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.

OFFICIAL FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION:

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:

    A government-issued ID (such as a driver license / state ID, PG. 43, or passport, PG. 60), AND
    EITHER your Social Security Number (SSN) (PG. 38) OR your Birth Certificate (PG. 31).

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]

COPIES OF YOUR CRIMINAL RECORDS:

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).

  1. 1844

    Adapted from Texas Community Building with Attorney Resources, Locked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry (2012).

  2. 1845

    Adapted from Texas Community Building with Attorney Resources, Locked Out: A Texas Legal Guide to Reentry (2012).