To shed light on how ex-convicts are looked at in the job world, Business in the Community, a company based in the UK, hired Leo Burnett London to create an ad to help remove the requirement to tick the box on hiring forms stating one has a criminal record.
The ads look like regular CVs, but instead of showing profiles of smiling faces and action words stating past achievements, the sentences reflect what a recruiter would actually be thinking when reading the resume. "He's been inside. 5 months. It throws you. 'An ex-offender' you think." These are just some of the lines that demonstrate how people tend to think knowing a potential hire has spent time in and out of prison.
Convict Resume Campaigns
The Ban the Box Ads for Business in the Community Sheds Light on Cons
Trend Themes
1. Ban-the-box Campaigns - Opportunity for businesses to advocate for removing the requirement to disclose criminal records on hiring forms.
2. Inclusive Hiring Practices - Rising trend of businesses promoting diversity and providing opportunities for ex-convicts to reintegrate into the workforce.
3. Transparent Recruiting - Growing emphasis on honesty in recruitment by addressing biases and fostering open conversations about applicants' criminal records.
Industry Implications
1. Human Resources - Chance for HR professionals to implement fair hiring processes that support ex-convicts' reentry into the job market.
2. Advertising & Marketing - Opportunity for agencies to develop impactful ad campaigns challenging societal perceptions of ex-convicts and encouraging equal employment opportunities.
3. Social Services - Potential for organizations to collaborate with businesses in advocating for policies that reduce discrimination against individuals with criminal records.