Case Study Overcoming gaps in your CV Even with a long gap in his work history and unspent convictions, as long as you are prepared to work hard and put the effort in, people will give you a chance and you can turn your life around for good.
James approached new futures as he needed assistance with developing a disclosure letter and with his job search. He had spent a long time in custody, during which he had gained his CSCS card as it was his ambition to get a job in the construction industry. He had been applying for vacancies but he was not being offered any interviews, which was starting to make him feel discouraged. James and his new futures case manager discussed his applications and how to improve them. James felt that with such a long gap in his work history, and with his offence, he was ‘never going to get a job’. To increase his confidence, they developed a positive disclosure letter and it was suggested to James that under the question ‘have you got any unspent convictions’ on his application forms, he simply put ‘happy to discuss during interview’. James had also applied to local recruitment companies and had been honest about his unspent conviction, even if he was not asked to disclose. Initially, he found this difficult and felt that it was adding additional barriers to him getting employment. However after discussions with his new futures case manager, he understood the importance of being honest and how this could help his employment prospects in the long run. James contacted his new futures case manager a few weeks later to say that he had attended a successful interview with a recruitment company who liked his enthusiasm and eagerness to work. He had disclosed during the interview and the interviewer had appreciated this. James was offered a position as a labourer but the employer wanted a reference and James was unable to provide one. He discussed this with his new futures case manager, and whilst the case manager was not eligible to be a referee he instead suggested that he could speak to the manager to discuss his vocational risk assessment. James was very pleased with this, so his case manager contacted the employer to explain James’ background and his determination and hard work that had gone into trying to change his life around. The employer was satisfied and James was given a temporary 13 week contract, during which he worked so hard that his employer was extremely impressed and wanted to offer him further work. The employer contacted new futures to enthuse about his great work performance, stating that he was ‘Desperately trying to find a permanent contract for him as he didn’t want to have to let him go’. This was great news for James and showed him that even with a history of offending, unspent convictions and a long gap in his work history, if you are prepared to work hard and put the effort in, there are second chances and you can turn your life around.