Q:
Hello sir,
I was released a few years ago. While I was away, I earned several building trades certificates. I have been trying to get into the local carpenter’s union, but up to now I have been unsuccessful. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a felon or not. I do odd jobs and and I work in a store part time. I really want to be a full time carpenter. What can I do?
Philip
A:
Hello Philip. Good for you for making the most of your prison time as I encourage many to do. Ex-offenders and felons who have a skill are much better off than those who don’t.
If you are willing to put in a little work, you could turn your odd jobs into a full time home handyman business. You would be surprised how many people cannot put in a light switch or fix a leaky faucet. You could do small jobs at a fraction of what contractors would charge while guaranteeing quality work.
Starting your own business will be a lot of work. You have to be prepared to work long hours finding customers and promoting your business. The least expensive way to start is to print up flyers with tear off tags, and post them on community bulletin boards. Post them in grocery stores, laundry rooms, community recreation centers, bus stops, and churches. Point out the quality of your service and your reliability. Always include phone number tear off tags on your flyer, so interested people can just take one phone number.
Another interesting option is to make a list of local contractors and offer to hire yourself out as a day laborer. There are probably quite a few contractors in your area looking for day laborers as a way to keep their own costs down. You could get a list of contractors that have recently been issued building permits at your local municipal building. This is public record so you should have no trouble getting that information.
In the meantime, don’t give your dream of being in the union. Find someone you know who is already a member and get some inside information on how to approach this. That union may exclude ex-offenders and felons.
I hope this helps.
Are you an ex-offender who has a question about finding a job with a criminal record? You could have your question answered right here. Email your question to: BelievePublications@comcast.net.
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