This is an excerpt from "Unlocking Opportunities: How to Find a Job With a Criminal Record, " a 38-page guidebook of expert advice and step-by-step instructions on navigating the employment landscape with a criminal record.
Create a Strong Resume and Cover Letter
Having a strong resume and cover letter is crucial when searching for a job, especially with a criminal record. They are usually the first things an employer sees when considering you for a job and can impact their decision to consider you for a position. With a good resume and cover letter, you can highlight your skills, experiences, and qualifications, shifting the focus away from your criminal record and onto your professional capabilities. Overall, they make it more likely that you’ll get noticed by employers and get invited for an interview.
Defining Your Goal
Before you start writing your resume from scratch or tweaking an old one, it’s smart to think about what you’re aiming for. This is your “Objective.” Knowing your objective helps you figure out the best style and layout for your resume, and what information is or isn’t relevant.
Ask yourself these questions:
What job title or position do I want?
What are my short-term and long-term career goals?
What skills and strengths do I want to show off?
What makes me unique?
What achievements or experiences do I want to highlight?
Resume Templates
A resume template is a premade layout for a resume. It’s a structured document that outlines where to put different sections like your contact information, work experience, education, and skills. Think of it as a blueprint that helps you organize your information in a clear and professional way. Resume templates come in various designs and styles, allowing you to choose one that best fits your preferences and the type of job you’re applying for. Using a template can save you time and effort while creating your resume.
Microsoft Word offers great resume templates you can use to get started:
Open Microsoft Word and click on the “File” menu.
Select “New” to open the template gallery.
In the search bar, type “resume” to see the templates available.
If you don’t have access to Microsoft Word, Google Docs is a free option you can use to create your resume. Go to the Google Docs website and sign in with your Google account. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Template Gallery” button, and scroll down until you see the “resume” section.
Content
When putting together your resume, it’s important to include the right content that showcases your skills, experiences, and qualifications. Here’s a list of content you should include:
Personal Information: Always include your name, phone number, and email. If you would like, you can also include your address. You can also add a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website if appropriate.
Objective: Including an objective in your resume is a good idea if you are looking for a specific job. Write a brief statement highlighting your career goals, skills, and what you bring to the table.
Example Objective:
Reliable warehouse worker seeking to leverage strong organizational skills to contribute to the efficient operation of a dynamic warehouse environment.
Work Experience: Listing your work experience on your resume is key for showcasing your skills, accomplishments, and professional growth. Always start with your most recent job and work backward. For each job, include:
Job Title: What your job was called.
Company Name: Where you worked.
Location: The city and state where you worked.
Dates of Employment: When you worked there, including the month and year (“June 2018 - Present” or “March 2020 - August 2022”).
Description: Use bullet points to talk about what you did and what you achieved. Focus on results and use strong action words like “Developed” or “Managed.” Try not to include more than five different jobs. Keep each job’s description to six bullet points or less, with each bullet point being just a couple of lines long.
Experience Earned While Incarcerated
If you worked while you were in jail or prison, that experience can be very valuable to employers, especially if it relates to the job you’re applying for. Here are some things you might want to mention:
Teamwork: Talk about how you worked with others to get things done.
Following Directions: Mention how you were good at doing what you were told.
Safety Standards: Say how you made sure everything was done safely and by the rules.
When you’re listing experience earned inside, use the initials of the facility you were incarcerated in instead of the company name. For example, if your job was at the Franklin County Correctional Center, you would list “FCCC” as the company name.
Example of Work Experience on a resume, including jobs while incarcerated:
Joe’s BBQ, Atlanta, GA — MANAGER
08/2023 to Present
- Managed all aspects of daily operations, including managing budgets, inventory control, and vendor relations.
- Oversaw facility maintenance, ensuring a clean, safe, and inviting atmosphere for patrons.
- Interviewed, selected, trained, and supervised staff.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction through consistent delivery of high-quality food and service.
Buddy’s Burgers, Smithville, GA — ASSISTANT MANAGER
03/2023 to 07/2023
- Led team and performed all daily operations of the restaurant.
- Assisted General Manager in recruiting/hiring, scheduling, ordering, and team development.
- Ensured excellent customer experience.
FCCC — KITCHEN STAFF MEMBER
01/2021 to 01/2023
- Prepared and cooked meals based on specifications.
- Sanitized dining ware and kitchen equipment according to health code standards.
- Kept supplies in sufficient stock by assessing inventory levels and reporting lower stock items.
RSP — KITCHEN STAFF MEMBER
10/2019 to 01/2020
- Prepared and cooked meals based on specifications.
- Operated kitchen equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
- Kept kitchen clean and organized.
RSP — BUILDING MAINTENANCE
08/2018 to 10/2019
- Utilized variety of tools and test equipment to troubleshoot and diagnose equipment malfunctions.
- Performed preventive maintenance and repairs on various types of equipment.
- Quickly responded to internal service calls regarding malfunctioning equipment and completed repairs.
Education: Make sure to include your education details, like your highest level of schooling, any degrees you earned or are working on, the name of the school, where the school is/was located, and when you graduated. If you went to college or are still in college, you don’t need to mention your high school info.
If you have more than one college degree, put the newest one first. If you received any special awards or honors related to your education, you can add those too.
Examples of Education on a Resume:
Education:
General Educational Development (GED)
FCCC, Columbus, OH
Education:
High School Diploma
George Washington High School, Columbus, OH
June 2018
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
XYZ University, Columbus, OH
Expected Graduation: May 2025
Honors: President's List
Skills/Certifications: These sections can be valuable if you have any certifications or skills that are related to the job you are applying for. You should use bullet points to separate the skills/certifications and always list the most relevant skills/certifications at the top. Use the list of skills you identified in the “Self-Assessment and Skill Identification” chapter to build your lists.
For example, for a Forklift Operator job:
Skills:
- Forklift & Reach Truck Operation
- OSHA Compliance
- Palletizing
- Material Handling
- Equipment Maintenance
- Warehouse Safety
Certifications:
- Forklift Operator Certification
- Hazardous Materials Handling
- Warehouse Safety Training
For a Food Service job:
Skills:
- Team Leadership
- Food Preparation/Cooking Staff
- Supervision/Development
- Schedule Management
- Stocking and Replenishing
- Budget Management
- Kitchen Sanitization
- Sanitary Food Handling Procedures
- Customer Service
Certifications:
- OSHA General Industry Safety & Health
- ServSafe Food Handler
For a Receptionist job:
Skills:
- Excellent Communication
- Strong Interpersonal Skills
- Customer Service Orientation
- Professional Telephone Etiquette
- Multitasking Abilities
- Organizational Skills
Certifications:
- Administrative Professional Certification
- Microsoft Office Specialist Certification
- Notary Public Certification
Creating a Cover Letter
A cover letter is like an extra note to the employer, explaining why you’re interested in a job, what skills you have, and why you’re the best fit for it. You should write a unique cover letter for each job you apply to. In each cover letter, talk about the skills and experiences that match what they’re looking for in the job. Make sure it looks neat and professional and check it for spelling mistakes before sending it.
Content
Opening Paragraph: Start your cover letter with a strong opening paragraph that states the position you’re applying for and how you learned about the job. You can also mention why you’re interested in the role and the company.
Main Body: In the main body of your cover letter, focus on why you’re a great fit for the job. Pick out 3 or 4 important things from your education, work experience, or personal qualities that match what the job needs. It’s also a good idea to say why you’re excited about the company and what they do. Maybe you admire their mission or you’ve heard great things about their work culture. Showing that you’ve done your homework and you’re genuinely interested in the company can make a big difference.
Closing Paragraph: In the last paragraph, mention what happens next and let them know you’re eager to talk more in an interview. Instead of sounding desperate, keep it positive and confident. Give them your phone number and email address, and if there are specific times you’re available, you can mention that too.
"One of the first things an employer sees is your email address, so make sure to use a professional email address when applying for jobs. If you have slang or inappropriate words/phrases in your email address, it doesn’t put your best foot forward. Create another email address that is neutral and professional to use for job hunting. For example, john.g.doe@gmail.com or j.g.doe@gmail.com." - Melissa D., Chief of Staff at Honest Jobs
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