1. A POSITIVE APPROACH: DEALING WITH YOUR BACKGROUND Don’t Let Your Past Limit Your Future

2. Agenda Remember your Goal Identify and Deal with your Background Dealing with Difficult Questions from Employers Preparing for the Interview Realizing, “I CAN”

3. Remember Your Goal Your goal is to secure employment which will reduce the pressure to re- offend while satisfying your other needs.

4. Answering Questions: Be up-front, honest, open and sincere Don’t trivialize the offense Listen to the question Limit your responses to employment inquiries Think about how to explain your error in judgment

5. Identify and Deal with Your Background Be prepared to answer questions an employer may ask about your background that could raise questions about your fitness for the job? Behavior Gaps in resume Career change

6. Identify and Deal with Your Background Why would someone want to hire me? Training Experience Knowledge Work habits Willingness to learn

7. What are my best work characteristics? Enthusiastic Team player Detail oriented Organized Identify and Deal with Your Background

8. Dealing with Questions about a Difficult Background Give the information asked for– NO MORE! Maintain good eye contact throughout Acknowledge and take responsibility for your actions

9. The Interview: When does it begin ? Appearance Non-verbal behaviors Enthusiasm in your voice Ask Yourself… What is the first thing the interviewer is likely to notice about you? What non-verbal behaviors you need to improve?

10. What Employers Want From You Skill Dependable Trustworthy Commitment Get along with others Follow instructions Listen & Learn

11. The “I CAN” mindset I– Inspire Daily C– Control the Controllable A– Act Now N—Never Give UP!!!

12. I CAN Expand my Network Increase Time devoted to job search Develop several Options Complete a dynamite Resume Utilize all available Resources

13. I CAN… Send follow-up Correspondence Show up & “put my best foot forward” Study my Target Company Complete Courses to update skills Review written Documents (your rap sheet)

14. Remind Yourself of Your Value Value is at the heart of our self-esteem. –I bring value to employers Because I am good at… Because I help solve problems associated with… Because I help save time and money by….

15. Focus on Other Parts of Your Life Refresh positive relationships Choose good friends Exercise and eat healthy Reconnect with your spiritual side Pick up a hobby

16. QUESTIONS….

17. WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP FOR YOU? We Can Help… A POSITIVE APPROACH: DEAL WITH YOUR BACKGROUND