Joseph,

Thank you for your question!  I think there are a lot of people wondering what the best way to handle “old” convictions is and what the impact of the conviction would be on their future license.

Since this is a big investment of time and money for you to become a nurse, I also strongly suggest checking with the Bureau of Registered Nursing to make sure this wouldn’t impact your ability to get a license.  Occasionally the rules change and sometimes, we don’t know the full scope of those changes.  I will say that from what I understand, since the conviction is from some time ago, it would probably not impact your ability to get a license (assuming the crime did not involve loss of life, violence, etc.).

Securing a position would be the next challenge you run into and the conviction may make things a little more difficult.

This can be a tough area to provide advice within, mainly because different people react to different things in different ways.  Some hiring managers think certain drug convictions are simply inexcusable; some will be more open to the circumstances.

Language on employment applications will also vary widely.  Some will ask whether or not you have ever been convicted or a felony or misdemeanor some will specify convictions within the past 7 years, and some will only focus on felonies and not misdemeanors.

My general and simplest suggestion is to always be honest and upfront by disclosing everything.  Generally this is better received by the employer vs. finding out later on their own.  But please understand there may be the risk of someone reviewing your information that will apply a stricter standard than another reviewer at another company or unit/department might.

If you find your openness is causing a problem (i.e. you aren’t getting interviews), then you may want to look carefully at the language of the application and provide the specific information requested about convictions.   If the application asks for any convictions regardless of time, I would definitely disclose everything, even down to traffic tickets.  If it asks for felony convictions, then disclose only the felony, if it asks for disclose within a certain timeframe, the past 7 years for example, then I would disclose anything within the last 7 years, etc.

I wish you the best in your studies!

Mike

Hi Lynn,

First, congratulations on obtaining your certificate!  Now, finding a position fresh out of school is always a challenge and is made especially difficult because of the state of the current employment market.

Whenever you’re looking for a job, you need to leverage your strengths.  Most people forget that searching for a position is a marketing campaign where, just like a car company needs to convince you that their car is the best for you, you need to convince an employer that you are the best new addition to their team.

Start by reviewing your strengths.  I recommend looking at what you’ve done in other careers and/or jobs that you have had… if you’ve worked in retail or in a restaurant, highlight customer service skills and being able to work with the public.  Be prepared to discuss all these experiences in detail with specific examples.   Invariably, there are transferable skills from nearly every job you have had in the past that can help you get a new job.

Next I would leverage your network.  Everyone has a network of some sort, whether it is as simple as friends and relatives or as complex as a large international network of professionals that you know through LinkedIn, there are people you already know that can help.  So ask your friends if they could send your information to their doctors or other people they know can help.  With your resume include a letter that explains to the recipient, I am a new grad with great skills looking for a new position, while you may not be hiring someone, I would appreciate it if you could pass this along to any of your colleagues that may have a need.  Speak to your doctor(s) and see if they know anyone hiring.  Many times people are surprised at how willing people are to help.

Finally, be realistic about your situation.  While I am sure you have some great skills, you are someone with no experience.  So, while you may want to work for a particular group of employers, it is best to be as open as possible.  Look at smaller doctor’s offices, clinics in the community, and places that can give you some experience so you are better able to get the position at your first choice employer later.

However, being open also does not mean doing something that is absolutely unrealistic, so look at how much you need to make (not how much you want to make), look at how far you will realistically commute, which parts of town you simply don’t feel comfortable with, etc..  All of this will help you determine what your limits are and allows you to focus on all the employers that fit those parameters.  This will build the foundation upon which a longer term career can start.

Good luck with your search!

Mike

Hi Vaishali-

Unfortunately I am not terribly familiar with the employment market in India and Clinical Research is somewhat outside of my area of expertise, even here in the US.

Perhaps the best thing for you to do is to speak to a Recruiter  that specializes in Clinical Research that is based in India. It would be even better to speak to someone that is within the region(s) that you are specifically interested in within India.   Generally the best information comes from people within the region. 

Mike

Our Featured expert, Michael Peterson, will be answering your questions. Michael is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the San Diego Association for Healthcare Recruitment.