“…there are new studies that suggest that ex-offenders can actually be better employees than those without records. It makes sense: they’re used to following directions, they’re truly appreciative for an opportunity, and they’re extremely careful not to mess up on the job.” – Richard Bronson, founder, 70millionjobs.com
A newly launched website, 70millionjobs.com, hopes to help find meaningful, well paying jobs for 70 million individuals with criminal records – for free. The company was founded by Richard Bronson, a former Wall Street investment banker, who was convicted of securities fraud in 2002. During his two years sentence in federal prison, Bronson discovered that most of his fellow prisoners were the same as people on the outside, except they “had very few options in life, and followed the path that others around them were following.”
The website centers around a massive search engine that lists jobs by city and state. For Kentucky, the website has posting for jobs across the state including Lexington, Louisville, Pikeville, and Paducah. Many of the jobs listed on the website offer full-time employment with competitive salaries, benefits, and hours. The site also helps individuals boost their chances of actually getting the job by providing a resume builder and information on gaining certifications. The website will also help individuals create video resumes, which will show potential employers “that these folks can be charming, smart, personable and potentially a real asset.”
While Kentucky now has laws that can help citizens clear some misdemeanor and felony convictions, there are still many people that aren’t able to put their past mistakes behind them. As a result, they struggle to find work that can support themselves and their families. Through his website, Bronson seeks to make it possible for those individuals to find and get jobs that will help them become productive and successful members of their communities.
Click here to read more about Richard Bronson and 70millionjobs.com from his interview with Forbes.com.
Click here for more information about Kentucky laws that could help you clear your record.