There are Companies that Hire Felons and Ex-offenders

Hello, My name is Eric Mayo and I have been teaching ex-offenders and felons to rise above their criminal records and go on to get jobs and successful careers. There is one thing that I impress on each and every one of them, there is a job out there for them! They have to find it and be willing to to do what it takes to get ! No one is going to give them jobs There are employers that will hire them if they are willing to put in the time and effort it will take to take advantage of opportunities.

There a huge list of employers whose official hiring policies do not exclude ex-offenders and felons. Also on this list are a big group of employers who have pledged to have fair hiring practices. They are leading the movement to give ex-offenders and felons fair opportunities for employment and education: Click Here

Jobs for Felons: The Facts about Companies that Hire Ex offenders and Felons (2018)

Do not be confused by the title of the list. These companies will not hire applicants because they are felons. They just do not discriminate against them. They have a responsibility to hire the best available person. If a felon is the best person for the job, they may get hired.

Things You Will Need

Finding a job is a lot easier when you look at things from a certain perspective. First of all, you must look at yourself not a criminal or inmate but a businessperson with a product to sell. What is your product? It is your set of skills and your attitude. You may have job related skills from work you have done in the past, but it is the skills related to attitude which are most attractive to employers. Even if you do not have very much practical experience, applicants with the right attitude related or "soft" skills have better than average opportunity to get jobs even with criminal records.

Punctuality
Work Ethic
Dependability
Ability to Learn Quickly
Team Player
Professionalism
Responsibility
Honesty
Flexibility

RESUMES

No you know what employers look for, you now have to present yourself and your skills in way that will impress employers. You need a resume. I never send one of my students on a job search without a well written resume. If your skills and work ethic is your product, then the resume is your sales brochure. The resume is a very powerful self-marketing tool that is designed to present your skills and qualifications in one neat package. An effective resume will give you an advantage over your competition in getting an interview where you can sell yourself.

Your resume should be a one page summary of your skills, experience, and training.

There are many ways to put a resume together. If you don’t have much experience writing a resume, you may want to get help from someone that has experience doing this.

You can use a well written resume to apply for jobs. It is my experience that when felons apply for jobs using a resume with a well written cover letter, the applicant can ask for an interview where he can sell himself and his skills. Often when an employer has the opportunity to meet a felon this way, the question of a criminal record may never come up. If it does, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances and what you have done to overcome your circumstances.

Jobs for Felons: How to Write a Great Resume and Cover Letter

INTERVIEWING SKILLS

Since I stated before, you are a businessperson selling a product. Understanding this, you must approach every interview like a business meeting. It is your professional approach at these business meetings that will land you a job. This not an interrogation where the interviewer fires question after question at you. Your responses to the interviewers questions should be conversational pieces that gives an insight to your personality and attitude. If the question of your criminal record comes up, and it probably will, briefly acknowledge it but do not spend too much time talking about it. Focus on what has happened since your conviction and what you have done to make yourself a better person. Find someone to work with and practice interviewing. Think of the most difficult questions you can think of and practice answering them until you sound natural. Practice, practice and more practice is the key.

Jobs for Felons: How to ACE your next job interview

Top Five Interview Mistakes Ex-offenders and Felons Make

INTERVIEW CLOTHING

Do you have appropriate interview clothing? Nothing says "I am a professional" better than clothing. A well fitting suit with a nice shirt and tie would be the best scenario but realistically, that may not be possible for someone just coming home but I suggest that men at least have dress slacks, a light colored shirt and a coordinated tie. You should also have a pair of shoes that you can shine. No boots, no sneakers ever! Women should wear a classic skirted or slacks suit with a light colored blouse or a simple dress that does not rise above the knee. Do not wear anything too tight or too revealing. Be sure to wear coordinated pumps that are neat and clean. The pantyhose should be a light, natural color with no pattern. The nails should be neatly trimmed with tastefully colored polish. The make-up should be natural looking. One set of earrings (no larger than a quarter) no facial piercings or tongue ornaments, one ring per hand and no more than one bracelet per wrist.

Many of my students buy their interview clothing at thrift stores. They find quality clothes at very low prices, clean and press them and they are ready to interview looking like professionals. You should also have a neat haircut be clean shaven. If you wear a beard, it should be neat and trimmed. How do you look? Do you look like an ex-offender or a businessman? Do you look like you are ready for a business meeting? You should always look like a professional who is there to conduct business! Always dress like you have an interview even to fill out applications. You also want to leave the employer with the impression that you have class. You will never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Jobs for Felons - How to Dress For a Job Interview - Men

Jobs for Felons - How to Dress For a Job Interview - Women

Jobs for Felons: How to Apply for a Job

As I said above, ex-offenders and felons get hired everyday. There are employers and companies that hire felons. There may be many people after the same jobs. You must be able to compete to get hired. You must make employers feel that you are best person for the job. Use the information above to put you in the best position possible.