When potential employers and recruiters review an application for employment and they see a gap of x amount of months, or years, a red flag comes up. I know medical assistants who were arrested and spent time in jail, changed their lives but have a hard time finding employment to earn a living wage and move on.

Finding a job for someone who has legal or criminal issues is difficult. Many companies today run background screens and employers use standardized application forms and resumes to screen people out. If an application did not ask for the information, it is probably not relevant to the position. If it specifically asks, have you ever been convicted of a felony, then the answer should be yes and list the offense(s).

Unless the application asked specifically about convictions, it is okay to avoid bringing it up as a reason for leaving any prior employment. On the application, I would put "personal reasons."

Do not add on application or resume: I went to prison. Rather, if you must, put personal reasons, or "will
discuss at interview" on the application where it asks for reason for leaving any prior employment, and then be upfront and discuss it during the interview.

During the face-to-face interview:

A. Bring it up early
B. Admit to making a mistake
C. Admit to paying the price
D. Discuss how you have learned from this
E. Move on

It may take longer to get an interview then normal, but once you got it, be upfront. Your discussion with the interviewer should be honest and brief! Brief answers should go along the lines that you have made a mistake and paid for it, you have learned a valuable lesson, and would like a chance to prove to yourself and the community that you are a better person than that. That's it! Generalize rather that specify, and provide only what was requested.

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