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Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

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441–450 of 541 posts

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#441

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There will always be a segment of society that were bullied as kids and get their rocks off being as cruel as possible to those they believe deserve it. People like that are not part of this conversation.

But, the comment you addressed is talking about people who commit major crimes. That is not the same group you are referring to.

I believe he is referring to the person who posted that comment.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#442

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd also get testimonials from employers too: "70MillionJobs helped us XYZ"

In line with advertising success of employers, do any states off employers incentives to hire convicted felons? Tax breaks or similar? If so, advertising this advantage may help. This approach is used by some governments but I'm unfamiliar with what happens in the US, and have really only seen depressing stories previously. Edit: tax breaks are mentioned, found it. It's attractive to employers so it's good it's there…

>do any states off employers incentives to hire convicted felons

Some do, yes. I shared an office who hired ex-cons who got a huge rebate on wages in our municipality (up to 55%). He had 2 or 3 doing office work. Very pleasant people, not that large of an applicant pool however. If we had been hiring at the time (bootstrapping), I would have definitely taken advantage.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#443

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are so right on all your comments. Soon we'll be re-doing the entire site. Perhaps we can talk in several weeks?

I'd add that framing the hiring decision as charity ("giving someone a second chance") could be improved. I'd go for more of a "diamond in the rough" angle. "Find talent everyone else is missing."

From personal experience, this has been the most effective pitch. Selling yourself as a potential high value deal based on "below market rents".

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#444
post #74

Hi Richard, great idea. I'm a UX designer and want to throw out some suggestions on how to improve the experience of the site. First, use more cheerful/positive messages/visuals. It was a joykill when I checked out your website and there's a sad guy placing his hand on the forehead. Show what's possible. How successful people can be once they get a job.. rather than their current state (unemployment). Don't focus on…

You are so right on all your comments. Soon we'll be re-doing the entire site. Perhaps we can talk in several weeks?

Also, please reconsider your decision to feature Google and Facebook as prominently as "featured employers". If it's for security, maintenance, and janitorial work, it's more practical to list the agencies that they hire temps from. Otherwise, look no further than nearby East Palo Alto and one will find that neither company particularly cares about rehabilitating ex-offenders or people from at-risk communities for any type of technical employment.

The general rule with Silicon Valley and San Francisco companies is to take everything they say in public or through their carefully worded P.R. with a grain of salt, and actually find out first hand if they practice what they preach hiring outliers with respect to diversity, records/credit/etc, non-Ivy League degrees, etc.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#445

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for sharing that. It's a common story. Attitudes are changing quickly, so I hold out hope. I very much appreciate your support.

I want to believe that attitudes are changing and I do believe that more and more people are behind efforts to make it easier for people with a criminal history to find jobs. But I still think that most people are quite NIMBY about it. They'd love for it to be much easier for them to find jobs, but they're still uncomfortable being the ones actually working with them. Don't get me wrong...I think what you're doing is…

I'm curious about "changing attitudes".

Why should I give an opportunity to someone who has gone out of their way to hurt other people over a similarly qualified person who doesn't view other human beings as objects to take advantage of for their own personal gain?

Not sure I have all the answers but your concept of "the right thing to do" seems fairly unexamined.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#446
post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everyone in prison is there because of violent crime.

Even stronger - the majority of people in prison are not there because of violent crime.

I don't think that's true: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/26/16008508/m... contains the statistic that 52.9% of state prisoners in the US are in there for a violent crime

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#447
post #232
post #74

Hi Richard, great idea. I'm a UX designer and want to throw out some suggestions on how to improve the experience of the site. First, use more cheerful/positive messages/visuals. It was a joykill when I checked out your website and there's a sad guy placing his hand on the forehead. Show what's possible. How successful people can be once they get a job.. rather than their current state (unemployment). Don't focus on…

In addition to the above great ideas, here are some stats for you: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/04/... The US has about 4.4 percent of the global population and about 22 percent of the global prison population. The numbers are more startling using a different measure in the report: the prison population rate. Criminologists say this is a reliable way to compare incarceration practices betw…

Prison population per 100k isn't the same as criminal record per 100k. It could be that other countries enforce laws differently. Eg if the US has longer sentences on average and let's fewer people out on parole or out early then their prison population will be much higher even if the crime rates are identical.

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#448
post #421

> our business model is based upon employers paying to advertise their jobs. The only question I have is: why would they? I can see the reason why the job seekers would subscribe to your website but I don't see why employers would prefer it to other alternatives. Actually I can see one: to be able to identify which candidates have a criminal record and eliminate them from their pool. Registering there as an employer…

Because it expands the pool of applicants. It's a way of getting access to people who otherwise might not apply (and who are probably willing to work for less).

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#449

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know what most white people in this country feel, but I can only conclude what they feel from the state of their institutions.--James Baldwin

Presumably your definition of white is the convenient one that includes Asian people, right? Tech hiring has jack all to do with racism when the big companies are matching the ratios coming out of uni with CS degrees.

That was James Baldwin speaking. I figured he had enough gravitas to present an idea, but even James Baldwin gets pushback on hacker news!

Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records

#450
post #409

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends on the state. In some, they aren't even allowed to ask (they have to run a background check to find out).

and in other countries they can't even do a background check. some countries even wipe criminal records after some time.

Oh ya, some countries realize being vindictive twits is counterproductive. Anyways, I was just mentioning that states had their own laws here that provide a bit of protection, if not much.
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