Today, employers have developed an increasing concern over the subject of criminal history and records when it comes to hiring their workforce. More employers are making pre-employment background checks a staple of their hiring program. This safeguards them in cases where negligent hiring has lead to suits against them, where an employee who has not been properly screened, committed an act which resulted in substantial damages to property, personal injury or theft. Persons who have a criminal record that might include a misdemeanor or felony, can experience some negative impacts while on the job search. Unless the crimes have been expunged and eliminated from a criminal record, persons with a criminal history will have a number obstacles to overcome in finding suitable employment.

1.Restrictive Job Search

Persons who have an outstanding criminal record will be forced to seek out employment that has little or no restrictive requirements. However, today that possibility is beginning to evaporate since most employers will exercise due diligence in performing criminal history background checks. Most city, county, state and government jobs require thorough background investigations, and by default, most certainly will perform deep investigative background checks for all misdemeanors and felonies. The only exceptions might be for parking tickets or vehicle equipments violations. Hiring a firm like Murfreesboro Criminal Lawyer is an excellent resource for defining what constitutes a criminal act that might impact a hiring decision. Such restrictions narrow the job opportunity field for the applicant, considerably lessening their choices and making the job hunt much more difficult.

2. Wasted Training and Degrees

The attendance of universities, colleges and accredited independent training schools that required years of study and substantial financial outlay can all be lost if an applicant has acquired a criminal history just after graduation or during an employment stint. Even a person who has a degree or several in a professional craft or area of study can find themselves locked out of their chosen profession, regardless of how many years it took to acquire it. This can be devastating for young persons who have spent a good portion of their life preparing for and attending school. Graduates could still be in dept from students loans, with no way of making payments if they cannot reenter their chosen profession. If a crime on their criminal history record is egregious enough, they might not ever be able to find employment in their field of study or even within a related professional area.

3. Denied or Fired

The ultimate negative impact in searching for a job, while having a criminal history, is the prospect of being denied employment. In the view of the employer, the applicant poses too much of a risk and will not take the gamble. The denial process can happen time and time again from all employers, leaving little or no recourse. Persons who have lied on their applications or have committed a crime during employment face dismissal upon discovery. This can happen suddenly, leaving the employee stranded with no immediate source of income. Employers who have discovered falsified applications during a term of employment and fire the employee, will not likely provide a positive referral for future employment. Even if the crime was a non-violent misdemeanor, failing to record it on an application can be worse than confessing up front about criminal history.

4. Menial Job Positions

Persons accustomed to working in white-collar positions such as management, engineering, the core sciences or financial institutions might suddenly find their job search has regulated them to employment that has little or no professional requirements or standards. This could mean years of full-time employment as a nuclear physicist that might end with a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant or construction site. The step down in profession can be demeaning in both a personal and social sense. The wages can take a nosedive, leaving persons financially strapped and facing late bills, repossessions and even bankruptcy.

5. Depression and Anxiety

Failing to find an adequate job position because of a negative criminal history can take its toll on the nerves and cause mounting stress. Depression and anxiety often cause substance abuse, family turmoil and erratic behavior. Persons who have exhausted all of their job search possibilities can give up and retreat within themselves. With the emphasis placed on a good job and adequate income to support a normal and happy lifestyle, failure to find employment can lead to psychological and physical problems that might require professional help. Mental instability can reach a point where people can sometimes bring harm upon themselves or others.