[JJCH]

Hey everyone. Before I ask my question, let me give you some back ground on my story.

I'm 29ys old; born, raised and currently reside in PA. I have been in the IT industry since graduating from tech school in 2000 with my associates degree. Well, as I was working for a company in 2007, I was taking spare parts out of the garbage and building laptops and selling them to help pay medical bills for my fiance' (she has chrones disease). My supervisor and some co workers knew what I was doing and there wasn't a problem with it at the time. The parts were marked off the accounting books and headed for the dump. Unfortunately, once the new security specialist for the company was hired, someone (apparently that didn't like me) told him what I was doing. When questioned, I admitted freely what I was doing (after all, my supervisor knew what I was doing and was okay with it... not to mention, these parts were in the trash so I figured no harm done in taking them... ). Well, when the time came for formal investigation, of course, my supervisor declined any knowledge to save his own hind end and job. The result was I was fired from a job I held for 8 years and charged with 13 felonies in regards to theft and RSP. (Basically they tried to charge me for anything that was ever missing from the company). I didn't have to pay bail and was never "hand cuffed", but I had to be photographed and finger printed. Fortunately, my lawyer was able to get them to drop everything except for a felony charge of RSP (felony because of the dollar amount they came up with since I was selling built laptops from these parts for about $200-$300 each). The other charges were dropped because it was proven that I only took parts destined for the trash. After advice from my attorney based on he judge assigned to the case, I plead "no contest" to the charge of RSP and received 6months of probation as my penalty and that is it. No jail time, no fines, court costs, etc. Just 6 months of probation. My plea was entered in April of 2008 and probation was completed successfully in October of 2008. No other pending actions in this case. Now on to my question...

I have been working for myself, doing computer work when I can, but I am not making any real money and I have to get back to a W2 paycheck so I can contribute to our home... Unfortunately, I don't know what kind of jobs I can actually apply for that I won't be rejected due to my felony. I don't want to waste my, or a hiring managers time applying for a job that I stand no chance of getting due to disqualification with my felony. I've been applying for IT jobs but despite over a decade of experience, as soon as they find out about the felony, game over, communication from the company ceases. I have interest in real estate, so Id like to be a realtor if I could get licensed. Also, I have applied for the electricians and plumbers union, but I don't know if I'll be accepted due to my felony. Can a convicted felon get licensed in PA for professional work? Can a convicted felon get a CDL license in PA? I'm just so frustrated with this whole situation and I think it might be easier to move on with my life if I can get some direction as to what kind of career I can pursue with a felony conviction of "recieving stolen property" with 6 months of probation. If ANYONE can give me insight on my questions, I will be extremely grateful. I have tried to research this and have called the unemployment commission and asked this question, but nobody seems to have any willingness to provide answers for me.

I'm starting to get really scared here. With this economy, even grocery stores and mcdonalds are not hiring in my area. I really don't know what to do. I don't mean to generalize, but it's no wonder so many felons turn back to crime.. It feels the whole world is against us in every way and I don't want to let this drag me down, I just need some help to find my way.

Thanks again for your help. :(

-JJ

[JJCH]

Nobody?

[Clough]

Hi, JJCH!

It can take quite a bit of patience to use this site! The best people to address your question might not even be online now, or might be helping others. Or, they might even be sleeping.

Depending on the nature of a specific question, it can take anywhere from a number of hours to even days before a question might get addressed.

Concerning your question - We can't undo the past, but we know that we can work for a better future based upon lessons that we've learned from the past.

Your conviction is relatively recent. It may take a number of years of maintaining a clean record, before certain employers in the careers that you really want, will even consider hiring you.

You mention that you have been doing some work on your own. How have you been marketing yourself to do that work?

Are there any other skills or interests that you have that you might want to do in order to bring in money to be gainfully employed?

Thanks!

[JJCH]

Hi Cough,

I am new to this site, so I do appreciate the advise... I guess when you are desperate for answers you find yourself obsessing about them (I know I have hardly slept 2 hours per night in months, hence I am on he computer at 1:30am on a Friday night). On the bright side, I have an interview on Monday with a company for IT work, but given the track record I have, I'm not holding my breath, but I am hopeful... They don't know about the felony yet, but I did not/will not lie on my application (what good will it do once they check my background? You can't hide it).

To answer your question, I have been doing computer repair and networking work on my own as often as I can. I even designed a website for my buddy's trucking company and got paid $200.00. Unfortunately, I'm not making more than roughly $100-$200 a week on my best weeks and I have to contribute to a mortgage for our home, so I don' have any money to advertise with a pay site or news papers, etc.. All I have been doing is using craigslist and making pull tab fliers to hang in stores, municipal building, etc. not to mention the small word of mouth business I have gotten. I honestly don't know what else to do. I was thinking of taking some money and maybe making a magnet or maybe a window decal for my truck? I don't even have a business name or a tax Id or anything. I've just been deducting a percentage for tax purposes from the money I make. I see you are small business expert.. do you have any advice in this area?

To answer your other question, I do have some skills and plenty of interests. I am sort of a jack of trades (certainly not an expert)when it comes to plumbing, electrical work, landscaping (although I admit I hate being outside in the heat.. lol). I also like real estate (although I don't know if I could get liscensed). I thought about maybe starting a pressure washing business, or even a cleaning business. In December, I applied for the local electricians union in my area and am still waiting for a notification for the test (if I ever get one). I called a couple of times to follow up and they keep telling me they aren't sure when the test will be... I don't know if that's a pawn off or the truth. I would join a plumbers union as well if I could find one to join... I have always loved computers though, that's why I went to school for them. I never thought that what I loved would be my undoing in life... Fate is never without a cruel sense of irony... Please let me know what you think, when you can. Thank you again!

[JJCH]

I'm sorry, the spell check removed the "L" in your name... :(

[Clough]

I'm here now, if you might come back on. I know that there is a time difference between us and that you might have already gone to bed.

It sounds like you really do have some marketable skills and that, even though you're getting some business, it's just not enough business. So, maybe expanding your marketing on the Internet would be a way to go.

I have a number of small businesses that I run, and most of my new business comes from the free ads that I've placed on the Internet. I used to be in the Yellow Pages of the local phone book, but since I wasn't getting the dollar amount in income from advertising there as compared to what I was paying for the ads, I decided to not advertise that way for now.

By the way, to some people, I might be considered to be a "cough". LOL!

Thanks!

[JJCH]

Figures, I missed you.. haha I am still on here, its 3:26AM... not even tired yet... this is how my nights go usually. I'm back and forth between the computer and my basement workshop just screwin around (trying not to awaken my fiance'). Maybe I'll catch you... if not, write when you can! :)

[Clough]

Rats, I missed you again!

I'm still here and will check this thread again, soon!

Have been working with others about things...

Thanks!

[JJCH]

Hah you missed you again... ohwell, we'll get there. What kind of advertising do you recommend that I do? I only know about craigslist and placing fliers... any advice?

[Clough]

Hi, JJCH!

I'll be back on here in about an hour and fifteen minutes from the time of this post. I hope that you might be available then. I know that it's Saturday night though, and you might be busy...

I have lots of things to show you!

Thanks!

[JJCH]

I can't wait! Looking forward to it.

[Clough]

I'm back, JJCH! I apologize for me taking so long... :o

[JJCH]

Hi there! Im looking forward to it once we hook up! Lol

[Clough]

Hi! So, there you are! Please give me a minute to "un-cloak" so that you know I'm online.

Thanks!

[JJCH]

Hi there! What's up

[Clough]

Done!

Since this thread is about your felony and finding a job around where you're located while having a felony on your record, and since it's progressed to one that is about how you can gain self-employment and how to advertise most effectively for that, my suggestion is that you start a new thread about how you might advertise your small business the most effectively in the Small Business forum topic area of this site.

That way, this thread could be left to dealing with your felony conviction in all aspects of it that you need to deal with it.

What do you think?

Thanks!

[JJCH]

Yes I can do that... do you recommend I type something all over again, or maybe just copy/paste some excerpts from our "limited" conversation?


Also should I leave out the "felon" part to keep it strictly about advertising? Probably, huh?

[Clough]

I think that you should start something fresh. Suggested title might be How Do I Advertise My Small Business the Most Effectively on the Internet. Or, something like that.

If you post in Small Business, that is one of the forum topic areas that I also moderate. So, if something get kind of weird, I can fix it. Plus, by posting there, you'll also be helping others who might have a similar type of question.

Thanks!

[Clough]

We can copy and paste to that section as we need to. I would also suggest that you post the link to the first page of this thread so that people have some sort of reference to go to if the need to.

Thanks!

[JJCH]

OK my friend... new thread created HERE