Beginning in 2014, a new law in Minnesota will prevent employers from asking about a felony record on employment applications. Yet these employers can still ask about a person's criminal record through other means, such as in an interview, or by requesting a criminal background history from state law enforcement agencies.
While a handful of other cities and states already have similar hiring rules, it's unclear what impact these laws are having on the unemployment rate among felons. I strongly suspect attentive hiring managers are finding ways to determine an applicant's criminal record before the interview process begins. A simple internet search can provide information regarding a person's arrest in almost any state. Unfortunately, these internet searches often do not distinguish between people who share the same name (I have personal experience with this), and they usually do not accurately display the disposition of the charges (conviction, dismissal, etc).
Even if this type of law were to be adopted in Tennessee (which is doubtful), the advice I give to felons would remain the same: always be honest about your felony record. Of course, I also help felons to practice their interviewing skills to develop better methods of discussing their criminal history. My program's results show that well-prepared felons who honestly address their felony record can be very successful at finding employment.
While a handful of other cities and states already have similar hiring rules, it's unclear what impact these laws are having on the unemployment rate among felons. I strongly suspect attentive hiring managers are finding ways to determine an applicant's criminal record before the interview process begins. A simple internet search can provide information regarding a person's arrest in almost any state. Unfortunately, these internet searches often do not distinguish between people who share the same name (I have personal experience with this), and they usually do not accurately display the disposition of the charges (conviction, dismissal, etc).
Even if this type of law were to be adopted in Tennessee (which is doubtful), the advice I give to felons would remain the same: always be honest about your felony record. Of course, I also help felons to practice their interviewing skills to develop better methods of discussing their criminal history. My program's results show that well-prepared felons who honestly address their felony record can be very successful at finding employment.