Silicon Valley CMO with a record here - would love to offer pro bono marketing help if needed.
Please get in touch: richard@70millionjobs.com
Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
491–500 of 541 posts
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#492This is awesome, congratulations on your launch!
thank you!
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#493very interesting concept, all the best :-), hope it picks up, we need more love in our society
indeed we do! thanks
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#494I think this is an important endeavor. In the U.S. we tend to be too much focused on punishment and retribution. No one benefits by preventing ex convicts from an attempt at a normal life. I hope you succeed and wish you well. I do think you ought to remove the phrase, "...but despite having paid everyone back..." That phrasing comes off to me as a bit of a justification for what you did and seems to indicate a feeli…
I think you're right, and it's probably my last ditch attempt to defend myself. I need to omit that and move on. thanks
Edit: removed that bit as well as "I went on to build a large financial services firm". Thanks for pointing this out.
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#495Earlier 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.
Can confirm, here a background check is allowed only for specific employment roles that may be affected due to security/working with minors etc.
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#496I 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!
What a big difference one letter can make. thanks for your thoughts.
I read exactly the same.
Mind playing tricks on us.
And then... Wolf of Wolf Street.
I'll make an insider joke and update my LinkedIn profile for "Stratton Oakmont Chief Compliance Officer"...
Good energy, much love!
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#497Love it. Doing good and making money at the same time. What a great idea.
I'm hopin'
I like that you've used phrase "double bottom line"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_bottom_line
Yes... Helping people, communities, over the generations.
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#498Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't you have to reveal that you're a felon by law? I ask because we have a student in our CS academy who is in a very similar situation.
I just never checked the box. "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" I would just leave it blank. I figured if anyone asked, then I'd humbly explain the circumstances and I could take my chances from there... Nobody ever asked, and I went about my life. Obviously YMMV.
The irony here is that the more honest a person is the fewer opportunities they will get. Putting this box on an application form selects for the exact opposite of its intention.
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#499I'm impressed by the "1 in 3 adults" thing. I should check the numbers for my country.
Am I wrong or all that people can't vote?
Re: Launch HN: 70MillionJobs (YC S17) – Job board for people with criminal records
#500Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
It's not about what they did, it's about what they will do. Of course their past is a factor in their future, but you could also view it in a different light: they are perhaps more motivated to succeed, or the automatically closed doors they get from other employers might mean you get better qualified people at a lower price if you take them into consideration.
Besides, I've met enough terrible people who were smart or lucky enough not to get convicted. Being a felon or not is (almost) no indication as to someone's character, just how adept they are at dodging the law.