Drug crimes can negatively impact your life if you do not proactively change your habits, but the good news is that they do not have to prevent you from success. While finding a job, for example, might not be as easy as if you did not have a criminal record, it certainly is an attainable goal.
Knowing how to mitigate the impact of past crimes on your job eligibility may improve your chances of a satisfactory outcome.
Knowing where to look
To keep your morale up and your confidence high, you should know where to look for employment. Drug charges will most likely thwart your effort to find a job in health care, finance, law or education. This does not mean you can never find those types of jobs, but right now it would work better to look elsewhere. Some jobs you can consider include the following:
- Customer service
- Food delivery
- Janitorial work
- Administrative work
- Construction
Maintaining a realistic perspective of what you qualify for might reduce feelings of inadequacy and failure.
Completing a background check
Some employers might require a background check which will reveal your drug crimes. However, according to CNN Business, in recent years studies show that nearly 40% of employers have loosened requirements for background checks. Still, if the topic comes up during an interview, provide a strategic, honest answer about your past. Highlight how your experience made a difference in your life and what you learned from it. You have the power to show interviewers your potential.
Drug crimes can have serious outcomes, sure. However, you can control how your past impacts your future.
