[Ronan]

I was an office cleaner, an oversize print specialist, warehouse picker/packer, programmer, customer service rep and IT analyst. I performed many little jobs in my earlier years. Every job I did I owned, often exceeding seasoned veterans in proficiency.

I expected some recognition for the fact that I single-handedly uncovered one of the worst server issues the client was having. The fact that I built much of the MS office knowledge base and a good portion of the Windows 7 knowledge base would have proven that I can pretty much do anything. I expected to be considered enough of a value to not be let go when the contract ended.

What's done is done, right? I mean crying over a lost job doesn't help get a new one, it certainly doesn't boost moral. Mind you, getting to the point of being hired for shipper/receiver, a position that's hard to get without experience, and then being told that I can't be hired because of a criminal record 30 years ago definitely didn't make me feel that I was worth much.

I've been out of work for a year and I'm sick of it. I'm sick of being told that policy prevents me from being hired with a record. Even though I'm in the last phase of getting it removed means nothing.

I'm sick of losing good opportunities to those who were able to get a computer science degree, while my programmer degree is not enough to prove that I kick ass. The fact that I built and maintained RTCW Newbies Revenge, a forum with over 30 users, my own website on my own server is also not worth anything.

I deserve a fucking break.

[edit]
The conviction was earned 1 year before the young offenders act came into effect. Unfortunately I got a full theft under $200 even though my friend was the one who did the theft. I got charged simply because I was with him.

[Gunnair]

Sounds like a tough day. Hang in there.

[Strutz]

Most of us will go through a "down" phase (if you're really lucky only one) at some point in life.

2010 was a crappy year for a few people I know who went through hardships of one kind or another.

Hang in there... it'll come together when it's time and meant to happen...

[Ronan]

Thanks for the words guys.

However, I'm not one that puts any value in religion or mysticism. When I've nailed the interview a 30 year old charge, or the lack of a damned computer science degree, should not stop me from landing a simple tech support job... or a lousy shipping/receiving position. No offense, but, Meant-to-be is meaningless in light of this.

[ShepherdsDog]

Ever apply to have your record expunged?

[Ronan]

ShepherdsDog wrote:

Ever apply to have your record expunged?

Quote:

Even though I'm in the last phase of getting it removed means nothing.

Yeah. A 2 year process that seems more of a punishment then a service the government provides.

[ShepherdsDog]

well you have to look at it this way....It's a favour they are granting you rather than a service they are providing. They don't have to forgive you your sins.

I don't think the process is quite two years. Another Canadian who I work with had to get a DUI cleaned off of his record before he could apply for perm. residency here. For him it was a matter of a few months.

[GreenTiger]

I've been there. I was a System Manager for a College for years and I had a blast until the School decided to outsource all of Academic Computing and Information Technologies functions to an outside company. At Christmas time my school assembled about 65 of us and essentially said "Merry Christmas, you are all fired, and Happy New Year".

It took a year and a half and a change in Careers to get me out of it. It is very hard.

As hard as it sounds hang in there. You doing the right things. Hopefully you can clean up your record that would be a big help.

[Ronan]

ShepherdsDog wrote:

well you have to look at it this way....It's a favour they are granting you rather than a service they are providing. They don't have to forgive you your sins.

To me it's a service when I've been a good citizen for 30 years. A mistake at 17 years old should NOT be held over my head at 45. And it was a "crime" I committed so long ago, "sin" refers to religion, which I prefer to keep out of this conversation.

Quote:

I don't think the process is quite two years. Another Canadian who I work with had to get a DUI cleaned off of his record before he could apply for perm. residency here. For him it was a matter of a few months.

It took 2 years for various mistakes they kept making that forced me to insist on talking to their superiors, as the underlings were simply too stupid to think outside the tiny little box their brains came in. They've also changed the procedure to make it take longer.

[Ronan]

GreenTiger wrote:

... As hard as it sounds hang in there. You doing the right things. Hopefully you can clean up your record that would be a big help.

Thanks.

I'm about 4 months into the 4 to 10 month waiting period. So, in effect this is going onto its 3rd year. Given the rotten adversity I usually face in anything I fully expect it to take the full 10 months.

[ShepherdsDog]

Quote:

And it was a "crime" I committed so long ago, "sin" refers to religion, which I prefer to keep out of this conversation.

semantics.

[Lemmy]

Ronan wrote:

A mistake at 17 years old should NOT be held over my head at 45.

You shouldn't even need to go through the pardon process since your crime was committed at 17. All that's needed is a trip to the police station to get rid of it. And youth criminal records are not something than an employer has access to anyway.

I had a criminal record years ago for driving like an idiot. It didn't even take a month to get it pardoned.

[ShepherdsDog]

would it be that easy even if he was tried as an adult for a serious offence? This reminds me of that story about that old fart being denied entry into the states .

[Brenda]

I know the feeling of being sick of being not good enough. Hang in there. It should change some day... I hope.

[Lemmy]

ShepherdsDog wrote:

would it be that easy even if he was tried as an adult for a serious offence?

Good question. I don't know. If his conviction happened before the Young Offenders Act (1984), then the process is likely different as well.