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Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

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Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#41

Post by varcharlie »

ghostbrainalpha wrote: post #30

This is a wonderful startup in Las Vegas. They definitely hire Felons. https://pigeonly.com/about/#careers Any chance your former employer would take you back on a reduced salary, while you work on your portfolio/freelancing/rehabilitating your record? Why don't you have references? I think long term you should focus on changing your name and getting a good profile and work history on UpWork. This could lead to a ste…

Because he was already a sex offender and it happened in a residential area, the parents contacted the police obviously.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#42

Post by RightMillennial »

varcharlie wrote: post #24
RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #15

I think you are in hard place because of the the current culture. It seems that in the present climate, a business would hire someone that actually killed people while driving drunk before someone who flashed someone while drunk.

We're not just talking about "flashing" someone while drunk, we're talking about exposing oneself to a minor, twice. Once may be seen as a "drunk mistake", etc. Twice is a pattern that will make people think twice. Not to mention people generally don't like hiring sex offenders.

Maybe the OP has a drinking problem that he's working on. Who knows? Regardless of the offense, there's no reason to ostracize him from society and employment after he's done his time.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#43

Post by adamsea »

zer00eyz wrote: post #20

Im going to give you some either great advice or bad advice - only time will tell. First of all take ANY job you can get - this means starbucks is on the table - Get back to work, even part time. Second if you have skills then start putting them to use - open source, build your own thing what ever. At least 2-3 hours a day of WORK. Google up non profits that help fellons find jobs and ask them if they can use your se…

https://www.builtinchicago.org/ -- a small startup may be more forgiving of your history. While I have no hiring experience, if I was doing hiring for a small startup, I would want the potential employee to share upfront (perhaps in the second round, definitely in the in-person, not necessarily the very first call) if they were a felon (or for that matter, any other potential red flag which would it'd be reasonable to expect me to discover on a background check). Obviously YMMV.

Also agree w/the parent comment wholeheartedly.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#44

Post by pm90 »

varcharlie wrote: post #24
RcouF1uZ4gsC wrote: post #15

I think you are in hard place because of the the current culture. It seems that in the present climate, a business would hire someone that actually killed people while driving drunk before someone who flashed someone while drunk.

We're not just talking about "flashing" someone while drunk, we're talking about exposing oneself to a minor, twice. Once may be seen as a "drunk mistake", etc. Twice is a pattern that will make people think twice. Not to mention people generally don't like hiring sex offenders.

Correct, and this is how all companies would view it as well.

This is an extremely tricky situation; perhaps he showed poor judgement twice in his life. Statistically, its likely he did it more often, but what do statistics matter when dealing with an actual persons life?

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#45

Post by adamsea »

JshWright wrote: post #39
zer00eyz wrote: post #20

Im going to give you some either great advice or bad advice - only time will tell. First of all take ANY job you can get - this means starbucks is on the table - Get back to work, even part time. Second if you have skills then start putting them to use - open source, build your own thing what ever. At least 2-3 hours a day of WORK. Google up non profits that help fellons find jobs and ask them if they can use your se…

I agree with 99% of this. I don't think there's any value in publicly naming the companies that have rejected you, and there is a potential that it would be detrimental (how would a potential employer view that?). I just don't think the risk (however slight) outweighs the (practically nonexistent) reward.

Agreed - don't name those companies publicly. It's an extension of the principle not to talk poorly of previous employers, etc. The risk is rarely worth the reward.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#46

Post by pm90 »

seibelj wrote: post #17

You have paid your debt to society, you should not continue to be punished in perpetuity. Perhaps make an LLC, and use your middle name in place of your last name when communicating with people? Or legally change your last name? That way they pay you as a contractor, with checks to your business, and no one is the wiser. You are in survival mode now, I wouldn't let pride keep you from changing your name.

He is on probation, so he hasn't paid back his debt just yet.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#47

Post by leesalminen »

rjkennedy98 wrote: post #33

I completely understand why you can’t get a job. If I were a women I would not want to work with someone who did what you did. Even as a guy I find is pretty gross. You got caught not once but twice, who knows how many other times you did it. You also had lots of kids without the ability to take care of them. There are people I have sympathy for but you are certainly not one of them.

This was pretty uncalled for. First time I’ve ever clicked the flag button.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#48

Post by garrettgrimsley »

Hi OP, another felon looking for a job here, I got out this January after serving 11 months. I would encourage you to apply for whatever government benefits you qualify for, if you haven't already. Just like you I've had offers rescinded after the background check. Doesn't feel great, but you have to keep at it. As someone else said: Get a job. Get any job. Right now I'm working at a commercial fish market doing manual labor. At the same time, I'm teaching myself Android development so that I have a portfolio I can show prospective employers. If I still can't get a job I'm going to try freelancing.

>Because I'm still on probation, I can't move out of state

This may not be true. I'm on Federal probation, not state, so it may be different, but you can have your probation transferred to another state. The receiving state must agree to accept you, which may be an issue as a sex offender. Best of luck.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#49

Post by ExcelSaga »

RightMillennial wrote: post #42
varcharlie wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We're not just talking about "flashing" someone while drunk, we're talking about exposing oneself to a minor, twice. Once may be seen as a "drunk mistake", etc. Twice is a pattern that will make people think twice. Not to mention people generally don't like hiring sex offenders.

Maybe the OP has a drinking problem that he's working on. Who knows? Regardless of the offense, there's no reason to ostracize him from society and employment after he's done his time.

He’s not being ostracized for his drinking problem, he’s being ostracized for his “exposing himself to minors” problem. I come from the school of thought that believes alcohol doesn’t turn you into something you’re not, it just erodes your ability to hide it.

Fair enough that he did his time, but it’s also fair not to hire him. He’s looking for a job from a business, not a charity after all.

Re: Ask HN: How can felons find programming jobs?

#50

Post by logfromblammo »

Chicago is a tough market for ex-cons. Illinois never lets the conviction drop off your background check, and a lot of companies won't hire a felon, period, even if it's for aggravated jaywalking or grossly negligent mis-parking on your 18th birthday.

You're not going to get a job in Chicago in software or IT unless you start your own business or work remote.

Apply at Goodwill or somewhere else known to hire non-violent, non-theft felons, to pay the short-term bills. Then you'll have to form an LLC and work through the business name. It will limit your opportunities until you can leave the area.

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