Last week’s column introduced the concept of career mission and purpose. As I was planning to expand this concept again this week, a letter from a prison inmate arrived.

Jeri (not her real name) wrote, “…becoming a drug counselor… would be a dream come true for me.” You may recall in that column I suggested that looking back through the challenges of your life and pondering how you might like to prevent or correct that pain for others is often a productive career-discernment step. Given the obvious sincerity of Jeri’s well-constructed letter, I took the time to research her conviction, finding that she is incarcerated for burglary.

One can surmise that her burglary conviction is rooted in drug related issues, given her desire to serve others as a drug counselor. Is Jeri on a mission, might she be exactly the right person for such a career? Jeri’s situation illustrates the potential value of considering the mission factor in career decisions.

Jeri continued, “I would like to know how you would put a positive spin on a negative if you were trying to obtain a job and had to let people know you were a convicted felon?”

No way around it, Jeri will be in a challenging job situation when she is released. Yet, if a drug counseling job gives her a sense of purpose that she talks openly about in an interview, then that very factor may convince the interviewer that she is uniquely qualified and an excellent individual to help others who are similarly situated. Her mission may be the differentiating factor that lands her the job amongst many other qualified candidates.

Jeri, yes, you need to explain that you are a person who has learned a lot from an unfortunate mistake. At the same time, be certain to communicate that in your particular case you are also an excellent writer and can communicate challenging concepts in a straightforward manner. Tell the interviewer your story while focusing on all that is right with you. Jeri, with purpose and mission, you may become the perfect candidate for your dream job.

This week I would like to end this column with two questions.

The first question is, “What has been difficult or challenging in your life that may be a springboard for a fulfilling career?”

The second question is, “What would you like to tell Jeri and all the others who at one time or another made a mistake in their lives and would now like to begin anew?” I’ll forward your responses to her.

Send your career-related questions to Nick at nsynko@SynkoAssociates.com. To learn more, visit his website at Synko Associates or follow this column each Monday on AnnArbor.com.