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NEED JOB ASSISTANCE W/FELONY RECORD
Hello: I have tried to use this forum before w/o much results, but I will try again. In short, I have a felony record from years ago. Since, I have worked for the Pentagon, EEOC, Security & Exchange, and other contracts. Since the rules have tighten, I have not been able to gain a position, contract or full-time. I have disclosed my record up front, never lied, and did my best. My credit is not very good (really shouldn't be a requirement) and just looking for some consistency..... I did not do the crime, but I have moved on. I have searched for leads, I have plenty of recommendations, and tried starting my own company but lack financial backing for advertising and other needs. And at this point, I am not eligible to have it exponged or pardoned for another 3 years. I refuse to subject myself to only food service, day laborer, or "open a barber shop" as I was told by the employment office. I have over 13 years of IT experience and my skill sets resides in networking, technical suport, management, project leads, liasion, and analyst work. Any leads towards businesses that are willing to hire people with a felony record & bad credit (my credit would improve if I can work) will be greatly appreciated. My email address is sls5s@hotmail.com. I will forward my resume upon request. I am avail. for work in the DC/Northern VA and Richmond, VA metro areas. Open to relocation to the NJ, PA, and NY areas. Thank you.
Part of the problem is that much of the work in your area is going to be with the feds and you are right they are going to much tighter in their requirements. I think you are going to have search much further afield and be willing to relocate or travel under contract. It will also likely depend on what the felony conviction is I suspect. You might be more successful working as a independent for now. Tough I know but there are options such as Sologig where you are able to "bid" on independent contracts. Many private industry contracts won't do a background check on you, although this will depend upon the type of contract and the duration. Your credit will also not matter so long as you can cover your own expenses in the short term. Limiting your relocation areas is also limiting your options. You may need to reconsider this.
I have some bad news for you. Its is not because of your felony it is because the IT/tech field is very tight, because all the jobs are going overseas, mostly India. My boyfriend has over 30 years experience in the field and knows more than anyone around. Unfortunately, he still can't find a contractor's job. It use to be whenever his contract was up with one company, he would just pick up the phone, call his headhunter and have a new contract in weeks. Everyone I know in the IT/tech field is looking for a job. Many big companies don't care if you got busted for drugs now days or bad credit. For example, I recently came across the hiring package for Countrywide Financial, one of the biggest lenders in country stated in it they want the applicant to still apply even though you have a felony on your record. I heard LAPD was considering taking applicants w/ a conviction of pot possession. I don't what you were convicted of, unless it was armed robbery or attempted murder (I don't need to know), but try the private or corporate sector you may have better luck. All in all I am assuming it is not your past record that is the problem, it is the job market for your field that is really sucky.
Several local PD's will hire new cops even with cocaine usage if it was up to 3 years ago. As to weed it should be legalized & taxed. I wonder how many people are rotting in jail for merely possessing pot. What a waste of tax dollars. I think companies want a good credit rating because some people steal money and anything else they can from employers. They figure if you can't pay your bills you might need to take from them.
"I have a felony record from yearsago."
Sorry, but I wouldn't take a risk and hire you either. Nothing personal,it is just risk management.
"My credit is not very good (really shouldn't be a requirement)"
This too comes under risk management. People with bad credit may have aproblem managing their own life and therefore may not be able to managebusiness responsibilities. Not to mention they are more vulnerable toblackmail or outside pressures that could lead to industrial espionage, spying,theft, or similar.
Again it is nothing personal, it is just risk management.
"I did not do the crime"
You were found guilty and that is all any employer has to go on. As thesaying goes "everyone in jail is innocent".
"I am not eligible to have it exponged or pardoned for another 3 years "
You are probably going to just have to wait it out.
"I refuse to subject myself to only food service, day laborer, or 'open a barber shop' as I was told by the employment office. "
You are going to have to do something for the next 3 years and yourcredit rating isn't going to get any better just sitting there. Youneed to pay your bills and support yourself!
If you want to stay in IT you are going to need to network with yourold coworkers. Find one that might be willing to give you a chance.
Unfortunately, I don't believe in this day and age that any company is going to hire a convicted felon to work in IT. IT gives you the keys to the kingdom and no company in their right mind is going to want to take that risk. Even if the HM and HR lose their minds and say yes to the hire, the Risk Manager, the bonding company and the person in charge of stockholder relations are going to have a stroke. So, I do think you should look at another field. That doesn't have to mean day laborer, but I think that you're probably spinning your wheels trying to find a gig in IT. Tess
It is sad that people don't have an open mind. Just because of something in the past, people should not be held forever for it. How are people going to make it in life if people are continuing to hold others for something in their past. Especially in my case that I am truely innocent. People want to say that we are risks, but last I check, all the major crimes and theft are being committed by those who are affluent, rich, and already set, with no records. How often in the news do you hear of some CEO stepping down because of theft? Eron, IBM, CapOne, all these companies and more had a lot of theft from rich people. CitiBank had millions of people idenity stolen from a group of people, earning more than $100K a year, paying overseas people for the information. How would that Risk Manager or stockholder feel if that was their son, daughter, or other family member having trouble getting work because of a felony? I truely believe people don't honest look at what the other person has to go through. What if you never really lived a "high life", but just saved and did what you are supposed to do? I didn't drive a fancy car. I didn't live in a fancy area. I counted my pennies and did what I could. And that was on an avg IT contract pay. Now again, anyone who is reading this, can live, pay rent/mortgage, eat, and make a way on fast food jobs? Any job working for $9 or less? I have worked in major government IT, private and public sector, and much more. I never abused anyone's personal information or did whatever with govern. info. I am not spinning my wheels. I trust GOD. I refuse to give up and accept defeat......
Actually I see this from both sides. On the one side is the felony convict who is trying to turn their life around and stay out of trouble in the future. Without someone taking a chance on them they are likely to fail and this is one of the reasons why some many return to their old ways and ultimately return to the prison systems. On the other hand is the employer who needs to balance the safety of their employees and their information. Depending upon the circumstances there is a need for employers to consider the "risk" to the organization in hiring a convicted felon. So the crime itself will matter. Violent crimes for example would indicate that the convict may pose a risk to those around them. As an employer I would be unlikely to hire someone who might pose this risk. There are all types of felony offenses, some far worse than others. Some only requiring State Jail time others, in some states representing capital offenses. Here in Texas we list felonies as follows: State Jail time: - Burglary of a Building
- Credit/Debit Card Abuse
- Criminal Nonsupport
- Criminally Negligent Homicide
- Cruelty to Animal (1 st-torture or kill or 3 rd-starve or abandon)
- Engaging in Org Criminal Act (if listed Class A misdemeanor committed or conspiracy for SJF)
- Evading (with vehicle)
- False Alarm or Report
- Forgery (commercial instrument)
- Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle
- Unlawful Restraint (of child)
| - Fraudulent Use or Possession of
- Identifying Information
- Improper Photography or Visual Recording
- Injury to a Child, Elderly or Disabled (reckless bi or criminally negligent serious bodily injury)
- Interference with Child Custody
- Prostitution-4 th
- Tampering with a Witness
- Theft (3 rd or firearm or from person)
- Unauthorized Absence from CCF or CC
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First Degree Felony: - Aggravated Assault (of public servant)
- Aggravated Kidnapping (no voluntary safe release)
- Aggravated Robbery
- Aggravated Sexual Assault (adult or child)
- Attempted Capital Murder
- Arson (of habitat or place of assembly of worship)
- Burglary of Habitation (with intent to commit felony other than theft)
| - Engaging in Org Criminal Act (if listed 1 st or 2 nd degree felony committed or conspiracy for 1 st degree felony)
- Escape (dw or sbi)
- Injury to Child, Elderly, or Disabled (intentional or knowing serious bodily injury)
- Murder (no sudden passion)
- Solicitation of Capital Murder
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Second Degree Felony: - Aggravated Assault (not public servant)
- Aggravated Kidnapping (safe release)
- Arson (not place or worship or habitat)
- Bribery
- Burglary of a Habitation (intent to commit theft or assault or commit or attempt to commit same)
- Engaging in Org Criminal Act (if listed 3 rd degree felony committed or conspiracy for 2 nd degree felony)
- Stalking- 2nd
| - Escape (by causing bi)
- Evading (death of another)
- Indecency with Child (contact)
- Injury to a Child, Elderly, or Disabled (reckless sbi)
- Intoxication Manslaughter
- Manslaughter (recklessly)
- Murder (with sudden passion)
- Robbery
- Sexual Assault
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Third Degree Felony: - Assault (of ps or 2 nd family member)
- Aggravated Perjury
- Bail Jumping (felony arrest)
- Cruelty to Animal (3 rd torture or kill)
- Deadly Conduct (with firearm)
- DWI-3 rd
- Engaging in Org Criminal Act (if listed SJF committed or conspiracy for 3 rd degree felony)
- Escape (from felony offense)
- Evading (2 nd with vehicle or serious bodily injury)
- Harassment (by prisoner)
- Improper Contact with Victim (while confined)
- Possession of Prohibited Weapon (not switchblade/knuckles)
| - Indecency with Child (exposure)
- Injury to Child, Elderly, or Disabled (intentional or knowing bodily injury)
- Intoxication Assault
- Kidnapping
- Obstruction/Retaliation
- Possession Firearm (by felon)
- Possession of Weapon (prohibited place)
- Stalking- 1 st
- Tampering with Evidence
- UCW (on licensed premise)
- Unlawful Restraint (risk of sibi or of ps or by inmate)
- Violation of Prot Order-3 rd
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I don't think you can lightly pass over the idea many felony convictions represent "risk" to employers. To say "I didn't do the crime" is easy, however you were convicted of a felony offense. The prospective employer is not going to be interested in ...[Message truncated]
Hello: Please continue your last msg. It got cut off. Of note, it was a group of bad checks, totallying less than $100. Other than that, I have nothing else. No violent crimes, weapons, drugs, drunk driving, etc. Just someone opening an account in my name & writing checks. It was years ago, 2001. I feel that I can lightly ignore the risk factor. For I do not consider myself a risk. Again, people have to allow room for people to grow. We are taught to forgive, how are we allowing ourselves to forgive if we in soceity don't offer people the chance to move on from thier past. Hate the sin, not the sinner... Thanks....
it was a group of bad checks, totallying less than $100. Other than that, I have nothing else. No violent crimes, weapons, drugs, drunk driving, etc. Just someone opening an account in my name & writing checks. It was years ago, 2001. I feel that I can lightly ignore the risk factor. For I do not consider myself a risk. Then you're not going to find employment in IT. There is too much attention on identity theft for a company to take you on in an IT role. It just isn't going to happen. You'd have access to all the customer information, access to all the company money handling electronically- they'd be crazy and frankly you'd be crazy to work for them too. Any little thing comes up, they're going to put suspicion on you. So, you have the right to ignore the risk factor, in YOUR business. Other people running businesses will not be able to. You may find a small business somewhere that will take you on, however, in my experience, a small business has even less resources to work with and may guard them all the closer. I know you think it isn't fair and maybe it isn't. But it is what it is. Individuals forgive. Companies are not individuals. They are entities that exist to make a profit. They don't forgive, they run a business. That sounds cold, but that's the way it is. And you can trust in God all you want. God is not a magic genie that grants your wishes. Maybe God's plan for you is to move out of IT and into something else instead of beating your head against this wall. That's entirely up to you. You can feel free to rant and rave about how it isn't fair and should be something else, but again, it is what it is and you're not going to be able to change it in the near future. Tess |