Um, why are all of the photos on the site of African Americans? Yes, it's true that African Americans make up 40% of the prison population, but whites make up 39% and hispanics 19%. It seems the images you have chosen are an unfair stereotype.
Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
121–130 of 541 posts
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#122I love the idea, and I really want your company to succeed. I don't really consider myself very easily offended or PC, but I thought it seemed a little stereotypical that the first two images in the hero were black people. I think that should be changed as quickly as possible if you don't want to get any backlash. My two cents : )
I appreciate this observation, but our prisons are predominately filled with people of color.
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is the absolute wrong takeaway here. It's about being overly harshly punished for mistakes in their youths. I've heard very similar stories from public defenders that have nothing to do with drugs, but with common punishment escalations that are hard to avoid when you're poor, and people surely can't avoid being poor. Minor fine goes unpaid because this month the electric bill is more important. Leads to more fi…
"Leads to license suspencion. Leads to driving while license suspended." Or, like, don't drive without a license.
Leads to losing job...
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#124Do you employ people with criminal records? As an employer, I want to hire the best people so my company can be successful. Why would I hire anyone from your site when there are plenty of other candidates elsewhere? Do you think people will try to use your site to disqualify potential hires (i.e. use it as a do-not-hire list so those registered with the site can specifically be avoided)? How will you prevent this fro…
> Why would I hire anyone from your site when there are plenty of other candidates elsewhere?
Someone with criminal record has something to prove, so will be grateful for the job and work hard.
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#125i'm also working on the jobs problem (not in your niche however) and really don't find the idea of another job board very compelling. can i ask why you went that route?
in any case, best of luck! it's important work to be doing.
as a society, we should do everything possible to help people who make mistakes and want to get back on the happy path. (as a side note, i think punishment is way out of whack. we need more carrot and less stick for low-level offenders, and more stick and less carrot for white-collar crimes that affect many more lives, though it seems like you got a fair amount of stick in your case.)
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#126I did a double take when I read the first 4 words: Richard Branson is in YC? Launching a job platform?
Anyways, this is a great idea, I hope you succeed!
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#127The good thing about people with a criminal record: you know what they did! You will never know this of the people around you who got away not being caught. Do I know if my neighbour did not rob a bank 10 years ago? No. So working with ex-criminals can be an encounter with honesty.
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#128Hi Richard, This is a great idea with a nice social cause. Also,from a business perspective this is a good niche and large scale. Aside the mission and the targeted niche, how do you expect/plan to diferentiate in your product offering?
We need to find a much better product market fit. This job board was our first pass at it, but we've learned lots and look forward to being far more engaging for our users in the future. There's been so much great feedback here alone, I can't wait to iterate.
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#129Possibly interesting trivia: There was an '80s British TV series called Inside Out, about people doing what you're doing.
really? I love British TV!
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#130this is cool. you should get in touch with Pigeonly (YC W15).
I'm very familiar with those folks, thanks.