Check out some FAQs below about writing a cover letter if you have a conviction.

Q: Should I include my conviction in a cover letter? 

A: The decision is yours - but know your rights before making a decision! Ask CEO staff if Fair Chance Hiring (aka Ban the Box) applies in your area. If it does, employers can't ask about criminal history until after they've made a job offer. If a job application asks whether you have a conviction, we recommend answering truthfully. You can say something along the lines of "Yes, I would be happy to discuss further or provide more details in an interview." During an interview, follow the tips in the picture above to answer the conviction question.

Q: What if I don’t have relevant work experience?

A: Choose a similar job, internship, volunteer experience or any professional experience that demonstrates how the skills you gained are transferable to the job on hand. You can also mention certificates and licenses you've earned and the tools and technology you know how to use. If you feel comfortable talking about it, work experience while incarcerated definitely counts! You've gained valuable, transferrable skills from jobs while incarcerated that you can mention in your resume, cover letter and interview. On your resume, you can list your employer as your state department of corrections.

Q: How do I explain a gap in my resume when I was out of the workforce? 

A: If you're asked about a gap in your resume or you would like to explain it in a cover letter, follow the steps in the picture above. You can also create a functional resume instead of a traditional resume. Functional resumes highlight skills over experience and education while traditional resumes are organized chronologically with the most recent work experience on top. You can use this functional resume template to build your own.