Felon with DUI is looking for job search advice

Hi Eric,

My name is Andrew. I am in a bit of a pickle. I committed a felony aggravated arson when I was 17. No one was hurt thank god. I did 4 yrs probation and a lot of community service and paid restitution. I am 27 now and married with a child. My wife and I have been married for 5 yrs and I have not been able to keep a stable job. I'm out of work at this moment but I need to find a career. I have been weighing my family down. It has become very hard to raise my son. I don't have any money to put him in school let alone take care of him and my wife the way I would like too. I also was charged with a DUI that resulted in me having my license revoked. So I can no longer legally drive. I have been in a pit of depression and am trying my best to climb out. So I have no idea if you can help or not but I'm dying hear. Their are no programs in the suburbs where Let me know if you have any ideas thank you and have a wonderful day.

Felon with DUI is looking for job search advice

Hello Andrew,

Your juvenile record may not come into play. If you were not tried as an adult, your juvenile conviction is probably sealed and is only visible to the court system, law enforcement and government agencies.

I wish there was a simple solution to your situation, but I do have two suggestions for ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs.

Temporary Agencies

Consider working as a temporary as a way of getting a permanent job. Temporary agencies are a great way to quickly get back into the working world. Many employers use agencies to try out new employees before hiring them. Good workers are hard to find. If an employer sees that you are hard working, punctual and fit in well, he may offer the job permanently. Some other advantages to using a temporary employment service:

* You can try different types of work and develop new skills which can be used later.

* You can make new contacts.

* Build a work history.

* Earn a wage until you can find permanent employment.

Make a list of temporary agencies in your area. Call each one to find out what types of jobs they have available. Apply just as you would any other employer.

One-Stop Career Centers

Each state has a network of centers that offer a variety of free services that can get you ready for work and assist you in finding employment. In addition, these centers offer training programs that can help on a felon job search. Some services available are:

Career planning and counseling
Workshops (Resume Writing, Interviewing Skills, and related topics.)
Computers with internet access and word processing
Daily access to thousands of job listings
Job-related magazines and local newspapers
Job postings and referrals
Printers, fax machines, phones, and copiers for job search use

You can find the nearest location of the One Stop Career Center in your local phone book or on the web at: www.servicelocator.org

I hope this helps.