Job Interviewing After Incarceration

I have worked a lot of jobs in a lot of different industries and been on both sides of the interview table. I have also learned from mistakes I and others have made on both sides of the table. Hopefully my experience will help you better navigate your next job interview.

Be early to the interview. At least 10 minutes early. Not only does this demonstrate you will be on time for work but also that you take the interview serious. It also allows you the much needed few minutes to relax and mentally prepare yourself. You never know who is watching and who they may talk to. Are you early, are you racing into the parking lot, did you have to run to get to building on time? In some instances the interview really starts from the moment you step onto the property so walk, drive, and act like the professional you know you are.

Don’t respond to negative subjects by denying the negative or talking about it. Talk about positives and change. If asked what happened to lead to a conviction, keep it as simple as possible then elaborate on positive change and intention. What were you convicted of? – answer stealing a car ( not grand theft auto), shooting at someone (not attempted murder), then immediately mention how you have changed or want to be different or positive lessons you have learned. Don’t ever lie, just keep the negatives as simple and to the point as possible. The more you talk about a negative even to say it was wrong, then the more the listener spends time thinking about the negative instead of positives and your potential. One good phrase I will always remember is when someone told me “I paid my debt to society, now I just want to be a part of society and do my part.”

You want to convince employer you will add value to the company so think ahead of time about ways you would do more than just do the job, but do the job better. This can be as simple as never being late, willing to work overtime, believe you have to work extra hard to prove yourself. It can also be more detailed such as a skill you are excellent at or experience or a unique perspective you have. The point is to have many reasons to give that make you better than the other 12 people they will interview.

Don’t be too ambitious. Nobody conducts an interview looking to fill the position of car sales associate thinking of that person becoming the sales manager. They fear you will be too impatient or be quick to leave the job.

Body language – sit up straight, do not get relaxed back in your seat. You want to look like you are very interested and paying attention. If you do not seem serious in an interview then they will suspect you won’t take the job serious. That does not mean you cannot smile or laugh at a joke.

Be polite. Nobody has ever been offended by someone saying please, thank you, sir, or ma’am. I have heard people claim this is just kissing butt and disrespecting yourself, but it is just the opposite. It is you acting at a higher level than most. To be polite requires a person who is in control of their emotions and is not threatened or insecure. Manners are the method of the calm and confident. Just the kind of person most people want to hire and work with.

Look neat and clean and that means a simple clean haircut too. Hair grows back. Managers just typically do not appreciate artistic expression in hair and clothes. Right or wrong that is just the way it is unless you are interviewing at DC Comics.

Use “I am” instead of “I will”. As an interviewer I want to hear someone say “I am always on time” NOT “I will always be on time”. “I am a quick learner” NOT “I will learn quick”. This shows you are proven instead of promising. Proof is always better than a promise. If you are forced into saying it, then say “I am always on time and I always will be”.

Learn about the company and find things you like about it to mention in interview. Not just the pay and benefits. Do they donate money to a charity you like? Is there something amazing they make or do? Are you impressed with the company’s history or progress?

A few good words and  phrases – I found God, I like clean living, I’m a very hard worker, after all I have suffered just having a normal job and life is great, I don’t like to rock the boat,  I am reliable, I am flexible, “skills” ( don’t just say your experience and talents call them skills). You could also say “prison was hard but I survived and I want to now keep moving in a positive direction” or “there were a lot of nasty people in prison and I am so appreciative to finally have the opportunity to live a positive normal life”. Don’t be afraid to mention God if it is important to you. Even atheists appreciate the value of an employee who has religious values.

Lastly, a note on job applications. Take your time and make it neat. When I would go through applications deciding who to interview the first thing I looked at was the writing. If the person could not take the time to write somewhat neat then they would not take the time to do quality work.