You need a new job. Whether you are job searching or trying to improve your job skills, Bad Economy Jobs will help you. We are in this recession together and any job searching tips can make the difference in employment. Read about the recession proof jobs, best jobs in a bad economy, online schooling, stimulus jobs and how to advertise your resume.

Anyone can make a mistake. That is why, for ex-offenders, there are still a number of options available that will not discriminate based on your past criminal offenses. The opportunities are there but you must make the effort to get behind the past and move forward. These ex offender jobs can offer a significant salary and provide an exciting new life which will open even more doors in the future.

Working After Prison

Most ex offender jobs tend toward manual labor. Most contractors will be relatively unconcerned with any type of prison time a potential employee has served as long as they do not appear to be likely to commit any repeat offenses. Skilled laborers can earn upwards of $50,000 per year regardless of their criminal history. These skilled jobs include electricians, plumbers, specialized carpenters, oil operators, mortar mixers, and other trades.

Of course, not everyone has the skills or training available to them. General laborers can still earn a significant salary of over $35,000 per year. These jobs include construction work, janitorial services, lawn or other landscaping jobs, and many other types of manual labor. However, unskilled labor is often without benefits, so ex offenders looking for work should consider enrolling in some type of trade school to help make their search for work more fruitful.

Not every ex offender job requires physical labor. Some companies, particularly state institutions, are more than willing to overlook a criminal background if other requirements are met. As long as your background does not prohibit working with certain classes of individual as a result of sentencing or state law, many government bodies will hire convicts with little hassle. These include Department of Motor Vehicles positions, some hospitals, and bureaucratic offices. These positions may require additional documentation or skills, so be sure to carefully check all of the listings. Since detailed background checks are widely used, it is your responsibility to mention your offender history. Otherwise, you can expect job termination in your future.

Federal Prison Industries and UNICOR

UNICOR is a correctional program that gives offenders a chance to gain skills and a trade so they can make the transition back into society. If you worked for UNICOR for at least 6 months during your incarceration, there are insurances that your employer can obtain if they feel wary of hiring you. Essentially, it is a federal bond program that provides theft insurance up to $5000 for employers who will hire ex convicts. If there is a theft of money or property, the bond insurance pays the employer up to the bond value. As an ex offender, you can mention this “incentive” for the company who is skeptical of hiring you. Here is some sample letter.

Source: http://www.bop.gov/inmate_programs/itb_bonding_letter.pdf

Being an ex offender doesn’t have to mean the end of any gainful employment. Remember these job tips.

• Be willing to work from the bottom, regardless of the pay.
• Stay honest in the job application process.
• Remove yourself from negative friends, family and environment.
• Stay loyal and network with friends in your work.

By knowing what is available and keeping a positive attitude, it is possible for ex offenders to find jobs that suit them.

Because of the inherent need for this kind of service, crime scene cleaner jobs are in high demand. Crime scene cleaner services are sometimes called or referred to as “CTS Decon” or “crime and trauma scene decontamination”. Entry level employees usually start with $35,000 to $50,000, (translates to $17 to $24 crime scene cleaners make per hour) depending on what state they reside in and a certain degree of training will be required before you will be accepted. However, no college degree is required for this crime scene cleanup field.

How To Become A Crime Scene Cleaner

Many companies will offer grace periods for securing your required documentation, however, according to State and Federal laws, certifications must be completed to retain your employment. An individual who chooses a crime scene cleaner job should not have a weak stomach as your ability to deal with several forms of body fluids and scenes that may be considered as disturbing will “almost daily” put you to the test. Attention to detail is a very important trait to have, due to all the fragments of bones and blood that must be cleaned up. Corners, counters and family photographs are just a few places that might be contaminated. There will also be plenty of biohazard material and infectious waste, so it is required that you be informed of proper cleanup management.

Crime Death Scene Cleaning

While crime scene cleanup jobs may be a strange career and not always appear glamorous, it can be fulfilling, more so as you will know that you are assisting in the restoration and cleaning of an crime death scene area that may have been traumatized, thereby allowing family and friends to return to a normal lifestyle. Additionally you will be trained in several different aspects of this rather interesting career, such as training in blood-borne pathogen, Respiratory Protection Program, Hazard Communication Program, Deodorization/Odor removal techniques and many more.

Crime Scene Cleaner Business

After gaining enough experience in your crime scene cleaner job, you can then use this experience to start and build your own company in a field that can actually be lucrative (fees are usually up to $600 per hour), or you could choose to purchase your own franchise.

Get started by obtaining decontamination kits that are appropriate for the job. Some gear that is needed would be biohazard waste containers and personal protective gear, while ozone machines, shovels, putty knives, ladders, razor blades are some tools that may be needed from time to time. Solvents and disinfectants, as well as bleach are widely used and should be well stocked.

Then get authorized and certified by the local departments. The laws are also important to learn so you will not get sued for improper practices of cleanup.

After investigators, police, fire and all first responders have arrived and concluded their investigations; the crime scene cleaning companies arrive on scene to do their part. Some of the situations they are called to deal with are, deaths that may be violent, such as suicide or homicide, a body that has already begun decomposition, and some have been called to cleanup methamphetamine labs.

The potential for growth in this job field is high depending on the needs of your location. Salaries can go up to six figures in big cities with more incidences of violent crimes and methamphetamine labs. With a low overhead and no college degree, being a crime scene cleaner can be a successful career and business.

With the bad economy, every little bit of savings will help. When was the last time you checked for auto insurance rates? If you are spending more than 12-15% of your total income on car insurance, you might need to get some car insurance quotes. Experts suggest spending no more than 15% of your income on insurance. Get at least three auto insurance quotes to gauge how much you should be paying.

Tips To Reduce Car Insurance Premiums

1. Trade in your expensive sports car for a clunker that works and is reliable. This saves you a lot of money on your auto insurance coverage.
2. You can pay a lower premium if you do not mind paying more out of pocket expenses when and if a car accident occurs. Get a higher deductible and your costs can decrease as much as 15% to 30%.
3. Get rid of collision coverage on cars with very low market value. It is not worth the cost to repair a low market value car.