Hello Eric, Congrats on graduating from machining school! Companies don’t necessarily openly discriminate against applicants with a troubled past however the best approach to landing an opportunity is with good references. Reach out to teachers at your machining school and ask if you can use them as a character reference on your application. Staffing agencies can be another alternative to getting your foot in the door. Use the search option on Jobcase to look for open machining jobs within your area and contact the temp agencies first. You can call and make an appointment for an employment assessment with a recruiter.