Ask an Expert: I Have a Criminal Record and Nobody Will Hire Me

Every day, we get questions from people seeking special assistance with their job searches. One common theme is job searching with a criminal record. How much should you disclose and when should you disclose it? How do you explain your criminal record and still land a job? How do you address it during an interview?

There are so many variables that make finding a job even more complicated if you have a criminal record. And in a challenging job market, many feel like they don't have a chance against job seekers with clean records.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that in 2009, more than 7.2 million people were under some form of correctional supervision including probation, prison, jail, and parole. More than 97 percent of all U.S. prisoners are eventually released, and communities are absorbing nearly 650,000 formerly incarcerated individuals annually, according to a report by the Council of State Governments.