5 Things Job Seekers and Employers Should Do This Year

5 Things Job Seekers and Employers Should Do This Year5 Things Job Seekers and Employers Should Do This Year5 Things Job Seekers and Employers Should Do This YearOver the past few weeks, weve received questions from job seekers whove spent time in prison, been convicted for driving under the influence, or been fired because of a wrongful behavior on the job. How, each wondered, can I overcome the bad deeds of my past and convince an employer to hire me? The harsh truth is It probably wont be easy. Most employers today already have a surplus of good candidates for each job opening, so the odds are not in your favor. But if youre willing to do what needs to be done, here are some tips to give yourself a better chance of success1) Own your mistakes.Whatever the issue was, accept that your own actions caused it. Dont try to convince employers that it was someone elses fault. No one wants to hire a whiner or a blamer. They might, however, take a chance on an honest person who screwed up b ut sincerely wants to get back on track.2) Be willing to pay your duesagain.No matter how much experience you have, youre a less desirable job candidate (on paper) than someone with similar credentials whose record is clean. If youre willing to step back down the ladder, it might give the employer an incentive to take a chance on you. Offer to take a pay cut, accept the worst shifts, or do whatever it takes to earn back your reputation as a good worker. The employer gets an experienced worker at a bargain price, and you get a foot in the door.3) Lean on people who know and trust you.People who already know you, especially those whove worked with you, are your best bet for employment. Theyre the ones who know that the good things about you outweigh the bad. According to an Urban Institute study on ex-offenders who found employment after prisonMost respondents who found work did so by speaking with friends and family however, the most successful strategy for long-term employment was r eturning to a previous employer. 4) Ask employers directly (but not for a job).If you dont have any family or friends who can help you find work, informational interviews can be very helpful. Blogger J.T. ODonnell of JT Dale Talk Jobs had a question from a man whod recently been fired for disobeying a company policy. J.T.s advice was to contact the HR department of a company in his fieldShare what happened to you and your regrets about it, then explain that you are now looking for the best way to prove to an employer that you would be a good hire. Youll learn to discuss what occurred in a way that will leave employers sympathetic to your situation.I think its a brilliant idea to ask actual employers what would make them willing to take a chance on you. They might give you some great insights to use when you land an interview.The bottom line is that you need to get employers to see you as a real person who (as we all do sometimes) made a bad mistake, but who nonetheless has the expe rience and desire to do a great job and be a valuable employee now. It may require a series of small steps, but once youre back in the workforce, each positive action and accomplishment will make your past digressions less and less important.