Criminal record ‘worst thing to tell an employer’

You dont have to have been convicted of a crime even these days, it is enough to have just been charged. If then those charges are dropped you are still made to declare that you were charged on some applications. How fair is that? What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

The problem with the above situation is that the so called "crime" is never spent and can be carried around forever. I know somebody where this very thing has happened, where the charge was made as a precautionary procedure but later dropped but it has plagued this persons life because they have to declare it. If they do not they are accused of hiding something and it makes it look worse!

Colin I agree, 64 if you still have an active mind and healthy body and want to work, it is no age to stop. With an ageing population who will clearly have problems financially if they don't work, its terrible that their skills and experience cannot be put to good use.

I think its down to the arrogance of the younger generation who think only they are capable and wont listen to anyone over 40 (especially in the City) as are felt to be obviously past it. They would never admit it but I think they are quite intimidated by an older more experienced person! Shame....as you say such a waste.

Colin,
You don't have to be 60 something to suffer ageism. It is rife and I am suffering at 50 something. I am convinced it is covered under Favouratism, which is not discrimination.
May be I've got less than quarter of your post nominals!!!!!

Anoop Verma BIFM CILT

One of the functions of a the justice system is to decide on the punishments for any given offender. Once that offender has served out the punishment handed to them, surely then they should be judged to have served their time / fine / community service and therefore are once again a free member of society. Obviously there are certain offences that need measures for life (sex crimes etc), but to take Colin's case, he has received his punishment from the courts (I assume) and to continue to treat him like a criminal is plain wrong.

Unfortunately Colin despite your position, experience and numerous qualifications, it would appear that it all boils down to the fact that you failed to appreciate the risks involved with mixing alcohol and driving, and then their is the "what if's etc"

Apologies if I appear judgemental, it is not intended however you have broken one of lifes biggest taboo's and people will always be wary. good look for the future.

I was convicted of drink-driving 2 years ago. Consequently it appears on any CRB check for the next 11 years. I'm an interim manager with 10 years experience at senior level. Although contacted many times about assignments since the conviction, I've not been called for interview on any of them. I wonder why - none of the potential "employers" will say.

A secondary point; I have just become 64. Despite legislation, I'm becoming convinced that ageism is still rife.

Doubt I'll work again - it's enough to drive someone to drink!

Regards,

Colin Hazeldine
B.Sc., C.Eng.,CMarEng., M.I.Mar.E.S.T., M.B.I.F.M., M.N.I., A.I.I.B.

PS Letters added not to show off but simply to highlight a bit of the talent, experience and expertise that is going to waste - and incidentally which is not being passed on to the younger generation who sorely need it. They don't get it at school or college.

Enough, he said, climbing unsteadily off the soapbox.

Depends on so called crime as some might be considered alternative qualification in business where potentially entropreneurial even if not main stream and very much grey / black market activity ?

Other charges where violence involved maybe less appropriate for office or indoor work but could be usefull with some training for driving / security work ?

Others, as we have found, are brilliant working with Kids who have slipped thro the educational net and setting off on an alternative route to graduation into adult work/life especially where it has not been a happy experience for the ex-offender who only wishes to deter others from taking the same path.

However, the one common dinominator for all preventing and/or limiting potential employability is their awareness of their "functional illiteracy" that is reported by the majority as their primary reason for educational exclusion and embarking on an alternative route to graduation.

Nevertheless, according to the Audit Office on youth crime 80% self-modify their offending behaviours between their 25 & 26 birthdays and drop off police statistics leaving a hard core of 20% who perhaps are just too damaged or twitter and bisted by then and feel committed to an anti-social risk based life style.

"Access to text" and/or "Digital Literacy" now insidiously goes hand in hand with learning / train9ing and employability and perhaps it's not too late to redress this debilitating deficit as the majority of people can overcome this disability and be enabled to read at a rate of at least 180 word per minute represents a life changing basic skill.

I agree totally. Some people do change and go on to lead a good, useful and productive life. Why should something they did many years previous be held against them, especaily if they had expressed repentance, and had changed they way of living. They should be judged on how they are now performing.