Employers often require background checks prior to hiring new employees, which could impact you negatively if you have a criminal record. Your past could influence what potential employers think of you.
Knowing how to prepare for a background check could improve your confidence and ability to handle the situation with professionalism. Your response might make a difference in your outcome.
Hire a third party to run a check
Drug crimes could raise some concerns for employers regarding your reliability and productivity in the workplace. They might also have concerns about their reputation or what could happen if negative behavior impacts the organization.
If you know potential jobs will require a background check, Monster suggests hiring a third party to run a check for you. This will give you a good idea of what could happen after an employer conducts a background check so you can feel prepared to refute any concerns they might bring up.
Make sure you start the conversation
Armed with your own knowledge of what a background check could say about you, start a conversation before the employer learns about your past. By law, employers should request written consent prior to conducting a background check on you. At this time, briefly disclose your past and the lessons you learned. Reassure the interviewer that your past will not interfere with your ability to work hard and meet performance expectations.
Sharing openly and honestly without divulging too many details can build character and highlight your integrity. This approach could still give you the upper hand even after the interviewer notices your drug crimes during a background check. With the right approach, you might mitigate the negative effects of your past on your ability to secure a job.
