April is Second Chance Month, an annual time to raise awareness about the challenges people face after incarceration and to highlight opportunities to overcome those challenges and barriers.
One huge barrier to employment is the negative impact that a criminal record can have on a person’s job prospects. Although many cities and states have enacted “Ban the Box” or “Fair Chance” hiring policies to limit employer access to criminal background information, research shows that nearly 30% of people who have been incarcerated are unemployed.
Job seekers who have had an arrest or conviction have some options to improve their chance of success in a job search. They can find tips on how to talk to employers about a conviction or they can connect with a local re-entry program to get personalized assistance. Another great option is to look for ways to boost their qualifications.
A certification boost
For some job seekers, earning an occupational certification is a great way to stand out to employers. A certification is a credential that shows someone has specific skills or knowledge; it’s generally earned though specialized study and taking and passing an exam.
Earning a certification can give you a leg up in the job market—it’s a key item that hiring employers look for on resumes. Some employers may even require workers to have certain certifications.
Certifications are usually tied to an occupation or field of work but some are general such as the National Career Readiness Certificate, which can show employers that the person has mastered basic workplace skills.
Find certifications
Whether you’re a justice-impacted job seeker or anyone else looking for a way to boost your resume, you can learn more at CareerOneStop’s Certification Finder. You can get started by entering a keyword for the type of work you want to do.
You’ll find a list of certifications related to the keyword you entered. From there, you can use the filters to narrow your search. In your results, pay special attention to certifications marked with a chili-pepper icon: those certifications are considered “in demand” because they are frequently mentioned by employers in job postings.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Certification Finder Help section to find information and tips about searching for certifications.