When it comes to the justice system, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions that have persisted over time. Unfortunately, these myths often prevent people with criminal records from getting hired, even when they are the best candidate for the job. In this blog article, we will dispel some of the top myths about hiring people with criminal records.
Myth # 1 - Most employers don’t hire people with criminal records.
This is simply not true. According to a study by the SHRM, 66% of HR professionals have worked at an employer that hired people with criminal records. More and more employers are committed to fair-chance hiring, and legislation is advancing the cause, as well.
Myth # 2 - People with felonies won’t succeed.
This is also not true. A study by the US Military found that people with felony convictions were actually 32% more likely to be promoted than enlistees without criminal histories.
Myth # 3 - Employees will feel uncomfortable.
In fact, he majority of colleagues are willing to work with someone who has a criminal record. They may well know someone who's been impacted by the criminal justice system: 113 million Americans have an immediate family member who has been incarcerated.
Myth # 4 - People with criminal records are only qualified for entry-level and blue-collar jobs, not for white-collar management or technical roles.
While it is true that the justice-involved population does skew lower in education and career progress, there are people with criminal records who are qualified for every type of job, at every level of seniority.
How to be a myth buster
If your organization is interested in expanding its hiring practices to include people with criminal records, we can help. Honest Jobs is a fair-chance hiring platform that connects qualified candidates with criminal records to employers who are willing to give them a chance.
For more information, please visit our website at honestjobs.com or email us at employers@honestjobs.com.
We covered this content and more at our Denver Startup Week Session, "The Case for Hiring People with Criminal Records". You can watch the full session recording here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3AK9NkrfCQ&t=818s