I already have a degree, however I am unable to use because of my felony conviction. Dose any body have a list of jobs that I can do , may possible be able to do. Thank you.

From what I've heard it depends on the felony; i.e. felonies involving money pretty much bar you from working at a bank, etc, etc.
What's your charge?

There may be local services in your area that can help you find a job. Try networking too. I have worked with felons who are trying to get jobs. Most of them did not have a degree or a significant amount of paid experience, so they had to settle for menial service jobs that were known for their high turnover rates.

With the ones that were more educated and experienced, this tended to be a more frustrating experience than the latter had to deal with. I found that trying to hide your felony doesn't work very well. The ones that were successful would be very upfront about their past. They tried to use it to their advantage. In interviews and select cover letters, they would talk about some of the skills that they have developed because of their felony, and how it has helped them become a harder worker.

Without knowing what your degree is in or what your felony is, it is difficult to to point you in an exact direction. You are welcome to share this information, and I might be able to help a little more. I worked in a halfway house for females (mostly substance abuse and distribution felons, but I specialized with white-collar as well), and among other things I helped: write resumes, job search, and develop interviewing skills.

You also have more latitude if you are willing to start a business.
Good luck.

This guy is so right my son got an economics degree after his release and everyone is ready to hire him until they find out about his past in his early 20's

This guy is so right my son got an economics degree after his release and everyone is ready to hire him until they find out about his past in his early 20's

Virginia Mom : Couldn't agree more... my boyfriend has a 4 year degree and can't use it because of something he did when he was 19! They should really have some sort of pardon depending on the felony charge, I mean sure murders/rapes etc. should not be excused but other than that... there should be a pardon.

Get elected into government! Its full of felons taking my paycheck!

Our whole system is crooked, better to pardon someone so they can join society and work like the rest of us, then have them on welfare or back in jail! Talk about tax dollars really being spent, theres aprox. 2.1 million inmates is the US costing an avg. of $100.00 per day, so tell me.......... better to pardon and give them a chance to work and pay taxes like the rest of us, or continue u to spend tax payers $? :cool:

There are many resources out there to help it is just so hard to find the information. My husband is also an ex-offender and found it very difficult to find employment. I researched the internet to find resources and couldn't really find any web site with a lot of the answers we were searching for so I told my husband I wanted to make a good reliable web site with resources and actual jobs that would consider hiring ex-offenders. The site is just in the beginning stages but please check it out at Ifello » Helping 1/8 of Americas Working Population!.

Because the site is so new not all the resources are listed yet. For example my husband became a licensed RE Broker in NC last year. Because the RE market has gone down we moved and he got a job as a driver. Each city, county and state all have different laws on who qualifies for what and that is also information that will be coming to this site so please check back often.

Good Luck and God Bless!!

Ifello------- Thank You so much for the info, hope you dont mind me spreading the word :)

This is such a frustrating subject for me. YES laws should be changed. My son received a felony drug conviction in 2003, 2 months after he was convicted, this particular charge was changed in the law to a misdemeanor, but he was one of the lucky ones that was charged as a felony. It makes me sick to think that Michael Vick will get out of prison with a felony charge on his record and go right back to making millions of dollars a year and my son can't even work at Walmart. I think that if you have not been charged with anything in 5 years and I mean ANYTHING then the record should be sealed for employment and housing purposes, a felon can't even rent an apt. I completely understand murder and violent crimes never being sealed, but drug charges and theft charges should be sealed after 5 years so that felons can become productive citizens instead of being kept in minimum wage jobs for the rest of their lives for crimes that may have occurred when someone was 18, 19 or 20 years old. Not using it as an excuse, but even child molesters get a second chance once they have done their time. SOMEONE HELP CONVINCE THE LAW MAKERS THAT WE NEED CHANGE!

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Originally Posted by Eva430

Our whole system is crooked, better to pardon someone so they can join society and work like the rest of us, then have them on welfare or back in jail! Talk about tax dollars really being spent, theres aprox. 2.1 million inmates is the US costing an avg. of $100.00 per day, so tell me.......... better to pardon and give them a chance to work and pay taxes like the rest of us, or continue u to spend tax payers $? :cool:

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I have to be honest a full pardon will not guarantee any change in relation to the job situation. I was granted a full clemency in 2004. With that I thought life would be a breeze, but the reality is once a felon you are always considered a felon because of the mistake committed. I also have a bachelor's in business and working on a second one in music. With all that more doors have been closed then open. My advice would be to start your own business, something you enjoy. I started a production company four years ago and that has kept me from going postal, as well as being a christian or else I would not of made it. We have to somehow come together to change the law towards individuals with records. We still have to eat as well. Please nobody give up remember if every door you try closes build your own and open it. Keep striving for excellence, because the law will change, you just have to come together. A lawyer will not help you. Once you've been convicted you cannot receive a seal or expunge so a pardon would be good but only in some jobs. They can still pull up your past in certain fields, but give it a shot the law could be changing today as you read.

Background checks vary in length in different states. So after a certain number of years you do not have to claim the felony on an application. Check out your state to see when you can stop putting your felony on applications.

I was having trouble finding work as well. I decided to become self-employed and have had great success. I got involved with tryactnow.com a few months ago and it has been very rewarding.

Just from doing some searches, and if everything is spelled correctly, tryactnow.com would appear to be something that's now defunct.

tryactnow.com - Google Search

Thanks!

Hello All, I have read all of the answers above and I understand why people with criminal backgrounds are still unemployed! There are many jobs out there for you regardless of your background but it is all about your attitude!

It is going to be harder and that is expected. If you make a mistake, there are going to be consequences but you have to look past it. I am a CONVICT CAREER COACH and I know that you can get the job you want and not just the job you need. Let's chat about the jobs you are searching for, how you are filling out the resumes and applications, interviewing and your thought process on employment.

Good Luck!
Peace & Prosperity!

I too have a degree in Accounting and yeah I did the stupid. I embezzled from my employer. I have no prior record but tons of excellent skills and a great personality. I confessed to my superiors of my improprieties and was actually shown some mercy.
I have a strong drive for restoration but I know it will be tough. What I am hearing from everyone is it is impossible and that is pretty darn scary.

People like me need to hear success stories. I know I will have to go into an interview being positive and honest. My plan is to make the interviewer feel my pain for my mistake and how I am seeking to redeem myself.