A POSITIVE APPROACH: DEALING WITH YOUR BACKGROUND

Don’t Let Your Past Limit Your Future

Agenda

• Remember your Goal• Identify and Deal with your Background • Dealing with Difficult Questions from Employers• Preparing for the Interview• Realizing, “I CAN”

Remember Your Goal

Your goal is to secure employment which will reduce the pressure to re-offend while satisfying your other needs.

Answering Questions:

• Be up-front, honest, open and sincere• Don’t trivialize the offense• Listen to the question• Limit your responses to employment inquiries• Think about how to explain your error in judgment

Identify and Deal with Your Background

• Be prepared to answer questions an employer may ask about your background that could raise questions about your fitness for the job?

• Behavior• Gaps in resume• Career change

Identify and Deal with Your Background

•Why would someone want to hire me?

•Training•Experience•Knowledge•Work habits•Willingness to learn

•What are my best work characteristics?

•Enthusiastic•Team player•Detail oriented•Organized

Identify and Deal with Your Background

Dealing with Questions about a Difficult Background

• Give the information asked for– NO MORE! • Maintain good eye contact throughout • Acknowledge and take responsibility for your

actions

The Interview: When does it begin?

• Appearance• Non-verbal behaviors• Enthusiasm in your voice

Ask Yourself… What is the first thing the interviewer is

likely to notice about you? What non-verbal behaviors you need to

improve?

What Employers Want From You

• Skill• Dependable• Trustworthy• Commitment• Get along with others• Follow instructions• Listen & Learn

The “I CAN” mindset

• I– Inspire Daily• C– Control the Controllable• A– Act Now• N—Never Give UP!!!

I CAN• Expand my Network• Increase Time devoted to job search• Develop several Options• Complete a dynamite Resume

• Utilize all available Resources

I CAN…•Send follow-up Correspondence•Show up & “put my best foot forward”•Study my Target Company•Complete Courses to update skills•Review written Documents (your rap sheet)

Remind Yourself of Your Value

Value is at the heart of our self-esteem.

– I bring value to employers • Because I am good at…

• Because I help solve problems associated with…

• Because I help save time and money by….

Focus on Other Parts of Your Life

• Refresh positive relationships • Choose good friends• Exercise and eat healthy• Reconnect with your spiritual side• Pick up a hobby

QUESTIONS….

WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP FOR YOU?

We Can Help…

A POSITIVE APPROACH: DEAL WITH YOUR BACKGROUND