Interview number 50!

Scuffer

tomterm8 wrote: »

Well, all you can do is answer the question honestly.

Have you considered applying for restaurant / kitchen porter positions? I doubt time in prison would be anywhere near as much of an issue for that kind of job compared to a retail position where you are handling money.

They probably won't even ask if you've done time in prison.

No i haven't but i'm going to search now

iclayt

If they ask what the nature was, I honestly think honesty is the best policy. Lies come back to bite you in the bum, everytime. If they don't want you because of the conviction, they won't want you if they find out you lied about it either.

I would say, "A friend asked me to take some marijuana in to a music festival in return for cash. I must stress I am not and have never been a user of any drugs - but I was a hard up student and naively agreed to do it. The sniffer dog caught me, and it turned out to be more than just a bag of weed. I was duly arrested and the judge sentenced me for possession with intent. I made a stupid mistake which I am ashamed of, but I have learned from it and I'm ready to start again".

Shazza122

Nothing to add but I really hope the interview goes well and you get a job soon!!

makeyourdaddyproud

Let us not forget the considerate nature of Debenhams, who obviously looked at things on balance from the apps form. A gold star for them for taking the time to invite you in after their 50th face to face.

Scuffer

iclayt wrote: »

If they ask what the nature was, I honestly think honesty is the best policy. Lies come back to bite you in the bum, everytime. If they don't want you because of the conviction, they won't want you if they find out you lied about it either.

I would say, "A friend asked me to take some marijuana in to a music festival in return for cash. I must stress I am not and have never been a user of any drugs - but I was a hard up student and naively agreed to do it. The sniffer dog caught me, and it turned out to be more than just a bag of weed. I was duly arrested and the judge sentenced me for possession with intent. I made a stupid mistake which I am ashamed of, but I have learned from it and I'm ready to start again".

My auntie has been helping me practice this question and i have used parts of what you and another poster said and added my own words as well. I feel my answer is going to be better than before and i feel more prepared now.

iclayt

How did it go?

I_Can_Haz_Job?

I hope your interview went well - you really deserve a clean slate and the training you did should stand you in good stead. I work in the charity sector part of my job is to look for grant funding - there's so many organisations out there that give money to charities that support ex-offenders - both advisory and therapeutic, arts, poetry, and so on. Why not look for a job with or via one of these? Perhaps work as an advisor on a helpline for offenders or their families? You sound like a bright, intelligent person and you could really help someone with your skills and experience - of the good and the bad. Your time in prison shouldn't define you but rather than it being a bad thing in your past, why not use it to change your future. I thought I'd pass on some interesting links I've found that might be useful.

http://www.prisonerseducation.org.uk/index.php?id=home
http://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/
http://www.unlock.org.uk/main.aspx
http://www.finecellwork.co.uk/about_us


Hope things work out for you x

Scuffer

iclayt wrote: »

How did it go?

Not great i think because i was nervous, now it is the waiting game to prolong the inevitable fail. I swear the waiting to find out is worse than going to the interview lol.

noelphobic

Scuffer wrote: »

Not great i think because i was nervous, now it is the waiting game to prolong the inevitable fail. I swear the waiting to find out is worse than going to the interview lol.

I hope you get the job but if you don't make sure you ask for feedback.

robatwork

What did they ask in the interview with regard to your 2 year absence?
It was implied earlier in this thread that you were in prison for 2 years - if you gave that explanation to me about a bag of weed in a festival I would think you were lying as the sentence isn't comensurate.

On the plus side for you, your crime wasn't violent or involve theft (or did it?)- as an employer I would avoid people with a record for the above more than for a drugs offence....