What documents do I need before I apply for any job?
You should get: (1) official ID and (2) copies of your criminal records to review.
Before you apply for any job, you should begin the process of applying for basic government-issued IDs. (To learn more about different forms of official ID, see the BUILDING BLOCKS OF REENTRY: ID & VOTING CHAPTER, beginning on PG. 22.) In most cases, you will need at least:
You will need these ID documents when you apply for a job and complete the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-9, which all employees in the United States must fill out. Form I-9 proves you are legally allowed to work in the country. Your employer should give you this form to fill out. See Appendix A, PG. 615, for more information about Form I-9.
Please note that the employer cannot keep your documents, but may make a photocopy of them for your employment file.[1844]
You should get copies of your criminal records JUST FOR YOUR OWN REVIEW—so that you know what employers are likely to find out if/when they run a background check. This will help you prepare to answer questions about your history and to address any concerns an employer may have. It’s also good to get a copy of your official criminal record (called a “RAP Sheet”) just for you, to make sure that all the information is accurate, and to correct errors if you find them. See UNDERSTANDING & CLEANING UP YOUR CRIMINAL RECORD CHAPTER, PG. 931, for information about how to get a copy of your RAP sheet. See PG. 571, below, to learn more about background checks and what information your employer can see.[1845]
With a copy of your record in hand, it will also be very helpful to schedule an appointment with a reentry legal clinic or “clean slate” clinic hosted by a public defender’s office or nonprofit like Root & Rebound in your area! You can also call Root & Rebound on our weekly Reentry Legal Hotline any Friday at 510-279-4662 for advice about what an employer will see from your record (most cannot see everything).