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Mistakes, everyone has made at least one in their life. Unfortunately, some are more sever than others when it comes time for consequence, causing need for the dreaded second chance. Sometimes it's a financial mistake, such as taking out an impossible loan, missing a credit card payment, or being unable to pay a bill. Sometimes it's a more sever lifestyle slip up such as substance abuse, DUI, assault, theft, fraud, or any number of the mistakes you can make that cause you to have a criminal record. No matter what the mistake, for those truly willing to pursue it, a second chance is deserved; however, it is easier said than done. The key components to getting a firm grip on your second chance and keeping it are honesty, sincerity, selection, memory, and good old fashioned hard work. If you can muster up the courage and energy to complete these tasks then you can have your second chance.

One of the toughest things to do when first beginning your second chance is finding a stable supportive employer who is willing to overlook your mistake. What you need to do to get this job is be honest with your interviewer. If you have a criminal record of some sort, don't lie about it on the application, and when they inquire about it, calmly tell them the story and try to remain neutral in your details so that you don't seem to be making excuses for your behavior. Make sure to include that it was a mistake you regret, and you understand why what you did was wrong and how it could have been handled differently, and that you do not desire for it to happen again. Before you leave the interview, be sure to sincerely thank them for the chance to explain your situation. In fact, be sincere in most everything that you do. Keep your sense of humor, but know what is appropriate. When you do get a good job be selective of who you let in on your past. Some people will hold it against you, some will tell the other staff members, and some are capable of unspeakable acts with that kind of information. Not everyone is horrible, but my point is you don't know these people yet, so get to know them and be picky about who you tell. Think about the consequences of your actions. Which leads me to my next point, carry your mistakes with you not as mistakes, but as lessons learned. This will help you prevent the repetition of your past actions.
Finally, you have to work harder than you have ever worked before to show your sincerity. Unfortunately when you are in the position of needing a second chance, people tend to be harder on you and expect more from you. This sometimes feels like being picked on, singled out or other kinds of unfair treatment, but most of the time the truth is that treatment is coming from someone who believes in you and wants to see you succeed.
No one ever said second chances were easy, I like to think of it this way: With your first chance you were able to learn and grow with it, now you have to start over and your conscience is different, you may feel frustrated at having to do things over and over again, and who can blame you? The redundancy of it can become mundane, but it's necessary to ensure that history does not repeat itself. So take a deep breath, try to smile and remember that it's never too late to try.

Learn more about this author, Amelia Borden.
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