Hello everyone:

I would like to know from offenders, family members of offenders, gf & bf of offenders the following:

1. Has anyone had success in using a temporary agency to find employment?
2. If so, what's the name of the agency?

Thank you for the information.
Ginger

I do not have direct personal experience but work in the industry...

Temporary agencies are a good source of employment if your loved one does not have a specific skill set, or are having difficulty getting a job in their desired industry.

There are a couple of kinds of temporary agencies...

"Day Labor" agencies ask you to show up each morning 7am and they dispatch you to a work site - general labor - hourly wage - pay at the end of the day.

Regular Temp Agencies - test your skills - keep you on file and call you for short term to long term temp assignments. Pay usually once a week. General labor, forklift (certified), and admin positions.

Temp Agencies do criminal background checks if the employer requests. Some do it for every candidate they bring into their files - some do it on request only. This changes by state, agency, and agency manager.

There are many, many, ,many temp agencies out there - apply to EVERY ONE! Do not pick and choose! Open your yellow pages to employment - temporary and go crazy.

The big ones are Adecco, Manpower, Spherion, Kelly, and then regionally there are many others - many small areas are serviced by long time local independent agencies.

Some Temporary agencies DO employ ex-offenders.

I recently posted on this and have referred a few felons to temp agencies. They can get you jobs with a lot less background checking. Be honest, but if they don't ask, don't tell.

I have worked for a Major Temporary Service as a Service Rep. This is what I can tell you about how it works.

1. Be Honest. It will ask on the application if you have been convicted of a felony. Even if you are living in a different state than the offense happened. The reason for this is: I always called an office in a state the person was from and had them run a local statewide background check. If you lie about it : It will come back to bite you. Not every job requires a background screening. But I can tell you that I ran a background on every person that walked through the door. The reason was if I was in a pinch and needed to assign someone to a job in a real big hurry I already knew who I could send as most companies require a background screening.

2. There will be testing of skills. If you have been locked up a while I would suggest asking a friend to do a "role play" of interviews. Interviewing is a skill within itself.

3. Stick to the issue of securing work. Don't tell the service rep your life story. Don't even mention how you were framed or the offense happened because of a friend. All this does is make you look worse. Just stick to the facts. Yes I was in prison, yes I have served my time. That is all that needs to be said. If they ask for details, be nice and ask how it is relavant to obtaining a job. Just remember, some people are noisy and some people are just trying to help.

4. If you are assigned a job. Make sure without fail that you show up for work. I can tell you that if you are placed on assignment and for whatever reason don't show up, more than likely they won't use you again. Once you show you are reliable. They could very well work you to death and help you in every way possible.

Whether you like it or not, you have to show them you are trying to better yourself. I have placed people on jobs just hours after being released from county jail. He worked his A$$ off and I would recommend him again. I have worked with the local half way house. We make sure they are always considered.

It's just like anything else. It's all up to you. If you are honest about your record and show you are a hard worker, I can tell you there are times that I have called a company and said, " Look I have someone who would be perfect for this position. They have a record. Will you try them?" 9 times out of 10, the companies will say yes.

If any one has any questions or would like help putting together a resume, I would be more than happy to help.

Good Luck

Hi Roger's Girl,

Thank you for the advice. I will follow all that you said to the letter. However, I would like to ask why isn't it a good ideal to tell the truth about what happened? And why would it make me look worse? The truth is, I trusted someone I did not know and because of this I am now a convicted felon. I didn't serve time inside. But I am doing CalTrans on the weekends.

ginger

I have worked for a Major Temporary Service as a Service Rep. This is what I can tell you about how it works.

1. Be Honest. It will ask on the application if you have been convicted of a felony. Even if you are living in a different state than the offense happened. The reason for this is: I always called an office in a state the person was from and had them run a local statewide background check. If you lie about it : It will come back to bite you. Not every job requires a background screening. But I can tell you that I ran a background on every person that walked through the door. The reason was if I was in a pinch and needed to assign someone to a job in a real big hurry I already knew who I could send as most companies require a background screening.

2. There will be testing of skills. If you have been locked up a while I would suggest asking a friend to do a "role play" of interviews. Interviewing is a skill within itself.

3. Stick to the issue of securing work. Don't tell the service rep your life story. Don't even mention how you were framed or the offense happened because of a friend. All this does is make you look worse. Just stick to the facts. Yes I was in prison, yes I have served my time. That is all that needs to be said. If they ask for details, be nice and ask how it is relavant to obtaining a job. Just remember, some people are noisy and some people are just trying to help.

4. If you are assigned a job. Make sure without fail that you show up for work. I can tell you that if you are placed on assignment and for whatever reason don't show up, more than likely they won't use you again. Once you show you are reliable. They could very well work you to death and help you in every way possible.

Whether you like it or not, you have to show them you are trying to better yourself. I have placed people on jobs just hours after being released from county jail. He worked his A$$ off and I would recommend him again. I have worked with the local half way house. We make sure they are always considered.

It's just like anything else. It's all up to you. If you are honest about your record and show you are a hard worker, I can tell you there are times that I have called a company and said, " Look I have someone who would be perfect for this position. They have a record. Will you try them?" 9 times out of 10, the companies will say yes.

If any one has any questions or would like help putting together a resume, I would be more than happy to help.

Good Luck

Hey Ginger,

The reason I said don't tell your life story is because at times when you have someone in front of you and they have a rap sheet 3 pages long and they explain that every offense is because of a friend or it didnt happen like that, it seems the person isnt taking responsibility for their actions. I am sorry to hear that you trusted someone and in put you in a bad way.

Use your best judgement. If you feel that explaining your situation would benefit you then by all means explain the facts.

One of the other reasons I say dont tell your life story is because if you sit in front of the person interviewing you and go on and on and on (not saying you personally) about what happened and how it wasnt your fault, the interviewer might feel uncomfortable about sending you (again not you personally) on a job. The interviewer might get the feeling that once on the job you will feel the need to explain your life story to everyone around you. That doesnt look good with the clients.

I am sure you will do great. Good luck to you. Remember if you would like some resume help I am always around. Again Good Luck.

Morning Roger's girl,

My husband and father said basically the same thing you have. I am working and have been with this employer going on five months. I was honest about my felony conviction (first & last). I did, however, provide my employer with a letter/statement from the private investigator who worked on my case. The one page letter simple states the following: After interviewing Mrs. ----- and reviewing many exculpatory (spelling?) facts it was his professional opinion that I had been duped by ------.

It seemed Mr. Thompson's letter was explanation enough. My father said, the more you to try to explain, the more people will think you are really guilty. That's hard to accept because I know that I was taken advantage of and had I known this person who duped me was a criminal I could have avoided what transpired.

Anyway, my resume does need some help. How can you help? What is your fee?

ginger

Ginger,

I am glad to hear you have been doing good with the same employer for 5 months. That is wonderful.

Personally, when someone tries to over explain a situation people tend to think they are covering something up. Anyway, I am sure that is not your case. The letter is a great idea.

As far as the resume, I am willing to help anyone. Ever seen the move Pay It Forward. It's all about helping the next guy. I dont charge a fee, I am hoping that if I can help someone today, maybe down the road, someone can extend the same kindness to Roger when he is released. Besides PTO is about helping each other.

I would be willing to look it over, no problem.

Again, I am really glad to hear you have done well in getting a job. Its a very empowering thing to have a good job.

Hope to talk to you soon.

Michelle

Hey my guy just got a job and it was St. Louis Staffing. He told them he was on house arrest (first) cause his PO said she contacts his job to let them know. He has a different job lined up- for when he gets off house arrest... It is to hard to go work at a place that might have you work over in a blink of a eye, while you are on house arrest. It's a 8:00 to 5:00 and it is 40hrs a week. It don't pay as much untill 45 days pass, then they will hire him out right... his PO won't let him work for a place that has a new place to work everyday.