Hi, I'm trying to find a tech recruiter or head hunter that would willing to work with me in the Bay Area. 3 years ago I was convicted of two felonies. One for drug possession, and the other for credit card fraud. Prior to my criminal actions I worked in technology for over 10 years. I have a degree in Electrical Engineering and I worked in the area of consumer product design. I owened my own design firm for the last 3 years before I got sidetracked. During that time 2 large companies in the Bay Area we're continually trying to recruit me. I contacted my contact at one of the these companies a few weeks ago, and she said she would not consider hiring me. She also told me their background check was designed for filtering people me me. She said that the boiler plate may say they take consideration, but when you consider they are hiring less than 1% of applicants, they wouldn't be doing their job to allow their employer an unnecessary liability. I never went to prison and i was only in jail for a few weeks. But as of today, I have only contacted 3 people from my past career. The reason for that is shame and embarrassment on my part. I let a lot of people down. Instead of trying to go back to tech, I spent a lot of time with my family. I built my dad a new 2000 sqft shop which took almost 8 months because I did everything myself. For the last year I was working for a construction company as an "engineer". My ex-wife (who is like my sister now) and my kids relocated to the Bay Area, so it is an easy decision to go there and has been the plan for the last two years. It hadn't registered with me until just recently the extreme gravity of the situation, and just how difficult it is going to be to find a job. I think that finding a good recruiter, either from an outside agency, or preferably someone from inside one of the larger companies, is my best strategy. I know Product Development as well as anyone out there. I could go on and on with skills and achievements, but I know that any company would be lucky to have me... Convincing a hiring manager they would be lucky to have me is going to be impossible without either the help of a recruiter or a internal reference at the executive level. I have lots of contacts and friends at Faangmula, but I haven't asked anyone for a referral. In part bevause I don't think internal referrals make a lot of difference, but more so because I don't think it's fair to put someone in that position. I keep trying to know what i would do if i was considering myself for hire. But if i'm honest with myself I can't say that i would. My actual question, despite the lengthy spiel... Does anyone know a recruiter that might be willing to work with me, and/or has anyone ever even heard a story similar to this with a happy ending? I have spoken to several recruiters already, but to no surprise it has been crickets from the moment I told them my situation. Except for one woman who referred me to a life coach. Thanks.
AFAIK no matter how strong your interview and/or referral you’d be automatically dismissed from any FANG with no possibility of appeal.
Just curious what kind of credit card fraud was it?
with out going to deep into it, i showed a girl how to buy stolen cards from russian dark sites.
Then how you get caught? This will help us to avoid scams and getting in trouble because of other people.
Start your own company. I'm serious. This is what I'm doing and it has fueled my passion more than anything I have ever known.
There's no way any prominent tech companies will hire you with a credit card fraud felony on your record. I'd immediately dismiss the tech or banking industries as possibilities at this point. If I were you I'd meet with as many staffing agencies as possible in person. Maybe you can find a position as a contractor or internal consultant. Lastly I'd learn a skill that isn't client facing at all. You need to get good at something where a company can hide you in a dark closet and you can still be productive.
It’s not really up to the hiring manager or recruiter about that kind of thing. A team separate from them usually conducts those checks for the sake of candidate privacy. They’ll be informed by that team that your background revealed things that represent an unacceptable risk to the company and your offer will be rescinded by legal or some team adjacent to it. It doesn’t matter how willing the recruiter is; in fact, they’re usually the ones going to bat for you in these situations despite them being generally powerless about it. Smaller companies might be willing to take those risks. Larger companies probably aren’t, as a rule. Still, in CA, you’re entitled to a chance to provide more information companies need to conduct an individualized assessment before they decline you on the basis of criminal record. You can give more details and just hope that they decide to make an exception. That happens, although not often enough that you should count on it. That kind of thing can work for someone that has a criminal record because of some kind of misfortune or misunderstanding, which does happen, but I can’t think of how that could be the case with fraud. So it is possible, but realistically, the chances of that happening are incredibly remote. Fraud is an especially scary charge to employers, especially for people that will be in more senior positions. I think you’d lose that judgement call 99/100 times. Still, it’s up to the company at the end of the day. Small companies might take more risks for promising talent, so you’re not entirely hopeless. I’d just say that you should take FAANG off of your list, at least until 7 years have passed between your next application and your disposition date. At that point, it shouldn’t be showing up on background checks. Best of luck
Yeah forget about good paying tech job here. Become a licensed contractor. Construction is hot!
Man, I hope you will find a good job. Everyone deserves another chance and your offences are small. It's pity that the system works this way.
You mean by not hiring people with felonies for drugs and credit card fraud into sought after high TC jobs where trust is key? That’s not a flaw.
He did his time, which was small. If it was something significant, he would do much longer. Past is past. He already regretted his choices and paid for it.
No luck with the big corporate boys. Become an entrepreneur. Might be your best chance
A lot of startups won’t be doing background checks anyways. Also consulting could work. Other options getting married to a European or Canadian and working abroad.
You got off easy from the criminal offenses - there is your happy ending.