My name is Lamar. I was on your site today about jobs for felons. Being that I have not found a job even throw I just finished culinary school to become a chef but I also would like to start my own catering business some day as well being that this is what I like doing.
Felon Chef needs a job
Hello Lamar,
Vocational schools usually have a placement department that find jobs for their graduates. I suggest you contact that department and put them to work. Next, you should go to your nearest One-stop Career Center. Each state has a network of centers that offer a variety of free services that can assist you in finding employment. In addition, these centers offer a wide array of services that can help a felon get jobs. Some services available are:
Counselors for One-on-one Assistance
Workshops (Resume Writing, Interviewing Skills, and related topics.)
Computers with internet access and word processing
Lists of thousands of job listings
Printers, fax machines, phones, and copiers for job search use
There are counselors there whose function is helping citizens gain employment. Many of them have experience that could help ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs.
You can find the nearest location of the One Stop Career Center in your local phone book or on the web at:
Many people are looking for jobs. Please do not give up. Meanwhile I suggest getting your local telephone book and make a list of all of the restaurants and bars/grilles in your area. Contact each one of them, in person if possible, and inquire about open jobs. Even if they don't have any openings, leave your contact information or personal business card and make yourself available for on-call work. Frequently restaurants are in trouble when employees for some reason or another can't make it to work. You could fill in on an as needed basis. I'm sure if you do a good job, you will be at the top of the list when an opening arises. Ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs can find them with hard work and the right attitude.
I hope this helps.
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Where can Ex-offenders Find Jobs
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Ten Steps to Getting a Job with a Criminal Record
Jobs for Felons: Ex-offenders and Felons can get
Jobs
Getting a job is hard. Getting a job with a criminal record is
definitely harder. Having a criminal record is no reason to give
up hope. There are felons being hired everyday. Those who know what to do get hired. Those that don't will have a tougher time. Ex-offenders and felons looking for jobswill have greater success by developing
a plan using these important steps.
Find Companies that Hire Felons
Dress Like a Professional
Get a Personal Contact Card
Always be Honest
Use Resumes and Cover Letters
Build a Good Network
Build a List of Good References
Always be on Time
Practice and Prepare
Get Ready to Work Hard
Find Companies That Hire Felons
More and more employers are hiring felons. With the unemployment rate at its lowest in a long time, employers are having a hard time finding qualified applicants to fill open positions. Only a short time ago, ex-offenders and felons were shut out of jobs. Now there are many companies that can say that they offer employment opportunities to people with criminal records,
Finding companies that hire felons is half of the battle. Take a look at this long list of employers that may hire felons. Click Here
Dress like a professional!
There is no substitute for a powerful first
impression. If ex-offenders and
felons looking for jobs want to be treated like
professionals, they ought to look like professionals. A fact of
life is that most of us will be judged at least partially, by the
way we look. Meeting someone for the first time, you should
look as professional as possible. A nice suit, a light colored shirt, a tie and nicely shined pair of shoes wold do the trick. At the very least, you should have a light colored shirt, dark slacks, a tie and once again shined shoes. You may not own clothes like these, but you should do your best to get them. You should look like someone who is serious about getting hired. You will never get a
second chance to make a first impression.
Get a personal contact card
Nothing will set you apart from the competition like having your
own contact card! A professionally done contact card will leave
everyone you meet with a powerful, professional, lasting
impression. Your card should include your name, address,
telephone number and email address. If you have a
particular profession or skill, it should also be on the
card. Your local printer can help you put one together. You
will be amazed just how affordable this powerful little tool can
be. If you have a computer. you can make your own. You can get card paper from Staples or Office Depot and you can make your own professional looking card.
Always be honest
I encourage ex-offenders and felons to
always be honest when searching for jobs especially on
applications and interviews. There is often a temptation to lie
about criminal pasts. I have know many people who have not
been honest on applications and gotten jobs, only to get fired
later when background checks are done. It is always better
to be honest. In this high-tech computer age, it is relatively easy to do a background check on virtually anyone, so don't count on your record not being found.
If you are asked about criminal records on interviews, you should
briefly speak about it but focus on what you have learned and why
having a job and working hard is important.
Use resumes and cover letters to get jobs
Ex-offenders and felons will have more success getting
hired if they can get their resumes into the hands of people who
can hire them. Sending a resume with a cover letter will
give them a huge advantage. A well written cover letter will introduce you
and help you ask for an interview in a professional way.
Often when ex-offenders and felons inquire about jobs this way,
the question of criminal records never comes up. If you
don't know much about writing a cover letter, find someone who
does and get it done properly.
Build a good network
Most people get jobs through people they know. Who you know
is often just as important as what you know. Finding job leads
from people you know is called networking and it is without
question the single most powerful way to get a job. Many jobs are
never advertised because they are often filled by personal
referrals. In fact, employers would rather hire somebody referred
to them instead of looking through piles of resumes and
applications.
Contact as many people as you can think of and ask if they know
of anyone who is hiring. Ask for the person who is in charge of hiring and try to get an application or try to arrange for an interview. The more applications you can get to people in charge, the greater your chances to get a job.
Build a list of good references
A lot of
applications ask for personal or professional references. A
reference is someone who would say something positive about you
or your work performance. Past teachers, previous employers,
ministers, and other prominent members of your community would
all be great references. Please ask people if they would be a reference
for you before you list them. If they agree, get their addresses, phone numbers, email addresses or other contact information.
Always be on time!
You should always plan to arrive at least 15 minutes
before all interviews and other
appointments. Arriving early will allow you to relax and make any
final preparations. You must know exactly how long it would
take to get to the interview location. If you don't know,
make a dry run to the location a day or so before to gauge your
travel time. There is absolutely no excuse for ever being
late.
Practice and prepare!
Getting a job with a criminal record will depend on how well
you prepare. Practice everything on your job search from filling
out applications, shaking hands, body language and
interviewing.
Like
anything else, interviewing well will take practice. The more you
practice, the better you will get. Practice your body
language in front of a mirror. Predict the interviewer’s
questions and practice answering them until they sound natural.
Don't memorize your answers but practice making them complete
thoughts in your own words.
Get friends and family members to take turns being the
interviewer. Practice the whole interview from beginning to
end. If possible, make video recordings of your practice
interviews so you can see and hear your responses to questions
and your use of grammar and body language. The more practice you get, the better you will get at everything.
Get ready to work hard!
Ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs must realize that they are playing a game of numbers.
More job leads mean more interviews. More interviews mean more
opportunities to get hired. It's that simple. Getting
enough quality jobs leads will result in a job .
Finding a job with a criminal record will require a huge
commitment in time and effort. Put your time in making phone
calls, filling out applications and digging for leads. Effort in
practicing, and preparation will have to go with putting the time
in. Every minute you take off leaves an opening for someone
else to get a job instead of you.
There are ex-offenders and felons
getting jobs everyday. Work hard and prepare well and you
could be one of them!
You can be bonded free of charge!
The federal government offers felons free bonding. When you get an interview you can tell the employer that you can get bonded at no charge to you or the employer. If the employer has concerns about you being an honest employer, you can say "I can be bonded." A bond insures the employer from loss of money, merchandise or services due to employee dishonesty. This may be the difference between getting a job or not getting a job. You should speak to your state's department of labor representative at your local one stop career center. You can find out more about the Federal Bonding Program and how it helps ex-offenders and felons get jobs here: Federal Bonding Program
Ex-offenders and Felons
can get Jobs
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons:
Ten Steps to Getting a Job with a Criminal Record
Jobs for Felons: The Facts about
Companies that Hire Ex offenders and Felons (2020)
Jobs for Felons: Five Places
Felons Can Find Jobs - Get a Job Quickly!
My son is 29 yrs old and has two theft felonies in his background. But thanks to a good woman and two wonderful sons age 7 and 4 he has turned his life around. For 2 1/2 yrs he has gone to the methadone clinic, no longer hangs with any of the drug friends, went to Kaplan college and got his electrical technician certificate, has 6 years experience framing/roofing/plumbing/remodeling/tree trimming but just can't find work that lasts for more than a few days at a time. All he wants is a chance to earn enough money to feed his children and pay his electric bill. We have put out applications everywhere but the minute he is truthful and tells the employer of his criminal record (which is has a written copy he can show them) they just treat him like he is dirt.
Where can we turn? He is a hard worker.
Nancy
Skilled felon is looking for jobs
Hello Nancy,
Your son is ahead of most ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs. Even though things might seem tough, people with criminal record might have to thing outside-the-box when it comes to looking for work. He has skills in electrical work and carpentry. He could start a home handyman business the he can can use to build a good income. If he is willing to put in a little work, he could turn odd jobs into a full time home handyman business. You'd be amazed how many people can't put in a light switch or fix a leaky faucet. You could offer to do small jobs at a fraction of what big time contractors charge while guaranteeing quality work.
Starting his own business will be a lot of work. He would have to be prepared to work long hours finding customers and promoting his business. The least costly way to start is to print up flyers with tear off tags, and post them on community bulletin boards. Post them in grocery stores, laundry rooms, community recreation centers, bus stops, and churches. Highlight the quality of his service and his dependability. He should always include phone number tear off tags on the flyer, so interested people can just take one phone number.
Another interesting option is to make a list of local contractors and offer to himself out as a day laborer. There are probably quite a few contractors in your area looking for day laborers as a way to keep their own costs down. He could get a list of contractors that have recently been issued building permits at your local municipal building. This is public record so he should have no trouble getting that information.
Still another option is to find landlord with multiple rental properties. Landlords need dependable people to keep the properties up and do repairs that tenants need done. If he finds one with enough rentals, it could be a full time job that would pay well. One great way to find a long list of property owners is contacting your local office of Housing and Urban Development. HUD pays subsidies to landlords on behalf of tenants. In order to get payments, the properties must meet HUD standards and are inspected frequently.
If his dream is finding regular employment, he shouldn't give up and he could earn a living in the meantime.
My husband has been released from prison after ten years about 3 months ago. Since than time we're finding it very hard for him to find employment. I mean extremely hard and he has become very depressed. He has gone to target, walmart, meijers, home depot, best buy, Kroger's, McDonald's, kfc, you name it we have filled out applications. He has called them on several occasions to check back about employment. He has two violent felonies and has had many doors slammed in his face. He just feels like giving up. I don't want him to do anything drastic at this point. I really don't know how much more to help him. Is there any advice you can offer us? It would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Concerned Wife
Wife of felon wants to help him get a job
I'm sorry your husband is having so much trouble. Having two violent felonies makes getting a job difficult. It's time for some out-of-the-box thinking.
My suggestion is for him to contact his parole or probation officer. Often they know of employers who hire felons. They also have felons on their caseloads who have gotten jobs. perhaps the officer can point him in the direction of these employers.
Another strategy that often works is to have your husband contact the judge who sentenced him. Judges are influential people with many contacts. He can express to the judge how important getting a job is and his desire to stay on the right side of the law. He should ask the judge for any assistance he can offer. You will be surprised at how effective this will be.
I hope this helps.
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Ten Steps to getting a Job with a Criminal Record
I have been helping Ex-offenders and Felons get jobs for many years and I have helped thousands get jobs. One of the biggest barriers that some ex-offenders place in front of themselves is not being able to pass drug tests.
Drug testing has become an important safety issue for many employers. Many companies now have some form of drug testing for prospective employees. Drug testing serves to lower the instance and issues associated with drug abuse in the workplace, including lateness, absenteeism, turnover rate, crime, violence, theft and other side effects. Too many of my students believe that they can use illegal drugs and still pass drug tests. With my experience in human resources, management and employment training, I will attempt to expose the myths and give the facts on drug tests.
The typical methods that employers use for detecting illegal drugs are:
Urine Testing:
Urine testing is the most common of the screenings used for illegal substances. Drug users would sometimes use outlandish methods like using fake urine that is sold in some places or using a sample taken from someone else in place of their own. To avoid the applicant using urine not his own, I would always have a sample given in the presence of a staff member. Others believe that drinking large amounts of water will dilute the sample and the drugs will not be detected. Water passes through the body much too quickly to beeffective. I have even heard of using ridiculous home remedies to beat urine tests. These remedies include aspirin, eye drops, ammonia, vinegar, bleach and even commercial drain cleaners! There are commercial products that claim to mask the traces of drugs making them undetectable. many of these products use nitrates which will mask the drug to an extent, but laboratories have gotten more savvy and also test for the nitrate compounds that these products contain. In many cases the presence of nitrates will result in a failed test.
A single use of marijuana can be detected up to seven days in the urine, while extended use can be detected up to 100 days
Amphetimines, cocaine, heroin, opiates and PCP can be detected accurately up to seven days after use.
Ex-offenders, Felons, Jobs and Drug Tests
Saliva Testing
Saliva tests are the least popular because it can only detect toxins used three or four days prior. Saliva tests can detect fresh elements of alcohol and drugs in the mouth.
Hair follicle Testing
My experience is that hair follicle testing is the most effective method of narcotics screening. A hair test is an examination that uses a small sample of hair to identify specific drugs used by the person being tested. Typically, the sample is taken from the head, but can be collected from several other body locations such as arms, legs and back and may be combined to obtain the required amount of hair. Drugs can be detected with high accuracy for a six month period after use. Chemical compounds of drugs are circulated in the blood stream and become part of the cells of the body including the hair root where they are easily detected.
There are hundreds of detoxifying products on the market that claim that with their use, drugs will not be able to be detected. There products that claim that they can wash toxins out of the hair. Most of these are absolute scams. The rest have a very low success rate. An experienced screener would pull the hair out intact, exposing the root where the compounds collect.
A one time use of marijuana will likely not show up in the hair while extended use can be detected for three to five months after use depending on the test used.
Amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, opiates and PCP can be detected accurately up to five months after use.
Certain non-prescription medications can interfere with accurate results. These common medications include ibuprofen and ephedrine-based products. Most drug testing companies will ask the applicant in advance if they have taken any prescription or non-prescription medication prior to the screen.
In most cases if any drugs are detected, the applicant will have the opportunity to provide a doctor's prescription or choose to be retested.
Jobs for felons and "ex-offenders" are hard enough to get, so why blow an opportunity to get hired by using drugs?
The facts about employee drug testing for ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs
Jobs for Felons: Hair Test, Saliva Test, Urine Test, Substance
Jobs for Felons: How Drug Test Cheats get Caught
Ex-offenders, Felons, Jobs and Drug Tests
Companies Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Felons | Jobs For Felons | Jobs For Ex-offenders | Jobs That Hire Felons | Places That Hire Felons | Felon Friendly Jobs | Felon Friendly Employers | Jobs for Felons | Jobs For People That Have Felonies | Jobs For People With A Criminal Record | Drug Tests
Felons and ex-offenders looking for jobs may need specialized help with resume details and getting back on track after prison. Getting a job as an ex-offender or felon may prove to be a challenge, but having a great resume will make this tough task a lot easier.
A resume can help you present your skills, experience and training in a nice neat package without highlighting your criminal background. Having a well written resume can help you get an interview where you can sell yourself.
Helpful information for ex-offenders and felons who need resumes. A great resume is a powerful tool that ex-offenders and felons can use to get jobs.
This is great information about how to send resumes and cover letters to get jobs for ex-offenders and felons. Felons can use resumes to apply for jobs. When felons apply for jobs using resumes with well written cover letters, the applicant may ask for interviews where he can sell himself and his skills. Frequently when an employer has the chance to meet a felon this way, the question of a criminal record often never comes up.
Over 600,000 felons are released every year and need jobs. Many have little or no experience. This video tells how to set up a useful resume that has little or no work experience.
How to write a resume with little or no experience
Ex-offenders and felons can avoid common resume mistakes
It is often very difficult for ex-offenders and felons to get interviews. Avoiding common resume mistakes can help them get more interviews and more opportunities to get jobs
Jeff Arview had been kicking around in different jobs. An Army veteran who served in Iraq, after he was discharged he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and fell into addiction, which led to fighting and theft — then arrests and jail time. Moving on and getting a job was a challenge.
“Even though I was a veteran, because of that criminal history, I was unable to gain employment, which made it really tough,” Arview said. At times, he fell into homelessness.
Arview, 39, is far from alone. The unemployment rate among formerly incarcerated people was 27%, according to a 2018 analysis by the Prison Policy Initiative. That compares with the current overall U.S. unemployment rate of 4.8% in September. A criminal background has carried a stigma for some employers, and in some states there are steep legal hurdles to clearing one's record.
When looking for jobs, Arview came across a recruitment video from staffing company Kelly Services targeting veterans. Enough time had passed since his last arrest that he wasn’t legally required to disclose it when applying — although he eventually did. He was hired as a contractor, then as a full-time talent adviser two and a half years ago.
Second-chance initiatives 'tap into talent' amid a labor crunch
Kelly Services CEO Peter Quigley said the latter is a challenge right now.
“The fact is that there are a lot of open jobs, but there are not a lot of jobs open that people want,” he told Yahoo Finance Live in an interview. He said employers have to address employees’ shifting priorities, including offering them paths to career advancement and an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Kelly Services’s program targeting criminal offenders, called Kelly 33, kicked off after an initial partnership with Toyota, where 645 workers accepted jobs at the automaker’s Georgetown, Kentucky plant.
“Toyota took a second-chance initiative and was able to increase its talent pool by 20%, increase its diversity by almost 10%, and improve its retention by 70%. These second-chance workers are thankful, they’re reliable and they’re loyal,” Quigley said.
Kelly Services and Toyota aren’t alone. A group of companies in April started the Second Chance Business Coalition, led by co-chairs Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, and Craig Arnold, chairman and CEO of Eaton.
JPMorgan hired 2,100 people with criminal backgrounds in 2020, about 10% of new hires. That was thanks in part to partnerships with community groups in Chicago and Columbus, who trained potential employees and educated them on banking regulations.
“This is making sure we tap into talent that maybe wouldn’t come our way,” said Michelle Kuranty, executive director — global head of talent acquisition sourcing at JPMorgan. “Good talent is always a challenge.”
JPMorgan and the coalition are also pushing for policy changes, including “banning the box” — not including a box on job applications for candidates to check if they have a criminal record — and “clean slate” policies to clear or seal criminal records.
Employers are 'a little more open minded' about criminal records
Americans who have been incarcerated or have a conviction on their record are “ready to work and deserve a second chance — an opportunity to fill the millions of job openings across the country,” wrote Dimon in an August op-ed. “Yet our criminal justice system continues to block them from doing so.”
“When you’re in the legal system, there’s a lot of pressure, it’s not just financial pressure. It’s hard to find somebody that offers you any kind of hope,” said David Shaffer, who was arrested for his third DWI in 2009, a felony in Texas. “Once you get in trouble, the world is full of people telling you what you can’t do.”
By the following year, he was searching for jobs, and got a call from Kelly Services, to whom he disclosed his criminal issues. Eleven years later, he’s still working there, as a senior operations manager.
His colleague, Jeff Arview, said work culture is continuing to change. “Employers are being a little more open minded to it, given the workforce that is needed right now, and I think that is awesome, because they’ll actually give people a chance.”
Correction: JPMorgan partnered with community groups in Columbus. The city was misstated in an earlier version of this article.
This post has been updated with the September jobs numbers.
I have a question. I am currently in the process of applying to work for the New York City Board of Education but I am worried that I may not get the job because I have a juvenile conviction. I was arrested on grounds for felony for reckless endangerment but I took a plea bargain and opted out for a misdemeanor instead. I was arrested back 91/2 years ago.
I have to get my fingerprints taken and have a background check done on me so I am nervous that my conviction will pop up. And I have a sealed record but I am wondering will that also affect anything in my applying to work for the New York City board of Education.
I get a lot of questions like this from juvenile ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs.
Let me understand. You are afraid that a 9 1/2 yr. old juvenile misdemeanor conviction will stop the New York City Board of Education from hiring you.
It is my understanding that juvenile records are sealed and can only be seen by the court system, law enforcement and government agencies. Even if it were public, I doubt anyone would hold a 9 1/2 yr. old juvenile misdemeanor charge against you.
Here in NJ where I am, job applicants are not even bound to include juvenile convictions. I'm not sure about NY state. To be absolutely sure, I would contact someone in your local legal aid office for clarification.
I hope this helps.
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Employment Background Checks: Know Your Rights
Will a juvenile record keep me out of a job?
Companies Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Felons | Companies That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Ex-offenders | Employers That Hire Felons | Jobs For Felons | Jobs For Ex-offenders | Jobs That Hire Felons | Places That Hire Felons | Felon Friendly Jobs | Felon Friendly Employers | Jobs for Felons | Jobs For People That Have Felonies | Jobs For People With A Criminal Record | Juvenile Record
Well I was charged with failure to stop after having an accident involving personal injury and I'm a little misunderstanding of what it means for it being a class four felony. I want to get into the military cuz lets face it at this point in time the chances of me getting a decent job to support me and family is really really low with this charge on me.
I don't see any other options cuz from what I have been gathering with web browsing you can't get certain certificates and degrees to work and money is not real good at the moment to just lolly gag so my questions are as follows
1. Can I get it expunged?
2. Is it a felony misdemeanor
3. How would I go about tryin to get in the military with this?
4. What states would this not count as a felony....... and I'm sorry if its a lot or jus very scrambled. I want the best for my child and wife so I'm a little everywhere with this but I'm looking forward to this response thank you.
Ernesto
Felon wants a Military Career
Hello Ernesto,
Questions 1, 2 and 4 are best answered by an attorney. Often ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs need legal assistance. I suggest contacting your local legal aid office. There you will probably be able to get low-cost or low-cost legal advice. They may be also be able to answer questions about ex-offenders and felons getting professional certifications.
Just a note on expungement, it is not an option in every state. Even in states which allow them, often they are limited. For example, in New Jersey, where I am, one is allowed only one felony expungement. It cannot even be applied for until ten years after the termination of the sentence. Expungement is not a cure all. Even if one is granted, the conviction will always be visible to the court system, government agencies and law enforcement.
Don't give up on a military career. The military often accepts ex-offenders and felons and there are many career options. Your best option is the Army. The Army seems to be the most liberal as it relates to accepting ex-offenders and felons. Contact you local Army recruiter to inquire about your eligibility.
I hope this helps.
Jobs for Ex-offenders and Felons: Employment Background Checks: Know Your Rights
Jobs for ex-offenders and Felons: Expungement of Criminal Records
Counselors for One-on-one Assistance
