Admin with a criminal background

Would you mind taking your semi-scientific jesus-freak chit-chat elsewhere, please? This is *TECH*Republic. Thank you.

I agree you would still have a chance in healthcare. In Texas homocide is listed as non-hireable by the state, however the exception is that you have not had any offenses or have been off porbation or out of jail for five years. When applicants would come and apply, I would run the criminal history checks, any flags, then I would send them over to the District Attorney's office to get a letter stating that they did not have any pending or activity less than five years, that would prevent them from being hired. This worked well. The State and Federal inspectors would pull files for new hires in a given period and this would be in their files. This seems like extra work for HR but I feel like others that Jesus is the One. My moral responsibility is to care for my "brother". This does not mean that everyone that does this was hired. We had a young man that had got hooked on drugs after his daughter was murdered and served his time. We hired him in the kitchen. Come to find out he was just a few hours needed to take the electrician's exam. We contacted someone we knew who worked him part time to aquire those hours. With the letter from the DA and this friend he is now a licensed electrician.

I am not saying that it won't be hard for him to get the type of job he is going for, you also have the misconception of faith,which is best defined as "the hope for things not seen." Every religion including those who say that they do not believe or they have tried religion and it did not work, "hope for things not seen." The reality is that when taken on the whole I would rather believe that faith thru Jesus Christ sustains me in my time of despair and thru my times of Joy.

I would have to say to go ahead everything in life is a risk but if you never take a chance you will never know what will happen. I work as an Operations Manager and I also do the IT/Networking for the company I work for. Just be honest, don?t hide anything yet don?t say anything unless asked and then still be honest. I have to tell you my past is not something I can be proud of but as it was said by someone else it?s not your past that they are looking at it is you today.

The only exception for you would be obtaining a security clearance if you applied for certain jobs. You obviously have been doing a good job with your current position or you wouldn't still be there. I would suggest talking with your company and see if they would assist you in obtaining your MCSE and see where it goes from there. They obviously do not have an issue with your previous record - they seem more concerned with your current abilities.

Sid, good luck and congratulations with turning your life around - you should be proud.

Bonny

I beleive that would that I would first see if you were the best qualified candidate. I would then make a decision regarding your criminal background based on chemistry or fit. I would like to feel you out regarding temper, chip on the shoulder, attitude, perhaps (if legal) a reference from your parole officer and how hard you want the job.

Years ago I worked with a fella who was convicted of manslaughter. He did his time and seemed to make a wonderful turn around in life. I thought the world of him. Unfortunately, people (less educated or tolerant) knew of his background and treated him differently. He ended up quiting the job.

I would be up front with in your job application and interview. I would also ask the person(s) to keep that confidential so that you can be 'judged' by the work you do.

I personnaly would hire you although, admittedly I would look harder for a reason not to hire you. Advice: live clean, be the best parent and husband and son.....that you can be, positive attitude with everyone and work hard. Do this with everything and make sure any references see this ethic. People judge and respect these qualities the most.

Go for it! JW Senior Project Manager (Large financial bank institution)

The dope ,, dopehead that catered to the other rich folks in Hollywood and all the liberal elite and their pet special interest projects. The impeached criminal and disgraced president.

re:
I have to say "all things are possible through CHRIST who strengthens me." IBM and Exxon may be big, but God is bigger and if you turn to Him, there is always hope!
----- ----- ----- ----- -----

That comment points to a possible source of work - churches. While the pay probably sux, the work is good. They're in the business of forgiving folks - and you're looking for forgiving folks. They use cheap, outdated networks - you've got outdated skills. It sounds like a match.

Good Luck

I understand that this person may have served his time; but as an IT manager, I cannot see myself hiring a person with a felony record. I cannot see my self entrusting my network to a convicted felon.
The industry doesn?t need to have that stigma associated with it. Like the notion that you learn to be a locksmith in prison. When in fact you have pass three levels of a background check (local, state and federal) and any felony conviction will prevent you from getting a license.
There are plenty of qualified people in the IT industry and I would think that once it was known the person was a convicted felon, that person would be eliminated as a perspective employee.

Becky:
Guess you haven't been around many Churches. They are not steeped in poverty, although they don't waste money like many corporations. Many have very new technology. You probably meant well, but I found your comment un-informed and condecending.

Anybody can claim to be reformed; there's no cert or Letter from God. Accepting God helps you to live with your life, not work with your past.

Felony criminals have less than a 50% success rate.

A network administrator has access to 100% of the company's confidential information. If the company is doing e-commerce they can be held liable for any credit card information that gets out.

To make it to a network administrator position, you've got to EARN IT! On the job, produce, learn and contribute. These will out-weigh your past but your past will always be there. Going into a new company your past will have more meaning so you have to be squeaky-clean for a long enough period of time to convince others.

Yes, you can do it. But you've got to EARN IT.

Not hard to see why you're not a manager...

Of course that decision is at the discression of HR, but if it was up to me I would hire you. Okay, so you made a mistake and made your time; that is now in the past. As of now you seem to have valuable skills for a position as Network Administrator. Also, just because a conviction does not mean that a company must reject you. They must first examine several factors before reaching a final decision. Now its the time to re-do your life, and it would be such a bad idea to get as many certifications as possible. Remember that in this field, there is no such thing as overqualified. I would also suggest counseling from an attorney if a company gives a hard time.

Sid, my husband also has a criminal background, Violence, drug charges. After release he got his MCSE and others, has been working with the same company ever since.

So do I. You already know what the people here are like. After reading these other posts, you will realize how lucky we are to live here and not where these other people "live". Don't be afraid of the gospel; don't be afraid of the challenge before you. But I believe you will have a better chance here to expand your carreer path than in most of the places these other writers are from.
Besides, you could always move to Fairbanks! (inside joke to you outsiders)
I do some charitable work and work along side some ex-cons. Some I didn't even know about but since I had already made my decision to trust them based on what I knew, it made little difference. Not all stay on the correct path; their choice just like the admin who intentionally alters his network after termination in order to get "even".
Take the advice about keeping yourself out of trouble; get active and involved in the community so you can try a different type of networking!

Obviously, you have never read the 10 commandments, my guess is you could not even find them in the Bible.

If a company runs a background check on you, which most company's do now a days, you may not get the job that you are looking to fill, no matter how many certs you have, also your age means a lot in the IT field! most companys what young looking people for the job. Been there and done that and been truned down for a younger person many of times. Be right up front with the interviewer, about your pass!! and maybe how you come across with your answers to the questions that you are being asked you may land a job. But remenber one thing, that you will be truned away from many jobs because of your criminal record. But they will not come out and say that this was the reason that you did not get the job and also your age.

Miguel

Hey, I respect you for posting this question and wanting to make something of your life. A changed person can be one of the most effective people in any endeavor. I do have a couple things that I would look for in a potential employee, no matter if you've committed a murder or were the Pope himself.

1. Character - If you have no internal moral compass, religious or not, that guides you to make right decisions, somewhere down the line when you have to make those difficult "gray" decisions, you will choose wrong

2. Appearance - This is a BIG one. I'm not trying to be stereotypical, but someone who walks in with tattoos all over their body, long dyed hair and a couple earrings is not going to catch my eye as a professional. On the street, in the club, in prison, or hangin' out, it might be cool, but not in a corporate environment. Look your best and you will feel like doing your best. If you DO have tattoos, don't flaunt them.

3. Language - Talk like someone who is confidant and doesn't need to use slang or profanity to get their point across. "Street talk" or the lack a strong understanding of the English language is something that turns off alot of people, management or not.

4. Don't act like you deserve something or in the other extreme, you feel like you owe everyone and anyone an apology. Don't make yourself look bad by telling the interviewer all the bad things you've done and how much of a bad person you are. BE HONEST though, don't try and hide things, even the little things. It goes back to the character thing, doing well when others aren't looking.

Good luck to you man,

It all depends on the company.

It is highly unlikely that you would get hired by companies or government that require security clearances before you can even start the job.

Your best hope would be smaller organizations & companies.

The well wishing in all the "god" posts are all fine and dandy but reality in the business world is different than this.

ScubaBoy - thank you.

I like to think that I'm qualified, as I've done everything from building our company website, working with our buyers group to incorporate e-commerce, totally redesigned our infrastructure and rolled out a new point of sale. (boy, what a pain, lol)

Still, my past and my personal guilt has kept me from pursuing this field. I still have this feeling that certs would prove something - I'm glad you've put that in perspective.

Thank you for your optimism and advice.

I am a christian, and I don't believe it's bigotry to say that someone will have to prove himself other than saying "I've found God". Some people will 'accept' God just to fool the crowd.

I would give you an interview, just to see what you have done with your life since leaving prison. I worked my way from Telecom into IT and I know that's time consuming, especially for someone without the scientific and electronic background that I had.
So obviously you have been using your time wisely.
If after the interview I were satisfied that I you were a better choice than the other applicants, I would hire you. Because someone committed murder it doesn't mean that they are a thief, or that they will commit fraud. One has to take into consideration the circumstances that led someone to murder. Sometimes people get imprisoned on a technicality, so I would really need to understand the circumstances of your crime before knowing what precautions to take. Still, I would give you a job if you were qualified and if I were convinced that you have lived down your past. To be honest, as a consultant, I think there are a lot of people on the outside who should actually be in prison. Keep busy working and getting your certs, and yes, it's not a bad idea to read the Bible (Hebrews 4:12), what is more important is the APPLICATION of what you read, and just like your certs, if you apply what you learn it will show in your attitude and the work you do.

I fully understand that this was in the past but personally speaking i'd not hire ex-con in my organisation as it give the wrong image, also with regards to IT skills why pick ex-con when you can have someone who is not with the same skills ?

Regards

Josh

I am a father of a 24 yr old son, he commited a crime when he turned 18 and spent his time on probation. Just a little background.

He was working a a desktop admin for a medical insurance company for the past 5 years. He was recently offered a new job in another city and was in the mists of moving when the company just fired him without warning or anything. Apparently when they did the initial background check on him it came up clean and when they offered him this new position they redid the background check. However on this one it showed that he had a criminal background. For this reason they fired him and it is doubtfull whether he will ever be able to work in another medical insurance company again.

He has applied to have the criminal background expunged from his record, but the damage is done. His crime was minor and compared to yours (Homicide). He will still have a rough road to go in order to get a job in the IT field again. There are to many young college people with IT degrees out there (He doesn't have any) and the market is just to saturated to support people with any kind of criminal background.

Your best bet is to get into NOS/IOS security. Once you have the certs in these fields you may stand a chance. But I am not even certain of that.

I myself am a 50 yr old veteran with 28 years in the military do Network design and implementation. I can't even find a job in the IT area, even at the entry level. You should really retink your job path.

Good luck.

Wow. I wish you the best of luck.

So far I've been treated very well. And can you believe these posts here? OMG. I just came back to post another question and find that I'm the featured member - and this post has generated so many replies. This shows that there are alot of forgiving people willing to give us a chance.

I am so impressed and humbled. I don't know what to think, except WOW!

Like I said earlier - NETWORKING ROCKS!
As do networkers. LOL.

Clinton was to busy catering to Gays Blacks and other minorities that the Hollywood elite kowtow to. Clinton degraded the military and gave the money to these special interests to keep them on his side while his commie machine tried to cover up all his scandals. This left the terrorists build up in strength and fly planes into the twin towers. The war that Bush has been fighting is do to the fact that Clinton let in happen while his cronies in the cabinet were covering up sexual assaults on women. Every American that dies is do to Clinton groping other women and getting a B.J. from an intern.

Keep your self justified liberal vomit out of these forums.

Tell me that is a joke. If not, I'd have to say that qualifies as some of the worst advice I've ever heard.

Do not give up , in any Rison don't give up.

I honestly don't know. On one hand if you paid your debt to society I don't feel anyone has the right to deny you a fresh start in life. But homicide shows a blatant disregard for human life and i'd have trouble hiring someone who has so little regard for taking someone's life, I'm not sure how much reagrd he'd have for me and my company that employs him. I guess i'd need to know more circumstances about the crime before i make up my mind.

dear sidvail,
At present if u r honest and hardworking man then u 'll have nothing to worry.if u've left your past then now u make make your future with ur hard work.Nobody is a criminal from birth but it is the society or the people that changes the life of a man to a criminal.u may see that mostly the politicians have a criminal background even in our country INDIA most of the politicians 've criminal bak ground but the rule. it is the habbit of people that they cann't live the person normally, who has great achievements.they jealous that person who is better from them. so dear don't worry.
keep ur work honestly.

I to have a criminal background and I work in IT but what I have done in the past is not who I am now. I was young and stupid and since have made a difference in alot of teenagers lives by telling my story in schools to help prevent someone from making the same mistake. I was told to find another career but you know what I refuse because one thing I have learned from being in prison is life is what you make it and what ever you choose to do be the very best at what you are doing, hold your head up high and just know that the person you are now is who they know not the person you were and don't let them down. Hope this helped.

I think it would be on a case by case bases. I can't see someone giving no chance at redemption because we've all done something wrong (on some level or another). If I look hard enough, I can see something you (and any one) has done that effects someone else. I can say this, if there is no chances given, then what other route will a person take? Think about it. If you take all avenues away from a person, then you will give them no other choice but to survive the only way they have a chance to survive, but if you give them a chance to go a good path (with checks and balances) then they can move in that direction.

Does anyone think that this could be a "joke"? Sounds like someone with a little time on thier hands. I mean really - 19 years, homocide? Theres a lot of details here that don't fit....Certainly seems to have worked, though.....

Being a Network Admin requires ethics. Your end-user communicty must know that you can be trusted not to snoop in directories, etc. Since you were incarcerated for homicide, not fraud, bunko or robbery, I don't see a problem. You paid your debt now get on with your life. I would surely hire you.

Gaijin, thank you. Your post touched on a few things that I take to heart.

True about toeing the line. I know what it is to be incarcerated. Never want that again. But even more important is that I know what I did. And like anyone that has had to take a life, for what ever reason - you gain a better understanding and appreciation for that life. And also for life in general. That is no easy thing to come to grips with. I will not say my crime was noble, as I was protecting (thought so) my own - but it also was not for gain, or anger. Doesn't matter to me. I did it and I'll forever be humbled in the face of it. It's been almost 30 years since it happened - and I still feel the guilt.

Because of that I have a tendency to be somewhat harder on myself and my beliefs than the average person. My integrity is very important to me, and I've been known to shoot myself in the foot simply because of my need to be above board and completely honest. But that is my nature, and I refuse to compromise it.

But on the flip side. I am a capable and competent man. I love to learn and enjoy a job where I am constantly striving. Networking has proven to be such a field. I love it. I want to succeed.

Again, thank you for your post.
I still can't believe I've started such a debate here. Yowsa! :)

I am not going to get all spiritual on you. Im not gonna tell you I believe one way or a nother. I just want to say good luck. I fell that after you have paid your debt to society, you should have a clean slate. And I am sure there are employers out there with the same theory. Never hurts to keep your current job and look. Who knows, maybe you might cross paths some day.

Thanks for trying to threadjack. Very callous and selfish of you to do it considering the number of other message boards, forums, blogs and chatrooms you could hijack.

Please try somewhere else if you'd like to talk politics. It doesn't belong in this thread with sidvail.

It has been my experience as a Federal parole officer that an individual who has served time for murder tends not to repeat such criminal behaviours and is a good risk for a prospective employer. In the absence of any other information about the homicide or additional criminal background, if any, I suggest that you would present an assumable risk to a prospective employer.

I'll let you read all of these answers and opionions that people have given you. There are too many for me to read to know whether someone has answered this or not. I have a criminal background as well and I've always been in the bookkeeping/accounting end of business. I have found that when you put on your applications that you will discuss it. Don't answer with the truth. Often times the issues does not come up and if it does, people are open about it because you were open about it as well. But if you answer "yes" with the reason, they won't. It's offensive right off the bat. Being in Alaska it should not be as much of an issue as it would be in say New York. The competition I would not think is as tough. So, just answer "yes" and "will discuss" you will have a better chance because your crime is not the same as your employment, like mine is.

You've done the crime, and done the time. People will always have prejudices because of the crime but all you can do is keep on developing your skills and working hard. Peace

Well said.

To all the jesus lovers:

PLEASE take it elsewhere. This discussion is to help this gentleman with his IT CARREER not his faith in jesus. It's OK to believe whatever you want but please stop boring me with you silly religious convictions!

Great post.

Yes, the age factor is there also. I'm actually 48 now - not the optimum age to begin a new career. :)

In the (almost) 5 years I've been here, my fellow employees are the best source of growth I've had. Everyone knows my past but I guess it's okay - as I'm the one they come to when things go wrong, as opposed to the (several) managers that have held that position. I was offered the managers position 2 years ago, but declined because of some very valuable training I had just undergone would have gone to waste. And besides - I love my job. :)

The lack of experience in new technologies is a major problem for me - but cannot convince the boss to upgrade to 2000 or 2003. Hence my original question about getting some new certs and training. I was fortunate to attend a MS seminar where I was given a free copy of Server 2003 SBS, and have built a small network at home to study on. Of course that still limits my experience to a small environment - but it does help. :)

This makes sense. From a capitalistic standpoint - if there is demand, there is opportunity.

Right now there is demand for security, streaming video, VoIP, etc. So if I become knowledgable in those fields, I stand a better chance.

Thank you. This has given me something to think about. :)

I am a manager for a governmental division. There are are background guidelines that the agency has but as far as my opinion, just because you have a criminal background would not eliminate you for consideration for any job. I would base your hiring or not on your professional merits. Your criminal background is not related to your current field so I see no conflict.

If you murdered someone you should not even be out of prison. I don't know your circumstances, maybe it was self defense. But MURDER?
I won't lose sleep because you can't get what you want. You get what you deserve. If it was MURDER, you don't even deserve to be alive much less out of prison.

I agree that the person may have gone overboard giving testomony on a forum but there was no need for an attack. I can see from your message that you do now the 10 commandments at all. I think your hostility comes from a deeper feeling than your response to the writer's terstimony. Keep peace.

You can not change how everybody else thinks about Criminal Past, however staying and pursuing the right path with no deviation of any kind i.e. by your actions you can change hearts and minds of others.

I have just succeeded in returning back to medicine after gap of 9 years- in this interim I have also done BSc (Honours) in Computing.
Good Luck

Thanks Don for the post - however....

I am not asking or looking for a 'break'. I plan on getting hired due to my skills and the value I bring to the company. Just as any potential employee would do.

I did not stroll into the marketplace. I put in my time studying and trying to master my skills - then I went to work and made my way from a counter clerk to my present position of Network Admin/webmaster and Alaska wide rep for Fluke Networks. I worked to get to these positions, learning whatever I needed to do the job - and putting in the hours required to do it right.

Thanks for trying to 'ground' me - but your arguments have already been broached and placed in their proper bin.

I agree with you that nothing personal should be discussed at an interview, whether it is religion, politics or favorite foods.

Something you should ask yourself though. Would you rather have employees with no morals and scruples or ones that have a God and strive to have eternal life?

Jacob, you may be right to make sure that he knows he has support from God and to know that forgivness is available. You may have gone overboard for most "unchurched" though. I noticed some attacks on your beliefs. Remember they even crucified Jesus.

Simply-Living,

Oh, how mistaken you and SO many others are!

I myself am a convicted felon (car theft - 2.5 yrs) and I am still fighting against the stigmata 15+ years later. I AM a successful Network and Systems Admin/IT Manager. And I am willing to bet a decent steak dinner that I had to work even harder to get here, than most of us. I do not have the certs, because I do not believe in them.

I really feel for sidvail, but I have to tell you (and the others) something you are assuming and not implementing. The stigma of being a felon (violent, drug or other) will ALWAYS have an impact on your eligibility for employment. No matter what we (former felons) do, we will always be given third or fourth consideration, if any consideration, at all. We have paid our time for our crime(s), but we can not do as so many people say. We can not just 'let it go', because the general public will not. If either sidvail or I showed up, and showed your employer we could do that same quality job, as well, or even better, for the same compensation, would he/she consider it? What about for half of your salary? If you were the employer, would you consider either of us?

Fortunately, for me, I have been able to get my record expunged. This is a drastic process, but with the change in the economy, I felt it was necessary. I am trying to get reclassified as a Top Secret Clearance holder. I am competing with people who come from foreign lands, are willing and able to work for half of my salary, have varied certs and degrees, but CAN NOT do the job at 1/10th as well as I. So, I have to go after jobs that are government related, or in some other way restricted to nationals and citizens.

I met A LOT of prision preachers in my time. ALL of them told me how great it was going to be, on the outside. How there was all sorts of help and support. But that help and support came at too high a price, for me. I was not/am not willing to lose my self identity jsut to work as a 'bag boy' in the local grocery. I 'broke the cycle' through much hard work, grovelling and redundant proof, time and time again.

With all due respect unto you and your ideals, before espoucing the greatness of your beliefs, I invite you to walk in my shoes (or sidvails) for a while. THEN tell me if the stigma remains after the debt to society is paid. And then tell me what I (and others) have to do, to finish paying off that debt.

I am a combat veteran.
I volunteered to defend my country
your beliefs
your way of life.
I made a mistake, and paid for it.
again
and again.
when and where is that forgiveness from the society of superior morals?

Sincerely,

Daniel Curry

You work hard and you will get everything you worked for...............

Everyone has opinions and well some are smeller then other. You just keep up the good job that you have been doing and you will go as far as life will take you. You are the one to set the limits. Do not let any negativity get in your way, God will not hand it to you; you have to work at everything in life especially if you have a bad background.

GET REAL PEOPLE: God will not help this person get thru this. Feeling sorry will not help ether.

DUDE: get off the worries and just do your best, which should be all that anyone should ask for. AND if they are asking for better then they have there head so far up there ASS they are lost themselves. No body is perfect but we all try, and only the one that can admit they are not perfect servive???????????????????..

I could not hire an X-convict who commited Homicide and served 19 years!
In a warehouse maybe?
But I.T. helpdesk & administration no way, especially after serving 19 years prison time. As an X-COBOL Programmer Even I had to emphasize my soft-side when I segued to desktop support & ADMIN.
Because the bottom line is that people skills & technical prowess have to co-exist in order for I.T. to interface the technical side to the user side and I feel many of those social skills would have eroded into hard-edged survival mechanisms for an individual incarcerated for such a long period of time.
And the unconciousionable would eventually
happen perhaps to Ms. Suzy in personnel who calls to report her printer is'nt working when in fact the "date field" is'nt working in her spreadsheet and she needs a little help "all the time" or the sexual timebomb situation with the "everybody wants me girl" or the Manager whose involved with divorce proceedings and has difficulty with control and anger managment. After 19 years in the Joint I fear erosion of those social skill sets which are so essential to the everyday give & take of "office/corporate" co-existence strategies. I mean it's tough enough working with and within the flawed personalities of the innocent.
I could not think of a murderer, no matter how contrite or how full of sorrow!
Such a person could not work in my office, such a person is best working with things in a controlled environment perhaps a warehouse, construction site or a trade shop.

Generally to commit homicide is not a good thing.
However if he offed one of the many scuzball technical recruiters/ placement agents or technical training school sales people that are out there than we owe him a debt of gratitude.

It depends on the individual doing the hiring. When I was released, the Best Buy company put me on even though I had a record.

When I tried to get a job at Harris Corp. and not even in the government systems area, I met and interviewed with the IT department and they were all willing to pick me up. Human Resources said no.

My advice: Never ever ever tell them. If you are pure in heart and are not going to betray their trust anyway, Never, ever ever ever tell them. The worst that can happen is that they will find out and fire you. The worst that ever happened to you is having been convicted and I know it won't be that bad.

One exception: The Governement. You must, by law be forthcoming. You can get a security clearance from the government even though you have a record. You can even appeal a negative finding.

You can never appeal small minds or prejudice. Hell, 15 years after release, I still can't vote in Florida legally. Small minds. Prejudice.

Just be flexible. Most employers don't look beyond the local police having you in their local records. Of course with gruppenfuhrer Ashcroft, who knows.

g.l.

There is nothing "redneck" about saying people who commit murder are bad people and should be executed. If this guy had murdered someone in your family, would you really want him enjoying life and a good career?

Actually there are quite a few good eggs here. Most everyone has said "Yes, go for it" Showing a positive outlook, and being quite open to a man's skills and intent - vs - his past.

That was my original intent - to find out if it was a 'no contest, not a chance in hell' or 'it all depends on the person hiring'.

I had fully expected an answer detailing security risks and fear of personal safety. Instead, I received encouragement and solid advice.

I for one am in a similar situation, past felony, etc. I love computers, networks, admin, security and it is my passion. As with some others I do not believe in certs because with my experience they are a waste of time (I've had to train a few "certified" people) as reality is always different from theory.

However, some companies rely on certs for bragging rights to their customers so don't count them out.

Obviously this is a difficult topic as you can see with Bush bashers and Kerry bashers getting off topic. Ignor their agenda because reality is, we have a stigma, regardless of cercumstances, regardless of reasons, people can not get over themselves.

We do not ask for a second chance, we do not ask for hand outs, we do our job, we do excellant work and in most cases we also go beyond the call of duty because we love our work. However, we also see things in a different light than those who have not experienced what we have in the work force.

For me, personally, as I am working on my own wireless internet business, would hire you if you where qualified for the job. I have had jobs also where the prior was not an issue (a true EEOC employer) and have been turned down because of it (a non true EEOC employer). Does it bother me? Yes. But I will still get on with life and not let those type of people get me down.

Keep up the good work and do what you personally think is right. If your interested in wireless, lets talk .

I wish you the best of luck, Sid. I am a 47 year old woman who has an associates degree from an accredited technical school. I am knowledgeable of all operating systems from DOS all the way up to 2000 plus XP Pro as well as Linux and Novell, Office, and a bit of VB and C++. I even have A+ certification. I am having one heck of a time getting any employment in my field. Back in 2002, I was put on ARD (accelerated rehabilitation) for being caught on a phone tap calling a buddy of mine to ask if he had any weed. It seems that doing so is a felony because I used a public communication device for illegal purposes. I also left an abusive alcoholic husband who put my credit record in the toilet. So, you see, I fail criminal background checks and credit checks. Nobody ever asks me what the circumstances were for the failures. They don't care. I failed. Period. I've got to agree with another responder who stated that he's noticed that young males are getting these positions. My reply to the people in charge is "Would you rather have somebody working under you that thinks that they know everything, or somebody who would work harder and learn everything she could to do things your way and be the employee that would worship you for giving her a chance?" I guess the answer is the young guy with the attitude is more of a desired employee because I'm still waiting for my chance! P.S.... I also was a 4.0 student while in school, so I certainly don't have any problems learning. So, even though people tell you to your face that they would hire you, actions speak louder than words. Good luck and keep plugging in there. I still am. And to the ones hiring....ask more questions and don't just assume that the best person for the job is somebody without any problems.....they have lots of them, they just aren't on paper!!!

When I was hiring tech positions I was willing to consider a person who had a record depending on the crime and that they were honest with me about it. I hired one person and found out on his first day of work that he had done time for stealing computer equipment from his previous employer. When I asked him why he had omitted it on his applicaton and checked 'NO' for the question 'Have you ever been convicted of a felony', he replied that he had been told by a judge that since he had done his time no one would find out so don't tell. He was gone in less than an hour. Now, granted, that with the nature of his crime I would have been very leery about hiring him, but his lieing stopped any consideration.

Honesty with the interviewer is vital. They do not have to let anyone else know, but you must tell them.

JMHO

He said homicide which does not necessarily mean murder. Get back on topic.

Homicide IS murder. It's called a synonym, dumbass.

Other countries do not have such strong concerns about future employees or at least do not act on them.

Australia, as an example, was populated by convicts from the beginning of its white history and while we have a conservative government, our society is a little more liberal. If possible consider a change in country perhaps.

I say you did your time, you paid for your crime. I went to prision in Arkansas for hot checks, did my time, and took electronics training with my rehab intitlements. I was hired by IBM as a Field Engineer by this small, world-wide, blue computer company that has three initials. I stayed with them until something else came along better. That was almost thirty years ago. I never hid my record, admitted it if asked, answered questions honestly, and let God handle the rest. I have never been refused a job because of my past. Most places are more interested in what you can do, than what you did 30 years ago. Go for it, and hope you the best.

IT,
I could not have said it any better with such a short paragraph.

Message to kill-em all,
You are one scary tomato, reading your reply is exactly you. Please off yourself and save us the trouble. Thank God people like you are monitored by society. Asshole look up the word murder in the dictionary maybe it will enlighten you.

Why don't you invite O.J. Simpson over for a nights stay, but sleep with one eye open...and he was not even convicted. Length of confinement is not a measurement of redemption; it?s only how good of a lawyer you had.

Kill-em all would hire all the be-headers in Iraq that are brutally chopping heads off, and welcomes them as his running mates. No better than that forgive them assholes dude. Dude you are a work of art, what a pot to piss in.

You publicly display both your ignorance & stupidity.

1) Homicide & Murder are legal definitions, not physical ones. Hence, they are most definitely NOT the same. You do not get to re-define said terms to suit yourself.

2) Your language is distinctly unprofessional, and brings disgrace to this forum.

3) You are clearly an unforgiving & unempathetic person.

4) Your chosen alias shrieks of egocentrism.

The difference between intelligence & stupidity is that stupidity knows no limitations.

Are you a clone of ITDude2004?

Your name says it all.

Obviously your alias is a lie.

And, what does security have to do with the issue at hand? Nothing!

Thank you for your well reasoned response.

NOT!

The difference between intelligence & stupidity is that stupidity knows no limitations.

To all responders,

Yes, you can yank all you want but you are not owners of a company. I am the only responder here that is an owner so I think my reply has credence.

What's the old saying? "It is sure easy to spend someone else?s money but your own". Wear the shoes then tell me about it.

I don't see any responder offering Sid a job, how come?