Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Any felons successfully found IT work post-release?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 402 posts

Ask HN: Any felons successfully found IT work post-release?

#1

Post by publicprivacy »

Hello HN,

Does anyone have experience getting back into tech/startups post-felony?

I have been looking for work since I was released for an assault charge in November 2022.

Previously I worked in Information Security as a SecOps Eng, most recently at Tinder. Between lack of recent job experience, and my record, I have been through a series of offer reneges, recruiters ghosting me, or going into HR resume black holes.

I am eager to get back into tech and feel like my old self adding value to a great team/org.

Anyone have leads on companies that are open to taking chances on good candidates with less than sparkling backgrounds?

NOTE: My offense was not computer/finance/fraud/selling drugs/physical violence/based at all.

Here is my linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/saunderscaleb/

Re: Ask HN: Any felons successfully found IT work post-release?

#2

Post by VirusNewbie »

Assault charges but not physical violence? What in the world? I'm so sorry you got that on your record.

I would look at smaller startups that might make it easy to just escalate to the CEO if you have a good explanation, rather than having an HR department stop you right away.

EDIT: I thought assault meant physical violence, but not harm while battery meant harm. I was wrong I guess?

Re: Ask HN: Any felons successfully found IT work post-release?

#3

Post by jasonpeacock »

VirusNewbie wrote: post #2

Assault charges but not physical violence? What in the world? I'm so sorry you got that on your record. I would look at smaller startups that might make it easy to just escalate to the CEO if you have a good explanation, rather than having an HR department stop you right away. EDIT: I thought assault meant physical violence, but not harm while battery meant harm. I was wrong I guess?

Given that urinating in public can result in sex offender charges in some locales, I'm not surprised that you can have non-violent assault charges.

Re: Ask HN: Any felons successfully found IT work post-release?

#4

Post by ceejayoz »

VirusNewbie wrote: post #2

Assault charges but not physical violence? What in the world? I'm so sorry you got that on your record. I would look at smaller startups that might make it easy to just escalate to the CEO if you have a good explanation, rather than having an HR department stop you right away. EDIT: I thought assault meant physical violence, but not harm while battery meant harm. I was wrong I guess?

> Assault charges but not physical violence?

Physical violence is battery.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/assault_and_battery

"Assault refers to the wrong act of causing someone to reasonably fear imminent harm. This means that the fear must be something a reasonable person would foresee as threatening to them. Battery refers to the actual wrong act of physically harming someone."

Re: Ask HN: Any felons successfully found IT work post-release?

#5

Post by hiddencost »

VirusNewbie wrote: post #2

Assault charges but not physical violence? What in the world? I'm so sorry you got that on your record. I would look at smaller startups that might make it easy to just escalate to the CEO if you have a good explanation, rather than having an HR department stop you right away. EDIT: I thought assault meant physical violence, but not harm while battery meant harm. I was wrong I guess?

Keep in mind that battery is the charge that encompasses physical violence; assault specifically does not.

Re: Ask HN: Any felons successfully found IT work post-release?

#6

Post by [deleted] »

VirusNewbie wrote: post #2

Assault charges but not physical violence? What in the world? I'm so sorry you got that on your record. I would look at smaller startups that might make it easy to just escalate to the CEO if you have a good explanation, rather than having an HR department stop you right away. EDIT: I thought assault meant physical violence, but not harm while battery meant harm. I was wrong I guess?

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Any felons successfully found IT work post-release?

#7

Post by fr0sty »

VirusNewbie wrote: post #2

Assault charges but not physical violence? What in the world? I'm so sorry you got that on your record. I would look at smaller startups that might make it easy to just escalate to the CEO if you have a good explanation, rather than having an HR department stop you right away. EDIT: I thought assault meant physical violence, but not harm while battery meant harm. I was wrong I guess?

> Assault charges but not physical violence? What in the world?

"The legal definition of assault is an intentional act that gives another person reasonable fear that they'll be physically harmed or offensively touched. No physical contact or injury has to actually occur, but the accused person must have intentionally acted in a way to cause that fear."

https://vindicatelaw.com/assault-vs-battery-are-they-the-sam...

Re: Ask HN: Any felons successfully found IT work post-release?

#8

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

There are a couple of folks here that run organizations specifically geared towards helping felons in tech.

I can't think of them, right offhand, but I'll bet they pipe in.

I'd suggest making the title a wee bit "pithier," to make sure they understand it.

For example: "I Have a Felony, and it is Making it Difficult to Find Work."

I have known many folks with felony records that have found work, but it tends to be challenging. Stubbornness and not reacting to the dicks is an asset.

I sincerely wish you luck.

Post reply on HN