I can’t believe so many companies make background checks. Is that a US thing? I don’t think companies in Europe do that (or do they?).
ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
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Re: ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
#62That really sucks that you are having so much trouble! I technically have a felony non-violent drug possession charge on my record, but it hasn't caused me any problems since I switched to software from another field.I even got an entry-level position this year.
I was never convicted (No Contest or something similar), am having to go through unsupervised probation (basically I am in big trouble if arrested again but am not bothered at all by probation), and then after another year, it will be cleared from my record.
I don't think I was ever asked to disclose any crimes in any of the applications. Out of a few hundred applications, maybe 5 even mentioned the position was pending passing a background check. I did not disclose this for any job that I applied for, because I did not think it would be found on my record currently, but I now know that I was wrong. Airbnb banned me from their service for my one drug possession charge after redoing my background check (Such utter bullshit, their statement of purpose claims it is at their discretion if they think the crime was bad enough to ban from the service. It was simple nonviolent possession and I don't understand how having that on my record from almost 3 years ago is going to make having me as a guest any more dangerous).
There were two jobs that I thought for sure I had gotten, but did not receive an offer. One didn't write me back for a month before I finally got the information that I wasn't hired out of them. They didn't inform me of any background checks, but they may have completed one anyways. It definitely seemed like their attitude changed completely a week after my onsite.
My current employer did not complete a background check, at least to my knowledge. I am at an extremely small startup. Hopefully nothing ever comes back to byte me in the ass. Obviously nonviolent drug possession should be lowest priority for all offenses that show up (it really shouldn't be a felony to simply possess any drug).
I actually got really sick and didn't know why, couldn't get much help from doctors when I started using opioids to combat the multitude of symptoms. I got caught with an opioid, was never one to get super fucked up in a recreational manner. Instead, I was always trying to simply feel normal enough to make it through my grad school classes. Anyways, found out later I basically have fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue, and I am having better control of my symptoms with medical marijuana and legally prescribed adderal.
Re: ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
#63Earlier quoted context omitted.
I beg to differ. Although I have no data or experience to suggest one way or another. I can see how you would want to first be judged on the merit of your skills and then an employer might be willing to make a judgement call in your case, after they have judged your value. As opposed to your resume being thrown out without even as much as a second thought if you are a convicted felon.
I have plenty of experience here, so I can comment. I've never had a problem finding a gig even though I'm a felon, but I don't work with BigCorp because that's not my scene (and it's probably harder to market myself as a felon to anyway): At the end of the initial phone call / screening, I tell them, transparently: "there's no way I can pass a background check by the way" It has always been well received, even to re…
This is the best advice that I've read here. I can only upvote you once, but I think it would be amazing if OP could read this.
Re: ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
#64Earlier quoted context omitted.
If a company will decline to hire you based on finding out, then there isn't really anything you can do - they will find out one way or another. If you're being pragmatic about it, you might as well save your time and get rejected from these kinds of companies earlier on in the process, rather than get all the way to the end before having to move on. The end result is the same.
If a company is rejecting you based on policy, yes. If it's a personal decision based on prejudice against felons (he can't possibly be competent and non-violent), the result is not the same, you have the chance to disprove those prejudices and sell yourself. Since such prejudice is rampant, it may be your best overall chance. I believe that, aside from specialized fields like bank tellers or people working with chil…
Why do you make the distinction for bank tellers and people working with kids?
Re: ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
1. I do have a portfolio but was a bit nervous to post it publicly on this website considering that opens me up publicly to scorn and wrath of anyone and everyone who is (rightfully) offended by my crimes. Either way, I've added it to the site. 2. True, I wrote this website in a rush. I copied the HN color scheme and decided to stick with that considering I only posted the link here. But valid point. 3. By putting th…
better delete this comment as you mixed up your accounts
No I did it intentionally. I can't reply under the other account (rate limited) and since I put my portfolio up, which already gives away my identity, I may as well just stop being anonymous. This may be a stupid decision, who knows. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and I need a job.
Re: ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
#66Seems like places that have remote employees would be perfect for hiring reformed felons. If I ever made a company as successful as GitLab I would have no qualms hiring this guy for remote work. Nothing wrong with hiring them for non-remote work, just saying the liability is even lower.
The legal liability is the same.
Yeah I'm talking more from a company incident perspective. Say you have a reformed felon who committed rape. In an on-site position, they may relapse and rape an attractive coworker. However, in the remote case, you can't rape female employees if you don't know where they live.
Re: ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
#67I find the complete lack of scepticism here to be pretty problematic.
reformedfelonforhire.com links to someone's portfolio website.
What evidence is there that these two websites are owned or run by the same person?
The whois both have privacy settings from different companies.
They may be the same person, but surely it's not beyond the realm of possibility that this is someone trying to hurt the reputation of a different person.
Re: ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
#68Op, while I hope you manage to land a gig, I'll be a bit critical here and say that your webpage/resume could use a fair bit of work. 1. You have zero links to projects or things you've worked on (even if it is a simple calculator app). If you're so fluent in all the languages you listed, surely, you must have some projects to showcase? Hardly anyone is going to make the effort of sending an email to your listed emai…
1. I do have a portfolio but was a bit nervous to post it publicly on this website considering that opens me up publicly to scorn and wrath of anyone and everyone who is (rightfully) offended by my crimes. Either way, I've added it to the site. 2. True, I wrote this website in a rush. I copied the HN color scheme and decided to stick with that considering I only posted the link here. But valid point. 3. By putting th…
That's a scary step, but FWIW I think adding the portfolio was smart.
Re: ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
#69Op, while I hope you manage to land a gig, I'll be a bit critical here and say that your webpage/resume could use a fair bit of work. 1. You have zero links to projects or things you've worked on (even if it is a simple calculator app). If you're so fluent in all the languages you listed, surely, you must have some projects to showcase? Hardly anyone is going to make the effort of sending an email to your listed emai…
>1. You have zero links to projects or things you've worked on
>2. site has a very 90s look and feel
For the sake of the argument, there is a link to a portfolio web site that looks A-OK.
Re: ReformedFelonForHire.com – High quality software skills, at a competitive price
#70I find the complete lack of scepticism here to be pretty problematic. reformedfelonforhire.com links to someone's portfolio website. What evidence is there that these two websites are owned or run by the same person? The whois both have privacy settings from different companies. They may be the same person, but surely it's not beyond the realm of possibility that this is someone trying to hurt the reputation of a dif…
Google the owner of the portfolio website. There are news stories about the crime with his name on them.