Are you

Michael Phelps ?

LOL!!!! That's funny.

I know Mz_dori, I know

The background check can go down to 5 or 10 years. You got unfortunately a felony in 2006, you will have to wait 2011, to be cleared with a 5 years background check. More if the background check is up to 10 years.

And if you want to work to the government or some gov collaborators you will have to go thru a lie detector to be cleared, I will try to be DOD cleared, just to try it, they might be more honest and tell you directly what is wrong.

Just thought I would add... it's not the charge....(type of offense) just the fact that you are in there.  It's all about money, so don't take it personally although I know it's hard to do that.

Sounds like all they did was search court records. Which is free and usually available online. They probably didn't even get to the FBi database at that point.

 Though whomever does background checks should realize it's about the same offense not individual offenses 20 times.  Well they SHOULD...doesn't mean that they do.

Don't know what to tell ya...it sucks.  Interviewers, if they are decent and honest, would hear your story and say look....I like you and everything, and I'll run the background check, but our company just will not hire people with recent felonies...recent being 10 years or more.  Like I said.. most companies...especially large corps. will not hire anyone who has any criminal record no matter what...especially right now.

You're best served with very small companies to get started and then keep hacking away at landing another job.  But really...that position you interviewed for there were probably a few thousand applicants these days.

Well, dear friend, it seems that our system doesn't know it, but it has a way of blacklisting people and in case you're a student of history you remember a guy named Al Capone. America MADE Al Capone what he was!! It all started with prohibition, then the more radical entrepreneurs stepped in because there was a profit to be made. It is probable that thousands of people have been killed JUST AROUND

ALCOHOL!!!! So, here we are in this day and age with the drug cartels now beheading people and importing guns over the border according to news reports and our country being free of course means that those drugs are coming in, NO MATTER WHAT!!! Well, if we were smart or not just idiots in government we'd legalize cocaine and regulate and educate about it. Also, we'd come up with a better way of ingesting the substance so that people didn't die of an overdose like my friend did the other day, or wreck their bodies/nasal passages. In addition the tolerance level for these substances could be determined for people so that they don't have a reaction the first time they use it thus saving lives like Lenny Bias (Boston Celtics). It would lose it's appeal as a white collar drug and women wouldn't have to sleep with half of the scumbags they do because anybody could afford it. Also, the cartels would effectively be out of business because they couldn't compete with the most powerful government on the face of the earth or for that matter the pharmaceutical firms which would be the most natural choice for proper manufacture of these controlled substances. One more thing, EDUCATION and outreach could make the thing truly something which our society could get past in terms of wisdom. My advice on the job search is to start fixing computers on the side by printing up flyers and distributing them around your neighborhood collecting $25 an hour to hook up a machine or set up a network. Keep your customer information handy because that will be sellable once you get an official job if you like of if you just want some gravy money for whatever. You know most people don't know where to turn to get their computer fixed and they need it in this economy to keep employed and their resume updated. Another thing, if you can, generate a simple flyer and give this out to your casual acquaintances. Old ladies are always befuddled when it comes to technology and so are many others. In case you're wondering, I have never ever taken cocaine but I don't feel like I want to hate others because of it. Why can't we just learn something from older societies, like ahhhhhhhh.....compassion?

In Indonesia (a muslim country) you can get life sentence or Death Penalty for Drug possesion, you might have a record of being involve with Drug, but you are free. Right.

bali9.foreignprisoners.com/

There is so much stuff you can do without drug, that's not even funny!

it's humbling to hear some of this stuff.  I guess we just gotta take the bad with the good and make the best of it.

I remember when I had it easy cheesy for so many years, but I guess it can't be that way forever without some hard work.  It just sucks to finally have something behind you, then find out it still matters because it hasn't been some arbitrary amount of time.

Back to the drawing board!

First and Foremost, Don't give up ! Fortunately, I have no felonies but do have misdemeanor drug charges. Yes, I have had interviews that said they would absolutely hire me and that I wasn't even competing with anyone. Only for my background check to come back and bite me in the you know what. After determining that everyone is going to find out about my mishaps, I decided that from know on I was always putting my marbles on the table before they even did a background check. In fact, I would bring in a copy of my background check from my last job prospect and explain. Well, I'm now a Help Desk/Technical Support agent.

Good Luck, It sounds like your on the right path !

I would go for a staffing company, something more indirect that you can get some work experience under your belt.  Also time, unfortunatly people don't realize how short 4 years is in the drug game, you are so far out of it its not even funny, but people are idiots.  Hopefully when you are 30, people will agree you've grown up since then, but for now its too early for the feeble mind to understand.

My ex-girlfriend had a transportation of liquor from when she was 20 and it screwed her out of a lot of jobs. She's a CNA-M (passes meds).

Hemp can save the economy!  The amout we could make in taxes on legal marijuana would probably beat out the taxes collected on cigarettes.

Have you looked at a local religious institute or charitable organization and offered to work for them? A lot of those places need computer help, but have to rely on volunteers who may not have time to help out.   I know you want money, but you'll be getting experience.  Also, a letter of recommendation from one of those groups will go a long way into showing that you have changed.  Just a thought and good luck.

We are one in the same. It is difficult! the most important thing is a good work history once you have a few years of good work history and a few years inbetween you and your record it gets easier. You need to prove yourself so either going back to school or getting  few certs wouldn't be a bad idea. I found that if your not as eager to give away your background then they don't have it shoved in their face. If they are not going to hire you because of the background check then you telling them what is on it isn't going to help. Let them find out on their own. Just remember they have to pay extra to check further back than seven years once seven years goes by its like it didn't happen to most companies. I am not trying to tell you that full discloser is not the way to go if that is what helps you through it. I am just saying that if they hire you and fire you in a month cause they find out you didn't disclose everything then you still don't have a job but you have a month of experience that you didn't have before. Well good luck in the search! 

Eubanksd, I also am one of the former troublemakers with multiple offences with the law.  Fortunately, mine are not felonies, but the DOD treats them as such.  I had a secret security clearence that was pulled and now revoked because of my behavior.  I lost my career job that afforded me a brand new fully loaded vehicle, and to have a new house built.  Now I lost my job, had to sell my vehicle, broke my leg on an electric scooter, and my home is in foreclosure while I'm preparing for bankruptcy.  I agree with some of the other responders:  go back to school, get many certs, and only inform prospective employers of your record if it is on the application.  Not all companies perform a background check.  I also broke the law in a state that has no expunge of records, so I am stuck with my convictions, but continuing school has helped me in the past.  You can get Pell Grant and student loan to pay for school and use work study to get experience on the job.  I'm getting ready to move out of this state, back to home with my family's support.

Best of Luck to you!

mz_dori says ...

You know, you learning from your experience could be something you can use to your advantage, and others. Going out and helping the youth of today, letting them know you have been there and where you stand right now, will not only help them but it will help you. You have the advantage of being closer to their age and showing them how a few wrong moves not only changed your life at the monent, but will probably affect it from this time on.

I am not trying to say "oooh, go out and lecture." I am meaning that some times pay it forward pays back. Maybe it could even get you in to something great, work wise. Businesses, even the smaller ones, like to hear about community involvement.

It was just a thought though. You have learned from your mistakes. You understand the consequences. A lot of times youth will not listen to adults who could be their parents, they don't believe them. They will listen to someone who is just a few years older and who still speaks their language.

The only bad problem with this, and I know from experience, most people don't want you talking to thier kids. Alot of communitys don't want you around thier kids, and so on and so forth. I too had my own run ins with the law and have regreted it ever since I "grew up". I have often tried to help others with this type of scene because after what I went through, and what I put my family through, I don't wish it on anyone. It cost me everthing I had for those few minutes of stupidity. All I can say is best of luck to any in this position, and hopefully someday our society will not be so niaeve and un-educated to really understand whats going on. And now for the flame section, what you are going through is becoming more and more seen. The government has made a buisness from putting people behind bars. You should expect to see more of this happening since states are now going to be linked together for criminal databases and the likes. When we stopped trying to "reform" people in prison, and started making money from it the entire situation began to go down hill. And like I said, its going to get worse before it gets better.

Unfortunately, your felony convictions make a strong case for a business not to hire you. My advice is to build up a track record of evidence in favor of someone hiring you.

I suggest you become a self-employed freelancer. This can cost you almost nothing up front, and will give you an income and real credibility that you have changed your ways. When you're trying to get hired as an employee, your background will get checked, but if businesses hire you as a freelance contractor, this is rarely the case. Just make sure you do everything by the book.

Make some nice business cards and flyers (< $30 total) and canvass the business district in your area (make sure you check into any 'no soliciting' ordinances first). Just make sure your printed materials look clean and professional. Advertise on Craigslist. Donate your services to a local charity. The important thing is to get ONE client to start with, then do your very best for them. There's no need to give deep discounts to get started, just give them great service at a fair price.

Talk to your parole officer or case worker. Make them an asset. Attend any counseling or job training for ex-offenders. Keep them informed of the progress you're making.

Then build it from there. Find client #2. Make a professional profile on LinkedIn. Ask your client for referrals. Go to the local chamber of commerce meetings and get to know some business owners. Build a professional network. Find a local small business development center and ask about their programs. Most of them have free training to help you start a business and follow the rules. Get a business license and make friends with the office that issues them. Ask if they have any business counseling programs or can refer you to other resources. Talk to some bankers and get a small business checking account. See if your banker can help you find resources. Keep proper business records. Pay your taxes (once you have it rolling, you'll probably have to do this quarterly).

Find a mentor. Many areas have programs where experienced business people will mentor someone just starting out. If yours doesn't, post an ad on Craigslist: "Mentor wanted for new small business," then sincerely explain your situation. You'd be surprised how willing people are to help when you ask sincerely. This could help you get great business advice and potentially access to their business contacts.

Also, think about expanding your skill set. Web development is a good avenue, as you can start small and with little up-front cost. Just beware, there is lots of bad web design out there, so learn from the best. Go to the An Event Apart website and see who the pros are. Then read their blogs, and get their books at the library. Learn Wordpress and Drupal. Drupal especially has great local communities where the developers have monthly meetups. You can learn the platform and make professional contacts. Also, check on Meetup.com for small business groups or groups related to computer technologies that interest you.

Being self-employed is not easy. It requires hard work, attention to detail, creativity, and responsibility. But it sounds like those are all qualities that you will need to demonstrate to a prospective employer. There is no One Big Thing you can do to turn your life around, but rather a thousand small decisions you will make each week. Every one of these will move you closer toward your goals or further away.

I wish you success!