Talking About Your Record in Interviews
A short, honest way to say it.
You’re sitting across from the hiring manager. The interview has gone well, and you know you can do the work. Then they ask: “Is there anything you’d like to tell us before we run the background check?”
For a lot of people, this is the moment their nerves take over. Their eyes drop, their voice goes quiet, and they either say far too much or freeze.
It helps to remember what the interview is for. The employer wants to know whether you can do the job and whether you’ll show up. A calm, short, honest answer gives them that, and lets you get back to talking about the work.
Where this comes from
After incarceration, I carried my record into every interview. I either said too much or tried to avoid it, and neither felt right. What changed things for me was practice: writing a short, true answer and saying it out loud until it stopped shaking me. That was part of rebuilding, and it’s why I share this outline now.
What employers are usually weighing
Most employers are thinking about the job in front of them. Can you do the work? Will you be reliable? Is there anything that would affect this particular role? Your answer can speak to those questions directly.
If you know a check will show something, you may decide to raise it yourself rather than wait for it to come up. Whether and when to do that is your choice. If you’re unsure what you need to share, check with your lawyer or a community legal clinic first. Our guide, Record Checks and Telling Employers, explains what each type of check can show.
Four parts to practise
Write your own version of each part, then say it out loud until you can say it calmly. Only say what’s true for you.
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“Before you run the background check, I’d like to mention something you’ll see on it.”
(Why it helps: you raise it calmly, in your own words.)
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“A few years ago, I went through a hard time that led to a conviction. That chapter is behind me, and I’ve done what the court required.”
(Why it helps: it’s short and factual. Only say you’ve done everything the court required if that’s true for you.)
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“Since then, I’ve [what you’ve done: for example, finished a program, earned my safety tickets, stayed sober, kept steady work]. It taught me to take responsibility and follow through.”
(Why it helps: it shows the employer who you are now.)
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“I’m not the person I was then. I’m focused on doing this job well, and I’m ready to start.”
(Why it helps: it closes the topic and brings the conversation back to the work.)
“Things to leave out
When you’re nervous, it’s easy to ramble. Try to avoid:
- Blaming the police, the court or anyone else. Even if you feel you were treated unfairly, it pulls the conversation away from the job.
- Personal or family details. They aren’t part of a job interview.
- The full story of the case. A short summary is enough. If they ask more, answer briefly and honestly.”
Get ready
Nervous? That’s normal, and it means this matters to you. What helps most isn’t confidence, it’s practice. Most people have never heard themselves say these words out loud, so don’t let the interview be the first time. Cole (CPC · ICF member) offers a free 15-minute call to talk through how you’d like to prepare.