Felons Should Try Smaller Companies to get Jobs

 

From ex-felons to furniture makers

Hello,

I have a criminal record and I can't find a job. I have been filling out applications everywhere. Do you have any advice for someone who has made some mistakes?

I hear this from felons all the time. Please don’t quit. You get nothing when you give up. You may just have to change your strategy. If I am an employer, I probably want to hire someone without a record before I hire someone without one. Most applications will ask about criminal convictions. If you are honest, as I recommend, an employer may not want to hire you.


A good strategy for finding job openings is to apply to employers directly. Once you have decided on the type of work you would like to do, the next step is to choose employers that could use your services. Felons stand a better chance of being hired by smaller companies rather than larger ones. The owners or managers of smaller companies usually make the hiring decisions. Make a list of employers in your chosen field. Contact each one of them to see if there are positions available and how to apply. The telephone is the best method of contacting employers. You may even get job leads from people you know. Another advantage to applying to small companies is they are less likely to run background checks because they can be expensive.

If you get an interview, make a point to mention the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. To a small business, this may be an incentive to hire a person with a criminal record. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is offered to employers as an incentive to hire any one of nine targeted groups with barriers to employment, felons included. An employer may receive a credit of as much as $2,400 for hiring a felon. You can find more information here:

http://www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/

Also remind any prospective employer that you can be bonded by the Federal Bonding Program.  The ability to be bonded will be a big plus.  A felon can be bonded free of charge.  You can get more information on the federal bonding program here:

Federal Bonding Program

 

Felons Should Try Smaller Companies to get Jobs

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Will a juvenile record keep me out of a job?

Hello sir,

I have a question. I am currently in the process of applying to work for the New York City Board of Education but I am worried that I may not get the job because I have a juvenile conviction. I was arrested on grounds for felony for reckless endangerment but I took a plea bargain and opted out for a misdemeanor instead. I was arrested back 91/2 years ago.

I have to get my fingerprints taken and have a background check done on me so I am nervous that my conviction will pop up. And I have a sealed record but I am wondering will that also affect anything in my applying to work for the New York City board of Education.



I get a lot of questions like this from juvenile ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs.

Let me understand. You are afraid that a 9 1/2 yr. old juvenile misdemeanor conviction will stop the New York City Board of Education from hiring you.

It is my understanding that juvenile records are sealed and can only be seen by the court system, law enforcement and government agencies. Even if it were public, I doubt anyone would hold a 9 1/2 yr. old juvenile misdemeanor charge against you.

Here in NJ where I am, job applicants are not even bound to include juvenile convictions. I'm not sure about NY state. To be absolutely sure, I would contact someone in your local legal aid office for clarification.

I hope this helps.

Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Employment Background Checks: Know Your Rights

Will a juvenile record keep me out of a job?

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Felon wants a Military Career

Felon wants a Military Career

Can I Join the Army with a Felony?

Hello I hope you can help......

Well I was charged with failure to stop after having an accident involving personal injury and I'm a little misunderstanding of what it means for it being a class four felony. I want to get into the military cuz lets face it at this point in time the chances of me getting a decent job to support me and family is really really low with this charge on me.

 I don't see any other options cuz from what I have been gathering with web browsing you can't get certain certificates and degrees to work and money is not real good at the moment to just lolly gag so my questions are as follows

1. Can I get it expunged?

2. Is it a felony misdemeanor

3. How would I go about tryin to get in the military with this?

4. What states would this not count as a felony....... and I'm sorry if its a lot or jus very scrambled. I want the best for my child and wife so I'm a little everywhere with this but I'm looking forward to this response thank you.

Ernesto

  Felon wants a Military Career

Hello Ernesto,

Questions 1, 2 and 4 are best answered by an attorney. Often ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs need legal assistance. I suggest contacting your local legal aid office. There you will probably be able to get low-cost or low-cost legal advice. They may be also be able to answer questions about ex-offenders and felons getting professional certifications. 

Just a note on expungement, it is not an option in every state.  Even in states which allow them, often they are limited.  For example, in New Jersey, where I am, one is allowed only one felony expungement.  It cannot even be applied for until ten years after the termination of the sentence.  Expungement is not a cure all.  Even if one is granted, the conviction will always be visible to the court system, government agencies and law enforcement.

Don't give up on a military career. The military often accepts ex-offenders and felons and there are many career options. Your best option is the Army. The Army seems to be the most liberal as it relates to accepting ex-offenders and felons. Contact you local Army recruiter to inquire about your eligibility.

I hope this helps.

Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Employment Background Checks: Know Your Rights

Jobs for ex-offenders and Felons: Expungement of Criminal Records

 

Felon wants a Military Career

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Criminal history questions on job applications could soon become illegal

Criminal history questions on job applications could soon become illegal

Posted: Sep 18, 2017 3:50 PM EDTUpdated: Sep 18, 2017 10:19 PM EDT

By Kayla Cash

  KSPY.com

Legislation barring employers from initially asking job applicants if they have a criminal history was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk over the weekend. 

The bill was introduced in February, the state Assembly approved AB1008 on Friday, and it now awaits the governor's signature.

Supporters say ex-felons would be able to get more jobs and potentially stay out of trouble. Lawmakers say employers would still be able to ask about criminal history but not until the applicant has received a conditional job offer.

Democratic Assemblyman Kevin McCarty is one of the politicians behind the bill. If passed, it would help more ex-felons get a second chance.

"For the applicant, especially someone who has a criminal history, it gives them a chance to highlight their qualifications of the job before they have to explain some criminal history that might disqualify them from the job," Kathy Eppright, an attorney in San Luis Obispo, said.

Mychal Cody, manager of Pizza La Nova in San Lis Obispo, says it's important to know who they have on staff when it comes to someone's background.

"They're not only taking the charge of representing our business, and so to be able to clearly identify who that person is going to be could really have an effect on our business," Cody said. 

However, Cody says Pizza La Nova won't judge anyone who applies.

"If they're hard-working and they're trying to make a change in their life and we can be that step forward for them, we want to be that," Cody said.

For some employers, if this bill becomes a law, it could become difficult to scrutinize potential employees without knowing their criminal history, according to Eppright.

"So once they make the offer, then they can say, 'We're going to make it conditional on a background check,'" Eppright said. "Then they have to connect it. If there is something in the background, they have to show how the offense relates to the job the person's applying for."

Employers who deny applicants because of their criminal history must have a good reason.

"Let's say somebody has a DUI in their background and they apply to work at a Starbucks. It would be hard to connect the dots between the connection and why it would disqualify them from being a barista for Starbucks," Eppright said.

The bill would make the following employment practices unlawful under FEHA for an employer with five or more employees:

• Including questions about criminal history on employment applications
• Inquiring or considering the applicant's criminal history before offering a conditional job offer
• Disseminating or distributing an applicant's conviction history background check

If the employer plans on denying an applicant based on their conviction history, the bill would require the employer to do an individualized review of whether or not their history would have a direct and adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job.

They would have to consider three stipulations: the nature of the offense, the time that has passed between the offense and sentence completion, and the nature of the job.

The employer would have to notify the person applying with a written decision, and the applicant is allowed five business days to respond, and an additional five days to dispute the decision with evidence.

There are some companies that require background checks by law, so they would be exempt from this bill if it becomes a law, according to Eppright.

Nine states and 15 cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have adopted similar regulations.

Read the full bill's text here.

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Eric Mayo

Felon wants job as Cosmetologist

Felon wants job as Cosmetologist

Cosmetology Jobs for Felons

I am an LPN and have first offender charges of prescription fraud (doctor shopping) on my record. Due to injuries sustained in an auto accident and medications needed and prescribed by my neurologist, I can no longer practice as a nurse. I have undergone extensive counseling and am still paying fines. I wanted to contest the charges due to my medical records supporting my prescriptions. I instead was advised to take these charges to avoid another more severe charge.

My question is, can my charges on my record affect my application and testing to be a licensed cosmetologist? I want to be a productive citizen of society and support my son and myself. I want to try something else and I think I can and will enjoy this field but want to know these things before I invest the money in training.

Felon wants job as Cosmetologist

Unfortunately you are forced to change careers.  Barbering/Cosmetology is a great field to get into not only for employment but there are are opportunities for self-employment down the line.  I know of felons who have good careers in that field.  I would suggest that you contact the Cosmetology Licensing Board in your state. They will be able to tell you if you are eligible.  If you are unemployed, you may even be eligible for for free training through your state's department of labor

Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Where can Ex-offenders Find Jobs

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Felon wants job as Cosmetologist

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