Hi,

I live in Oakland Ca. I graduated from Wyotech, Completed a Pre-Apprenticeship construction program and got a GED. My problem is, I can't find anyone to hire me because I am a convicted felon currently on Probation.
This situation is not only causing problems for me personally, but also causing issues between me and my Wife. What am I to do? I am a hard working person that don't have a problem with working. The fact is I'm not allowed to. By the way my Felonies are not for Violence,Touching Kids,Women or Stealing. I didn't know that if you committed a crime you were no longer considered a Citizen. What to do?

What to do?Hello d:

There ARE jobs out there. There are even jobs that felons can get...

But, this isn't about the economy or what people think about criminals.. It's about YOU and YOUR job prospects... All you need is ONE boss to say yes.. If a person WITHOUT a felony needs to have 10 interviews before he gets hired, a felon needs to have 20. It really IS a numbers game..

But, here's a couple tips: Potential employers AREN'T social service agencies.. That means nobody wants to give you a CHANCE... They WILL give you a job, if you can show them that they NEED you. That's a different conversation to have with an employer.

So, to AVOID having your resume being thrown out BEFORE you even have a chance, don't fill one out. Or, if you DO fill one out, do so on the promise that you'll get an interview TODAY. Then you need to talk to the guy who does the hiring.

excon

And felons are citizens, they merely lose some rights, like to vote and to own guns among a few.

But as excon said, first the job market it tough, I would say it is closer to 30 or 40 interiews for one job for someone with a college degree and no criminal record right now.

There are people with master degrees cooking hamburgers at McDonalds right now on Christmas day. There are people at the local car wash cleaning cars for tips with no record at all but the are working to help provide for their family.

So you get out there and find something, no matter what it is, and once you start working, often it is easier to find other jobs too.