The best method of employment for a registrant is to go into business for himself or start his own business. He cannot be fired, his hours are flexible, and there are no background checks.

He can learn a trade to help him. Where I live we have guys doing pretty well installing siding, putting up steel roofs, building add ons, and other construction type services. Then there is always welding, electrician, plumbing or a trade like that.

My best buddy in prison is now a welder and is making almost thirty dollars an hour.

Heavy equipment operator is another field. They make really good money.

Sometimes registrants have to be a little creative when they look for employment. Another buddy I had in prison has a landscaping business, but really all he does is mow lawns. He does surprisingly well. You can get some ideas at other avenues of employment by looking at any brochure from a vo tech school.

Of course, starting up your own business is not always feasible in every situation. In those cases, he needs to look for work at a local place of business, possible a mom and pop type store where they will either not run background checks or they don't care.

Any attempt to find employment at a big corporation type business with probably be met with failure as they do intensive background checks.

Hope this gives him some ideas.

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I don't know what his skills are. Privately owned, small companies tend not to be as picky.

Not sure where you are, not sure what skill set your son has, but I know that if he is on supervision that unless he had an established business prior that starting one will be tough until the PO trusts them.

Finding a job... Newspapers are garbage, if that is where he is looking it is holding him back. Temp agencies are a really good resource. Many companies are going to this type of hiring because someone else vets the person and they are on a rent to own basis and so if things aren't working out they can just terminate the person without all the repercussions of having hired someone on themselves. So apply at all the temp agencies that you can... First thing... let them do some work for you... they have access to far more job postings that you can find online or in any paper.

Next, if he is using a resume, it might be the way that it is laid out or the type of resume it is... A skills resume is best when there is a gap in employment... If they asked him on an application about prior convictions or something like that and he didn't disclose it, that will get his application thrown out if they find something in the background check. I am guessing that they didn't read the application and it never came up in the interview.

If you are looking for more job search, application and interview ideas, let me know...

Thanks, he did sign up with a temp agency. The company with his first interview saw his resume online and called him, it was when he had to disclose what they would find in his background check all of sudden there was no opening. He has 2 interviews lined up this week so far. His probation officer is pleasantly surprise he has already started to look for work. She is going to try and get him some leads. He has always worked as a cook while going to school. But he is willing to do anything. I'm in Pa so right there aren't a lot of landscape jobs right now.. He is hoping to get back in school by fall semester.

Kitchen help will be tough I am guessing as there are a lot of minors that work in those places and that could pose a problem for the PO, but that will vary by PO... so the one he has might be OK with it... who knows...

We are heading in to fall so landscaping jobs might be short lived but if he is thinking of going back to school then it might be the appropriate thing for him to do right now.

As for the company that called him and then there were no job openings, there might be a discrimination case there for him but it would be hard fought and probably more work than it is worth.

What is his interest in school? Looking in the field that he is planning to school for would be a good way to gain experience and really think towards the future... Not sure of your son's age and experience but I am sure there is stuff out there for him, just have to know how and where to look...

He's a biology major he only needs 5 more credits for his degree.

Well then dang! get his butt back in school for that last semester to get that degree!

Has he been trying in any labs or other things that pertain to his major, something more in line with the career that he is seeking in the field? Biology isn't child related unless one wants to teach or something like that... So his career path shouldn't be too rough... Are there any clinics, hospitals or other lab testing facilities in your area or near that he can apply at? Possibly start talking to an adviser at school to see if there are any internships available... some of them do pay so he would hit two birds with one stone, satisfy his PO and help his career at the same time.

Sounds like it is rough now but his future is bright!

He can work in a Pharma firm also.

He has a meeting set up to meet with his college advisor and plans to go back in the spring. His PO doesn't have a problem with the places he has been applying and she gave him suggestions today about how to handle the awkward conversation about his charges when it comes up.. He doesn't have restrictions about interacting with minor or computer restrictions. But he needs to find work he has 2 interviews lined up for his week and he had one today and hopefully a follow up later this week
He has 2 good references a former manager and our neighbor. It would be wonderful if he could get an internship. He wants to work in the environmental field. As for the company that called and then said they had no opening - it is what it is. But it was his first interview since coming home so I think it got him pass the gitters.

What did she say to say when the awkward topic of his conviction comes up? I find that people that don't actually look for jobs in the everyday world have a tendency to not say the right things or do not put the spin on it that is necessary to get the employer to look past the charges and to the future and what the candidate can bring to the enterprise.

I wouldn't call it minimizing but it is marketing and you are the product, so presenting it in the best possible way will only help...

I have to say that my son with S.O. got a job in a restaurant and the owners knew and they kept him. They wrote a letter to the judge stating that he was the best employee they had. That is always a good thing to have while waiting to finish school. It was a privately owned restaurant though.

My son has been looking for a job for months. I fear that he will not find anything and fall deeper into depression. He just agreed to take meds, but everyday is tough. My heart aches for him and I don't know how to help him. He's lost and I'm lost.

Unfortunately it took my son about 2 and a half years to find a job - but he finally did - not the greatest job in the world but it is a job - he would network with people that knew him - the guy who finally hired him owns his own convenience store and just said "Everyone deserves a second chance" There is a list out there of corporations that will sometimes hire felons -

https://exoffenders.net/employment-jobs-for-felons/

Remember this is felons and not necessarily SO felons - each case has to be dealt with in person and I believe in being upfront at the start that way there is no questions later - one or 2 rejections is the norm not the exception and unfortunately there will probably be many more before he finds that right one - good luck!

My advice is to the small business route. You can try interviews at corporate companies but that will take an awful lot of rejection before you land a job. With small business you have a much better chance to get hired, you are a person and a record. You may find it hard to make what you think you are worth, it's just simple economics. People know you cannot get a job easily, so why would they be afraid you would leave for higher paying job elsewhere?

And I do agree with Rew, if you want to make what you are worth than starting your own business is by far the best way to go.

Did his PO give him a list of felony friendly companies in the area to go apply at? I always had a job when I was on probation, but I seem to remember them having a large list of jobs they handed out to people to go apply to.

My suggestion these days is to go to all the temp agencies in your area. I have noticed that the companies that many want to get into no longer hire directly off the street but have gone to using temp agencies to utilize the 'rent-to-own' aspect of it with out the risk and hassle of all the hiring and termination paperwork.

Temp agencies also have multiple clients and multiple leads that can be pursued. Looking in the newspaper and on job boards will lead you to getting a lot of rejection or no communication at all from potential employers.

I have been through 2 downsizings and have gone through the "how to change careers/find a new career" classes twice, they give these classes to professionals when that kind of thing happens at their company. I have used the techniques, as has my husband and he had a job in less than 3 weeks from when he was released from prison. I have my opinions about large and small companies and whether it is a good idea or not to work for them, but those are my opinions.. The temp agencies and other suggestions I have made will get your foot in the door so the decision maker can see how spectacular they are...

Another thing that I notice POs don't do is go over how to talk about the job history gaps... It is to the detriment of their charges to not help them with these things... Depending on the amount of time that you have been out of the work force be it for being at prison or just because the economy is horrible and are unable to find a job. There are several ways to explain away the prison time, because it isn't what you did that the potential employer will be concerned about but what you have to offer to the future... Now if someone goes into this kind of interview and stumbles and fumbles over the reasons for their absence from the job market and leave a negative spin at the end of the explanation of their conviction, it will just sour the rest of the interview that has barely gotten started usually.

A really big mistake I see made continually is that people forget that you as the job seeker are interviewing the place you are applying as much as they are interviewing you. For it to be a good fit both of you have to see good things. I have gone into interviews and the negotiation process (usually after a 2nd interview) knowing from our previous conversations that I would NEVER work for them. Because of their culture, the history of the position itself that I am applying for, or because I don't think that I would fit in well to their group or like their management style. Thing is, if I needed a job right then, I would take it, if I have a job already even if it is going away, I would pass on that opportunity, it would only hurt me in the long run to be there short term and leave, and if I don't have to then I don't need that position right now.

I know that the men that come out of prison do not feel as confident as I do when it comes to this, I have had a fair amount of practice. But then there is the "fake it til you make it" motto which works very very well... Look confident, pretend that you are, and play the part, fake it. Doesn't matter if you are screaming bloody murder inside, they really can't see it.

I am not sure what everyone has tried... maybe it is the way the resume is written, if it is chronological order, that is a MISTAKE, it needs to be a Skills resume.

After filling out an application or sending in a resume, follow up should be done, not just to the receptionist or HR department, but attempt to figure out who really decides who is hired and fired and try to get a conversation with them.

Anyone that is utilizing a resume or has one that they would like looked at /reviewed PM me and I will give you my email address for us to take a look together. It is amazing what an improved resume and customized cover letters and some key phrases to say in some circumstances will make all the difference in the first impression that is made on the employer.