The Big Issue: Careers Advice And Resources For Young People With Criminal Records

This Big Issue roundup links to useful resources for young offenders and people with criminal records. Overcome employment barriers with help and support.

You can learn from past mistakes and negative experiences. Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you can’t get a rewarding job, but employment laws and checks on your criminal records can make things confusing and form a barrier to taking your next career steps with confidence.

The Big Issue: How to get a job with a criminal record

The Big Issue have created a guide on how to get a job when you have a criminal record. It’s not just for young offenders and young ex-offenders. However, you will find some tips and resources to help you as a young person, and you will not be judged.

The Big Issue’s guide covers useful tips like:

  • Do you need to tell an employer about your criminal record?
  • When and how to tell a potential employer about any past convictions
  • The difference between spent and unspent convictions.

Working Chance

Working Chance offers help and advice to women with convictions. As a young woman with a criminal record you can develop the confidence, skills and self-belief needed to find jobs and build careers.

Working Chance works with employers like Pret A Manger and Redemption Roasters to help female-identifying ex offenders. They can help you find work placements that can lead to long term employment.

Unlock

Unlock is a charity that offers lots of information and support for all people with criminal convictions, including young offenders.

Unlock runs a helpline, open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, on 01634 247350.

Ways to overcome employment barriers as a young offender

If you’ve made some mistakes in life or done things you wish you could take back, you still have a lot to offer the world – and yourself. And there is help out there for you too. Our bite-sized guide here at Youth Employment UK can help you look at your potential in a new light.

We also offer free online courses for those aged 14 to 24, on everything from how to plan the career you want, to developing leadership, teamwork and creativity, offering certificates of achievement that can be added to your CV.

This includes a new, free virtual work experience programme, flagging placements that you can complete online at businesses such as Spotify.

We also offer careers education resources for youth services, and a careers hub with advice on how you can get into a wide range of jobs.

Discover Youth Friendly Employers

Royal Air Force There’s nothing like a career in the RAF, it’s not just a job but a way of living. EXPLORE Severn Trent Careers Discover opportunities for apprentices, graduates and undergraduates in the office and beyond! EXPLORE Haven Joining Haven is more than just a job. Our early careers are a breath of fresh air! EXPLORE Pret Apprenticeships & Careers When you apply for a Pret Apprenticeship or junior role, you’ll belong to a community of achievers. Get support on your own unique career journey! EXPLORE Essex Youth Service Aged 13-25 and live in Essex? Get involved in fun activities, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and online Plan B Traineeships. EXPLORE Get Into Teaching You can get a teaching degree for FREE with apprenticeships! EXPLORE Martin Brower Careers Break into business, admin and supply careers with Martin Brower. Don't settle for the status quo. EXPLORE Aspiration Training Traineeships & Apprenticeships in childcare, dental nursing, teaching, health/social care, and business admin EXPLORE The British Library Work experience, internships and apprenticeships with The British Library open up a WORLD of possibilities. EXPLORE Surrey County Council Careers Thinking about rewarding apprenticeships and early careers in a diverse environment? Fire up your career with SCC! EXPLORE Generation: Free Skills Training Get FREE skills and careers training today! Generation gives you skills and connects you with employers to find a job fast. EXPLORE NCFE Vocational Qualifications Young people get amazing perks when they work for the NCFE, with apprenticeships and more. The training is great, too. EXPLORE Prezzo Restaurant Careers Prezzo offers so many early careers, from cooking great food and giving great customer service to managing like a boss! EXPLORE Careers in Racing Horse racing is a great career choice! British Racing is the 2nd largest spectator sport after football. EXPLORE VHR Technical Recruitment The VHR talent academy can help you get into a successful technical recruitment career - with NO experience! EXPLORE McDonald's Early Careers You probably knew you can get McDonald's Apprenticeships. Did you know you can also study for a FREE Management Degree? EXPLORE Coca-Cola EuroPacific Want to work for one of the most well-known brands in the world? They work hard to develop their young people! EXPLORE Environment Agency Careers Our work helps to protect and improve the environment to make it a better place for people and wildlife. Join us! EXPLORE Working in local government Local government touches everyone's lives every day EXPLORE ABP Foods Apprenticeships, graduate schemes and an AMAZING early careers academy in the world of sustainable food EXPLORE Careers in Eyecare From healthcare lab to high street fashion - you don't need a degree to open your eyes to eyecare careers EXPLORE Catch22 Youth Services Want to overcome barriers in life, whatever your background? Want employers to give you a chance? We can help. EXPLORE Coach Core Apprenticeships See how Coach Core Apprenticeships get you into sport careers EXPLORE Historic England Discover early careers in heritage for all backgrounds, skills and interests. EXPLORE IHG Early Careers Discover how you can grow your career in hospitality! EXPLORE
IHG Hotels and Resorts
Severn Trent

Email us at info@youthemployment.org.uk or call 01536 513388.

Build Skills + Confidence

Want a big boost in your life and work skills? Sign up to our free online Young Professional programme today!

Young Professional Programme

Get FREE skills training when you sign up. Get support with your personal confidence, positive attitude and coping with change!

Self Belief | Communication | Teamwork | Problem Solving | Self Management

FREE Online Courses

Boost your skills and careers confidence with FREE online courses. Complete them your own pace and get a certificate for your CV! Sign in as a Young Professional to get automatically enrolled.

Get Jobs + Experience

Find Opportunities

Looking for jobs and opportunities near you? Sign in as a Young Professional to see the latest jobs, apprenticeships, grad schemes, CV workshops, career events and early career opportunities in your area!

Latest Careers Help

Be Yourself

Mental Health

Stay Curious

Overcoming Barriers

For Students

Student Guides

For Teachers

Teacher Resources

Teachers - see how to use the Young Professional programme in your school or college, with lots of free teaching resources at your fingertips.