Ask Me Help Desk - The IT world with a FELONY.

Hi,

I'm 27 year old convicted felon, I'll be 28 this year. In 1997, when I was 17, I was convicted of felony bail jumping and 1 count of child abuse causing great bodily harm and 1 count of child abuse causing personal injury. Here's the kicker, the victim in my crime was older than I was by 1 month. We were both 17 but I go waived into adult court and he was still considered a "child" I guess.

I am graduating from a local technical college with a IT-Network communications degree next month and I have also been accepted in to a well respected, elite if you will, private college to finish with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration/ IT-Network Specialist. I have been on the Presidents List all 6 semesters I have attended. (>3.5 GPA) I am having troubles obtaining employment pretty much everywhere I have went and I want to know if I should continue with school or just give up and work Mc Donalds.

I don't want to work construction or any skilled trades. I am chasing my dream with these degrees. Is the American dream over for me? I don't know what to do. In fact I skipped class today completely discouraged in my quest for being able to fit into society.

Lets pretend I can't get anything expunged or pardoned because I'm not eligible for another 5 years. Am I fighting a lost cause? Should I just quit while I'm not in debt even more?

It's going to be tough getting any job with a felony record to be honest with you. There ARE jobs out there though - remember that. The fact that you are bright and have a good school track record speaks volumes for you. It is going to be tough going until you can be matched up with the right employer though. Have you looked into any employment agencies who specialize in IT people? They are a good start in your eventual search. I know that they hired a felon at a well known jelly making company who actually had to post his record on the wall. That employer will not hire felons as a rule - keep that in mind as to just how companies can bend the rules if they want to. He is a computer whiz and keeps their computer system from being hacked into so if anything his felony came in handy you could say as that is what he was convicted of doing to another company. That is a rarity though.

I would say continue with your dreams and keep a positive attitude about job hunting in the future. All is not lost. You will prevail if your desire is strong enough. Don't be discouraged now. Be happy that you are able to pursue your dream. If you are passionate about your dream and keep that at the forefront of your conscious mind - you will prevail. It might take a bit longer to accomplish but I feel that you will do just that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostandnotfound

Hi,

I'm 27 year old convicted felon, I'll be 28 this year. In 1997, when I was 17, I was convicted of felony bail jumping and 1 count of child abuse causing great bodily harm and 1 count of child abuse causing personal injury. Here's the kicker, the victim in my crime was older than I was by 1 month. We were both 17 but I go waived into adult court and he was still considered a "child" I guess.

I am graduating from a local technical college with a IT-Network communications degree next month and I have also been accepted in to a well respected, elite if you will, private college to finish with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration/ IT-Network Specialist. I have been on the Presidents List all 6 semesters I have attended. (>3.5 GPA) I am having troubles obtaining employment pretty much everywhere I have went and I want to know if I should continue with school or just give up and work Mc Donalds.

I don't want to work construction or any skilled trades. I am chasing my dream with these degrees. Is the American dream over for me? I don't know what to do. In fact I skipped class today completely discouraged in my quest for being able to fit into society.

Lets pretend I can't get anything expunged or pardoned because I'm not eligible for another 5 years. Am I fighting a lost cause? Should I just quit while I'm not in debt even more?

Are you on a sexual offenders registry? What level? A background check will bring all this up and you may be precluded from working with certain age groups. That might be a factor depending on what career you see in store for you. I also doubt if you are on a registry that you can even get a job at McDonalds.

I see the problem if you graduate more as going into a profession that MIGHT require bonding - which you most probably will not be able to get - than anything else.

If your victim was 17 he was a child by law and, therefore, you were charged with crimes against a child. Your age and his age and the comparison has nothing to do with it.

Go into business for yourself,

Quote:

Have you looked into any employment agencies who specialize in IT people?

No, I live in a city around 75,000 and we don't have specialty employment agencies. We only have your run of the mill agencies here. Thanks though.

Quote:

Are you on a sexual offenders registry?

No, I am not a sex offender. I am a male who, violently offended, against another male with a deadly weapon. (for sake of specifics)

I am in no way a thief, sex offender, or drug offender.
I am a violent offender.

Thanks for all your replies and advice, I am most appreciative.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guest

No, I live in a city around 75,000 and we don't have specialty employment agencies. We only have your run of the mill agencies here. Thanks though.

No, I am not a sex offender. I am a male who, violently offended, against another male with a deadly weapon. (for sake of specifics)

I am in no way a thief, sex offender, or drug offender.
I am a violent offender.

Thanks for all your replies and advice, I am most appreciative.

... and to follow up on the next post;

Quote:

Go into business for yourself

Thanks, I have been tossing around that idea. However, I am not completely confident in my entrepreneurial skills yet. I may be after I complete my bachelors degree; if I should.

My apologies, I was not logged in. The above is my testimony.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guest

No, I live in a city around 75,000 and we don't have specialty employment agencies. We only have your run of the mill agencies here. Thanks though.

No, I am not a sex offender. I am a male who, violently offended, against another male with a deadly weapon. (for sake of specifics)

I am in no way a thief, sex offender, or drug offender.
I am a violent offender.

Thanks for all your replies and advice, I am most appreciative.

Whoops - sorry, I jumped to conclusions based on the age of the other person. I apologize and should know better!

But yes, having a felony, with violence is going to make it very hard to get a lot of jobs. Two IT people apply for the job, all other things are equal, who is going to get hired??

Some companies get special grants or funding for hireing so many ex offenders but again often you find that in much larger cities and find it normally though a probation or parole dept who is working with them.

Quote:

Whoops - sorry

No worries :)

Quote:

you find that in much larger cities

I have been thinking about moving out of state to a larger metropolis. Thanks for the advice.

If you are going to move out of state may I suggest that you look on the net for a "head hunter" who specializes in IT jobs. That was what I was saying above. Sorry I was not too clear about it. I just assumed everyone shopped the net for employment agencies instead of going to the local losers places. If you are thinking of relocating, it does not matter what city as the head hunters will be happy to match you up with a good company who wants you - not your background. Be sure to be candid with the agency so they know how to handle this situation. They are in the business of making money by matching up potential candidates to good jobs. You should not have to pay a fee either as the company will be paying that. Good luck!