Times are tight

Is anybody else having trouble finding a job because of past criminal records or due to being fire in the past? I have been unemployed for nearly 2 years; having about 8 interviews with one offer that was later denied because of a background check. I feel discriminated against because of a relatively minor marijuana offense 15 years ago. I know the market is very tight, but it seems that nobody is willing to at least give a guy a chance to prove himself. Is it like this elsewhere because i am ready to re-locate for a decent opportunity.

Mike- There's no luck to be had in Michigan bro. Time to re-locate. As long as you can pass a current drug-test and you have the skills, it seems like you should be able to get on somewhere. I suspect that the problem is that you need to go where the pastures are greener and there arent 500 applicants for every job. You might as well stick a fork in the industrial midwest because it's done due to macro-economic trends beyond your control and thanks to our idiotic political leadership over the last 25 years basically ripping the primary economic guts out of the heartland. Places like Texas, the deep south, and the Great Plains are already pretty much done with the recession and are hiring again.

Don't bother w/PA - the MOST unforgiving state in the union! FL isn't a good place either. Out of work over 3 yrs due to layoff and like you, only one offer taken back when background ck was done - even though they knew up front. pitiful.

Mike Bell in Portage, Michigan said: Is anybody else having trouble finding a job because of past criminal records or due to being fire in the past? I have been unemployed for nearly 2 years; having about 8 interviews with one offer that was later denied because of a background check. I feel discriminated against because of a relatively minor marijuana offense 15 years ago. I know the market is very tight, but it seems that nobody is willing to at least give a guy a chance to prove himself. Is it like this elsewhere because i am ready to re-locate for a decent opportunity.

well,guess what your not alone on background check.me and my friend have lost our jobs in 12/2011.and going though the same thing that you are.once branded always the same nation wide.my heart goes to everyone like us all we can do is pray about it.i wish you well sir.