless driving convictions are certain to show up. If it happened once, the “I learned my lesson” plea may enable you to pass muster, especially if your license is not currently suspended. If your license has been revoked or suspended, you will be limited to applying for jobs where driving is not required.
One final tip: when you list character or employment references on a job application, contact them ahead of time to make sure they will speak well of you. This courtesy is appreciated by those serving as a reference and prepares them for when a potential employer reaches out.
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