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hughesie09 · Mar 14, 2009, 08:24 AM

Hi I'm 22 years old and I live at home. In 2004 I went to prison for a few years and when I came home all I've wanted to do is just get away. I'm stuck at home constantly I can't get a job because of my record and I have no friends. My mum and dad don't really talk to me. This just makes me want to go I wanted to join the army but they wouldn't let me join.

I don't have any money so I can't exactly move out but there must be something else I can do. My life in prison seriously was better then the life I have now but I won't go back there.

Any suggestions would be grateful.

JudyKayTee · Mar 14, 2009, 09:21 AM

I find it hard to believe you can't find any job, anywhere, no matter how menial.

If you don't want to be home, then you have to move out.

I don't know why you don't have any friends. Perhaps there are support groups of some sort in your area.

jjwoodhull · Mar 14, 2009, 09:31 AM

If you want to join the army, you should do that. You are 22 - you don't need your parents permission. It would be a great place for you to learn to stand on your own.

JudyKayTee · Mar 14, 2009, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by jjwoodhull

If you want to join the army, you should do that. You are 22 - you don't need your parents permission. It would be a great place for you to learn to stand on your own.

In my area at least the Armed Forces at the moment are not accepting people with certain criminal backgrounds (sex offenders being one category, felons being another).

Wondergirl · Mar 14, 2009, 10:07 AM

Let's start from the positive -- what are you good at? Working with your hands? Dealing with all kinds of people? Relating to animals? Computers? etc.

Are you in a villege, city, or rural area? Which country? (I'm guessing the UK or Australia or Canada.)

Why were you in prison (your crime was so bad the friends disappeared)? How big a risk are you to an employer?

jjwoodhull · Mar 14, 2009, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

In my area at least the Armed Forces at the moment are not accepting people with certain criminal backgrounds (sex offenders being one category, felons being another).

Good point - I was going on the assumption that his parents were the only obstacle.

JudyKayTee · Mar 14, 2009, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by jjwoodhull

Good point - I was going on the assumption that his parents were the only obstacle.

You could very well be right - just thought I'd throw the other factor in just in case. It's hard to tell from the post.

hughesie09 · Mar 14, 2009, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by jjwoodhull

Good point - I was going on the assumption that his parents were the only obstacle.

I can't go in the army because I served more then 33 months in prison its not my parents that won't let me go in

tammerzrocks777 · Mar 15, 2009, 11:59 AM

The army may not be for you for now... it sounds like you want the responsibility that comes with what the army is. You can find jobs...
Just go apply everywhere even if it's not something you think you would get if you want a job badly enough you can get one.
You may want to say willing to discuss instead of putting in black and white what you did on your applications... this at least gets your foot in the door. Good Luck

Fr_Chuck · Mar 15, 2009, 12:10 PM

So you get a job, make a job, what type of skills do you have.
Flipping hamburgers perhaps, a car wash or more.

templelane · Mar 15, 2009, 12:18 PM

You need ot make sure you have the best CV possible. Make sure you write a skills based CV not a timed based CV. That way you don't put emphasis on being in prison but on what you can do.
Skills Based CV - Great CVs (UK)

Job seeking is tough at the moment, my boyfriend can't get a job skilled, unskilled or between at the moment and he has a degree and relevant work experience so I hate to think what you are up against.

You need something to put in your CV, did you do any courses in prison? You should try volunteering, it gives you skills, proves you contribute and have a good work ethics, it also allows you to network with potential employers. I volunteered in school and got one job and was offered another even though I was not looking for any jobs at all. It is also an excellent way to make friends

Maybe you would like youth work, they often have programes where they want men who have been to prison to help out young people who are on their way down the same route.

You have to be proactive.
It is easy to think of all the negative stopping you doing something but these will only drag you down.