Companies that hire Felons

Ex-offenders and Felons have Options Looking for Jobs

One of the things felons can do to ensure job search success is knowing where where to apply. Many nation-wide companies have been known to hire felons. Ex-offender and felon jobs will be easier to get when one knows where to look.  There are jobs for felons and many employers will hire people with criminal records as long as their crimes were not violent.

There are a number of options open to ex-offenders and felons when it comes to where to find leads for jobs.  For example, if you are a tradesman, you could look in the yellow pages and call independent contractors to inquire if they are looking for qualified help.  If you are a cook, you may want to call restaurants, catering companies and hotels to inquire about available positions.  Large retailers and supermarkets often have stock and warehouse jobs available for hard working individuals.  You may have greater success applying to smaller local companies than large companies.  Your record may be less of an issue to a smaller company that has the power to hire anyone it wants.

Temporary agencies are still another great option.  Temp agencies are a good way for ex-offenders and felons to get work quickly.  Many temporary employees are hire permanently if they prove their worth.  Once again, you will probably have greater success applying at smaller independent agencies rather that large, nation-wide agencies.  The larger companies may have policies that forbid the hiring of people with criminal records.  Make a list of temporary agencies from your local telephone book and start applying just like you would any other job.

If you a frequent reader of my blog, you know that my favorite options for finding job leads is your local One-stop Career Center.  The local one-stop will have list of available jobs in your area with instructions on how to apply.  You can also get help with putting a resume together and even with interviewing skills.  You can get one-on-one assistance that will make finding a job a lot easier.  There may also be opportunities for training for a new career.

One-stop Careers are underutilized resources the could make a difference in your job search.  You can find your nearest center here:

www.servicelocator.org

Where can ex-offenders and convicted felons find jobs 

 

There may be human services organizations in your area that offer programs and support for ex-offender and felons. For example, The United Way supports many social service agencies that may help felons.

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Incredible List of Companies That Hire Ex-offenders and Felons 

Man with dropped charges wants to have record expunged in Florida

Felons may use expungement to get jobs

I live in Florida. In 2004 I was charged with a felony which resulted in a withhold of adjudication. I believe this case was sealed? In 2009 I was charged with another felony but this charge was dropped and shows as a Nolle Pross. Is there any way to have this second case removed from my record?

Thank you for your advice,

Brian

Hello Brian,

The only way to find out if the charge was sealed is to get a copy of your criminal history. You may want to get that anyway to be totally certain of your legal status when applying for jobs.  Bear in mind that even if your charge is expunged or sealed, it will always be visible to the court system, law enforcement and government entities.

You can apply for sealing or expungement in Florida under certain conditions. You can get more information here:

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/content/getdoc/c83dd888-ef7a-448e-9a96-ba69fc4181f7/Seal-and-Expunge-Home.aspx

This site offers instruction about how to get this done, but I wouldn't try a legal process like expungement like this by myself. My suggestion is to contact your local legal aid office for assistance. Often ex-offender and felon job searches require a little legal assistance. They have attorneys that may assist you at little or no cost. They may also be able to get a copy of your criminal record.

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Centralized expungement process?

Ex-offender needs help finding a job in the medical field

Medical Jobs for an Ex-offender

Hello,

I live in Florida. I have a worthless check charge which was a felony reduced to a misdemeanor. It doesn't make a difference because I cannot get a job in the nursing field. When they run a background check, they say I'm ineligible to be hired.

Val


Hello Val,

A misdemeanor bad check charge is not the worst charge in the world. First of all are you licensed or can you be licensed in the state of Florida? You can find out here:

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/

Secondly it is possible that the place where you applied has a policy of not hiring ex-offenders or felons? That may simply be the policy of that one organization.

I suggest you contact the school where you were trained and speak to someone in their placement department. They often have contacts that hire their graduates. Often they know the hiring practices of the organizations they work with.  Another suggestion I have for ex-offenders and felons who have medical training, is to apply to temporary employment.  Often permanent jobs are found by those who start as temporary employees.  There are also temporary employment agencies that serve the medical field.

I also suggest going to the One-stop career center in your area. They have counselors who can assist you in finding a job. There will be other services that could be helpful to you such as employment leads from the state job bank, resume writing assistance and other helpful services. Often the counselors are experienced in finding jobs for felons and ex-offenders. You can find your local One-stop career center here:

www.servicelocator.org

I hope this helps.

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Felon wants jobs in medical field

Felon in Illinois needs help finding a job

Felon needs job search advice

I have an aggravated battery in DuPage county in Illinois. It happened in 1996 and have not been able to find a job in the past 6 months because of my background. I have been offered many positions and then after the criminal background check told they were looking for someone else. Is there anything you know of in Illinois that might help me?

Ryan,

Hello Ryan,

First of all, like I tell all ex-offenders and felons applying for jobs - always be honest! If the the question is asked on the application, answer honestly.  If you are less than honest on the application and a background check is done, you have no chance at the job.  Even if you are hired in the interim, you will probably be fired for being dishonest, rather than having a record.

Many felons opt to apply for jobs at smaller companies. Smaller companies often don't do extensive background checks as a means to save money.

Secondly I would seek legal counsel to have this conviction downgraded possibly to a misdemeanor. This will make it easier to work with. Often felon job searches begin with legal assistance. Contact your local legal aid office. You may qualify for low cost or no cost assistance to get this done. You may find more information here:

http://www.lafchicago.org/content/view/17/45/

Thirdly, I would visit the local One-stop Career center. There are many services as well as counselors that can help felons get jobs. You can find the center near you here:

http://www.servicelocator.org

I hope this helps.

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A Felon Should Try Smaller Companies to get Jobs

Felon in Atlanta needs help finding a Job

Felon seeks Job

Hello my name is Ronald I have 3 felonies on my record, 2 drug charges and a burglary. Are there any programs to help me find a job - not how to get the job because I have no problem getting jobs, I just can't get past the background. I'm really trying to change but it seems like the world don't want me to. I'm in Atlanta, GA and I need help.

Hello Ronald,


Since you are in Atlanta, I suggest you try the Goodwill Career Center. The Goodwill Career Centers throughout North Georgia, offer a range of services that can help you find a job or a career.  The centers offer access to Job search tools and resources as well as lists of open positions in your area.  You can use the center's Internet-ready computers, résumé and cover letter writing assistance, fax machines, and career coaching.     You will find the center in Atlanta here:

Goodwill of North Georgia
235 Peachtree Street
North Tower, Suite 2300
Atlanta, GA 30303

Or on the web at:

http://goodwillng.org/find-a-career.aspx

Goodwill also operates a placement service that could help with placement assistance.


I also suggest that you contact the United Way in Atlanta. Unknown to many, the United Way funds a multitude of community based programs that aid a wide group of people including ex-offenders and felons. You can get more information here:

http://unitedwayatlanta.org/pages/SearchResults.aspx?k=ex-offenders

I hope this helps.
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Job Search Expert Offers Advice for Ex-offenders and Felons Looking for Jobs

Felons must properly prepare for the job search to be successful

There is help for ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs

Ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs often have a very hard time.  Their criminal backgrounds often make it a little more difficult to get hired than the average  job seeker. Jobs for felons will be a lot easier to obtain with hard work and proper preparation.

A successful job search will require the right tools. The first step will be assessing your tools which are your set of skills.  Are you able to tell a prospective employer what you can do in ten minutes or less.  If not, I suggest you make a list of your skills and be prepared to talk about them in a way that the employer will see the benefit.

Do you have a list of your previous employers handy for when it is time to complete an application?  Don't wait until you have fill out one to look for this information.  If your past jobs were on record and you had taxes taken out, you can get a list from the Social Security Administration.  Check the blue pages of your local telephone book for the nearest office nearest to you.

Next, you will need proper documentation.  Do you three forms of identification?  You will need ID to get a job.  You can get a copy of your Social Security card at your local office.  Below is a link to the application for a replacement cards along with instructions.  It will give you a head start.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf

Birth Certificate

To obtain a copy of your birth certificate, contact the office of vital statistics in the city where you were born.

Valid Driver’s License

To obtain a copy of your driver’s license, contact your local motor vehicle agency.  It is listed in your local telephone directory.  Your local motor vehicle agency may even offer “Identification Only” cards if you do not have a driver’s license.

Photo Identification

Many county agencies provide photo identification cards. 

Green Card or Visa (if applicable)

To obtain copies of your visa or alien registration card contact the office of Immigration and Naturalization.  You can get the process of renewing or replacing your green card here:

Green Card Replacement or Renewal Application

Everyone looking for employment should have a resume.  A resume will help you  to present your best qualities in one neat package.  It is a summary of your background, experience, training and skills.  If you have a resume, have someone look at it to judge it's quality.  If you do not have a well written resume, I suggest you get some help putting one together.  You should leave a copy of your resume with everyone you speak to about a job

Next,  do you have the right interview clothing?  A well fitting suit with a nice shirt and tie would be perfect thing to wear.  A new suit may not be possible for someone just getting back to the real world but I suggest that men at least have dress slacks, a light colored shirt and a matching tie.  You should also have a pair of shoes that you can shine.  Not boots, not sneakers…shoes!  Many ex-offenders and felons get their interview clothing at thrift stores.  They find quality clothes at very low prices, clean and press them and they are ready to do their best to get a job.  No matter how you get them, the right clothes makes all the difference.

This is a great start to a successful job search.  Brush up on your interviewing skills and you will be ready to compete for a job.

Good Luck!

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Ex-offenders and felons: Preparing for the job search

Many companies hire ex-offenders and felons

Felons can use Newspaper Want Ads to get Jobs

Felons can find Jobs

Many felons turn to the newspaper help-wanted to find jobs. Help wanted ads are a good sources of listings, especial for jobs listed by local employers who don't advertise nationally. Though there are often many jobs listed there, the odds of getting a job this way is against them .

Consider this:

A typical want ad will get between 200 and 500 responses. There will a lot of competition for each job.

Jobs listed in the newspaper account for less than 10% of all available jobs. Some advertised jobs don’t exist. In some cases, the opening may have already been filled but
the company must advertise it because of some requirement.

A job that is constantly advertised may be so bad or pay so poorly that the employer may have trouble keeping employees.

Want ads are not a total waste of your time and energy. There are a few advantages to using the want ads to find a job.

Job advertisements are fast. Respond to an ad right away, and you could be hired rather quickly.

For many felons, using the want ads to find openings is less stressful than asking others for help finding a job.

Newspaper want ads easily let you know what the job qualifications are. The qualifications are in the ad so you can tailor your resume, cover letter and interview to what the employer is looking for.
Search  for “entry-level” positions. Entry-level jobs generally don’t pay a lot but they offer the opportunity to work on building an employment history and get valuable experience.

Go through all the ads, not just those in the category for which you're interested. Sometimes job openings will be in a completely different section than where you'd expect. For instance, if you're looking for a job driving a truck, you should look in the "transportation" section.

The odds are against you getting a job this way, but a little hard work will increase your chances of getting a job.

Even though there are many listings in the newspaper, for felons, the want-ads may not be the best choice to find the next job opportunity but it is worth a look.

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Incredible List of Companies That Hire Ex-offenders and Felons

Female Felon Seeks a Job

Felon Looking for Job

Hi,

My name is Melissa I'm from Philly I do have a criminal record. I got into some trouble when I was 18 years old and was found guilty of aggravated assault, possessing instrument of a crime, simple assault, criminal conspiracy, reckless endangering another person. I was given 11 months jail time. I thought I needed to better my self because I knew it wasn't gonna be easy trying to find work so I went back to school when I was 26 and got my high school diploma and went to school for cosmetology and completed it also in '07. I'm 28 now single mom of 2 year old twins my question is on my record there are a lot of charges that I wasn't found guilty of and next to them it says nolle prossed. Is their any way that I can get those removed because it looks really bad with all these charges on there and I think this might be the reason why my luck hasn't been good. Is there a program out there that has job leads only for ex-offenders if so please put me down. 


Hello Melissa,

I'm sorry you are having so much trouble. As I suggest to ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs is to apply to small companies. Surely there are hundreds of small salons in Philadelphia that can use a hard-working person with a cosmetology degree. You may have to be willing to start off at the bottom, perhaps shampooing and cleaning up. It may not be what you want right away but it's a start. Pick up the phone book and start making a list of salons to visit. Have some business cards made up and leave them with salon owners advertising that you will work on an on call basis if there are no permanent positions available.

You may be able to get job search assistance from mayor Michael Nutter's Reintegration Services for Ex-offenders.

You can get more information here: http://www.phila.gov/reentry/

As far as your record,  in Pennsylvania, under some circumstances, you may be able to have a criminal record expunged, which means that information is removed from your record.  If you are eligible to have your records expunged, you may petition the court for an order of expungement. I suggest seeking legal assistance from a qualified attorney. You may be able to free or low-cost help at your local legal aid office. You can get more information here:

http://www.clsphila.org/Content.aspx?id=579

I hope this helps

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'Eric Mayo helps Felons and Ex-offenders get Jobs.

 

Real Stories of Ex-offenders and Felons looking for Jobs

 

Lady Felon needs Job Search Help

Felons Should Try Smaller Companies to get Jobs

Ex-offenders and felons should apply to smaller companies to get jobs

Hello,

I have a criminal record and I can't find a job. I have been filling out applications everywhere. Do you have any advice for someone who has made some mistakes?

I hear this from felons all the time. Please don’t quit. You get nothing when you give up. You may just have to change your strategy. If I am an employer, I probably want to hire someone without a record before I hire someone without one. Most applications will ask about criminal convictions. If you are honest, as I recommend, an employer may not want to hire you.

A good strategy for finding job openings is to apply to employers directly. Once you have decided on the type of work you would like to do, the next step is to choose employers that could use your services. Felons stand a better chance of being hired by smaller companies rather than larger ones. The owners or managers of smaller companies usually make the hiring decisions. Make a list of employers in your chosen field. Contact each one of them to see if there are positions available and how to apply. The telephone is the best method of contacting employers. You may even get job leads from people you know. Another advantage to applying to small companies is they are less likely to run background checks because they can be expensive.

If you get an interview, make a point to mention the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. To a small business, this may be an incentive to hire a person with a criminal record. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is offered to employers as an incentive to hire any one of nine targeted groups with barriers to employment, felons included. An employer may receive a credit of as much as $2,400 for hiring a felon. You can find more information here:

http://www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/

Also remind any prospective employer that you can be bonded by the Federal Bonding Program.  The ability to be bonded will be a big plus.  A felon can be bonded free of charge.  You can get more information on the federal bonding program here:


Federal Bonding Program


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Ex-offenders and felons can get jobs with Federal Bonding Program

 

Real Stories of Ex-offenders and Felons looking for Jobs

 

Many companies hire ex-offenders and felons

Federal Bonding Program helps Felons get Jobs

The Federal Bonding Programs help ex-offenders and Felons

 Employers might have concerns about certain job applicants and perhaps hesitant to hire them because they have criminal records, little or no work backgrounds or recovering alcohol or drug addicts. Some employers are reluctant to hire ex-offenders or felons because they feel their backgrounds make them more probable to steal, commit fraud or be dishonorable in other ways. Many felons are not able to be bonded. A bond is an insurance policy issued by an agency that protects an employer against money or property loss due to employee dishonesty. Certain criminal convictions make many felons unqualified for private bonding. Felons, including anyone with a record of arrest, conviction or imprisonment, and anyone who has ever been on probation or parole, are considered "at-risk" job applicants.

Federal Bonding Program is sponsored by the Department of Labor. Bonds are issued for those who are unable to be bonded privately. The bonds are issued at no cost to the employer and could be an incentive to hire an applicant. Criminal records become less of a concern to employers if they are assured that they are protected from loss of money or property due to theft.

Bond issuance applies to any job at any employer in any state, and covers any employee dishonesty committed on or away from the employer’s actual job location. Any full or part-time employee paid wages (with Federal taxes automatically withheld) can be bonded, including persons hired by temporary employment agencies. Unfortunately, self-employed persons cannot be covered by these Fidelity Bonds. Fidelity bonds can help felons get jobs and can also be issued to cover already employed workers who need bonding to prevent being laid off or to secure transfer or promotion to a different job at their company.

An applicant can be bonded the same day the job offer is made.

You can find more information about the program by contacting the addresses below:

Federal Bonding Program, ETA/DOL
1725 De Sales Street, NW Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
1 (800) 233-2258

Federal Bonding Program
P.O. Box 293535
Lewisville, TX 750229
1 (888) 266-3562

You can also get information on the internet at

http://www.bonds4jobs.com/state-coordinators.html

Jobs for felons will be easier to get with a little help from programs like this.

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Ex-offenders and convicted felons can get jobs with Federal Bonding Program

Real Stories of Ex-offenders and Felons looking for Jobs

 

Can the Federal Bonding Program help felons get jobs

Felon needs a Job

Advice to help a felon get a job

My husband has a felony and he is trying hard to get a job. He made some mistakes but he is sorry and he wants to work and take care of his family but it is hard because no none wants to give him a chance. What can he do? I'm afraid he is getting depressed.

Kelly, Madison, WS



Hello Kelly,

Here are some suggestions for your husband.

Often, the felon job search will begin with some legal assistance. First, talk to a lawyer about the possibility of getting his record expunged/sealed or reduced. He can contact the legal aid office in your area for help. Expungement is not a viable option for every felon, but speaking to a legal professional experienced in this field could offer assistance.

Contact the United Way agency in your area. They could put him in contact with agencies that provide services for ex-offenders and their families. They may also have contact with companies that hire felons.

He may have to take whatever job he can get to start rebuilding his experience and credibility, He may have to take a "dirty' or minimum wage job and work his way up. Fast food, manufacturing, supermarket or warehouse work may be the way to got to get back into the working world.

I suggest he look to personal contacts and friends to help him get a job,". He should contact everyone he knows to inquire about open positions.

He should look for employment with small and local companies. Local businesses may be more willing to give him a chance. Smaller companies are less apt to pay for expensive background checks and give him a chance.

If he has a parole or probation officer, he should talk to that person to see if he knows of businesses that hire felons.

I suggest to every felon to contact the One-stop career center in their areas. One-stop Career Centers are a great place for a felon to find a lot of resources that can lead to jobs.  You can find help with putting a resume together, getting interview skills and lists of open positions in your area.  You could also get referrals to available training opportunities that could possibly lead to a new career.  See the video below:

Where can a felon find a job 

You can find the One-stop Career nearest you at the link below:

www.servicelocator.org

I hope this helps

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Real Stories of Ex-offenders and Felons looking for Jobs

Felon needs help finding a job

Should a felon lie on applications to get jobs

Ex-offenders and felons should be honest when looking for jobs

I have a friend who tells me all I have to do to get a job even with a record is lie. He said That an employer has to get written permission to legally run a background check on anyone. So according to him, if they don't ask for permission, just lie about my record. I want to do things the right way. What do you think?

Thanks,

Ricky


Hello Ricky

A lot of employment applications have a Certification/Release Statement that the applicant must sign before the application is considered. This statement may also be called an Authorization. The employer is asking you to certify with your signature that all of the information you have given is correct. Part of this certification is a release that gives the employer access to information provided by past employers, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions and other organizations that may have information about you. This is usually in fine print at the very end of the application.

Some believe by being honest on applications they don’t have a chance at getting a job. The fact is an employer cannot legally refuse to hire you because you have a criminal record unless the conviction is directly related to the job for which you are applying. I have spoken with former inmates who have lied on applications and gotten jobs, only to lose them later when background checks were done. Some have been encouraged to use the response “Will discuss at interview.” In my opinion, these are not good practices. The best advice I can give is BE HONEST! Employers have a responsibility to know as much as possible about prospective employees. There have been employers who have been found guilty of negligent hiring when employees who have criminal pasts committed acts that resulted in harm to others. Those situations could have been avoided by careful screening through background checks. Employers will ask directly on applications about criminal convictions as a means to protect himself, his business, and others.

Most employers are concerned with convictions. Pay careful attention to the wording of this question. It may vary from application to application. Typically the question will ask about convictions of crimes and/or felonies and not so much misdemeanors.

There is one exception to this. Before you answer the question "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?" look for the certification/release statement. If there is none, I would leave the space blank. It is often overlooked by being left blank and you won’t have to address the question at all. If it is noticed, and you are questioned, always answer truthfully.

Larger companies will almost always have a release to sign. Ex-offenders and felons stand a better chance of being hired by small companies rather than larger ones. Smaller companies usually won't spend money on expensive background checks. Also the owners or managers of smaller companies usually make the hiring decisions. Jobs for felons and ex-offenders will depend on being honest on employment applications.

I hope this helps.

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Job applications for felons

 

Real Stories of Ex-offenders and Felons looking for Jobs

 

Felons trying hard to find jobs