Advice from a career consultant

I’ve got a criminal conviction – who will employ me?

• Work and Income can help you with finding employment. They may have contacts with marae, community or church-based work programmes.
• The youth transitions service can also help you.
• The most important thing is to start to build up a good work record and get help to re-establish yourself into the community. Voluntary work can be a good place to start.
• Be aware that in application forms for work, study, finance or travel to a foreign country you may be asked to declare any criminal convictions you’ve had.
• If you stay out of trouble, New Zealand’s clean slate law may mean a less serious criminal record can be wiped after seven years under certain circumstances.