MARCO-OPERA

Finding a job is challenging in itself. Finding a job when you have a criminal record or a felony is even more difficult. But it’s not impossible.

Unfortunately, some companies will discriminate against anyone who has been incarcerated or convicted of a crime, even if there are legislatures in place to try to prevent that from happening. They will automatically reject all job applicants with a criminal record, regardless of whether it was a misdemeanor or a felony charge.

However, the good news is that more and more companies have changed their policies to be more inclusive, and this inclusivity extends to felons. Thousands of companies have signed the Fair Chance Pledge. They are willing to give people with felony convictions a second chance and an opportunity to break out of the criminal lifestyle cycle.

What Jobs for Felons Are Available?

Before you start applying, it’s important to know what felon-friendly employment opportunities are available to you. Otherwise, you will be wasting your time applying for jobs you are ineligible for and will end up feeling more discouraged.

Certain industries won’t hire felons at all due to the nature of the job or due to specific laws. These generally include jobs where you are handling sensitive information, working with vulnerable people, or are required to travel internationally. Some examples include working in child care, health care, finance, law enforcement, and for the government.

Where you can potentially find a job as a felon depends on a few things.

• What were you convicted of? It will be harder to find a job if you have been convicted of a serious offense or have numerous charges.
• When were you convicted? Some companies will consider the timing of your charges – such as how long ago the crime(s) took place, how old you were when it happened, and how long you have been out of prison.
• Where do you live? Each state has its own laws regarding hiring a convicted felon, and some even have different definitions of what a felony is. Do a little research to see what applies to your situation.

Focus on the Jobs That Hire Felons

If you are looking for a job with a felony record, focus on getting a job anywhere you can, such as those who have joined the Fair Chance Pledge. You need to get your foot in the door somewhere, anywhere that is willing to give you a chance.

Once you are hired, show your employer that you are a reliable, hard-working employee by starting to take on more responsibilities and learning new job skills. This will help rebuild your resume, provide you with strong references, and advance you to better positions.

You might have to start with a lower-paying job, a part-time or temporary job, or a job that you are overqualified for. And you might have to apply for jobs in other industries, too.

Unfortunately, your options are already limited. You can’t afford to limit yourself even further.

That said, there are still plenty of opportunities to find meaningful work. Knowing what companies and types of jobs are felon-friendly is the best place to start.

1. Local Companies

Although the companies mentioned in this article are all major chains, you might have better luck applying for jobs with local companies. Locally owned businesses don’t have to follow policies that are set out by someone sitting in a head office somewhere else. They have a lot more freedom to hire whomever they choose to hire. Small businesses are also less likely to run criminal background checks, which could be a big advantage for you.

Local business owners may also be more willing to hire you if they already know you or if you are referred by someone they know. So, if you can get a personal reference or referral from someone, take advantage of it.

2. Restaurants & Fast Food Companies

Restaurants and fast food companies are well-known for hiring felons. Starting as a dishwasher might not be ideal, but if you show initiative and are willing to learn, the restaurant industry is a great place to learn and grow on the job. You can quickly move up the ranks from a minimum-wage fast-food worker to a well-paid fine-dining chef.

Some restaurants and fast food companies that hire felons include:

• Starbucks
• McDonald’s
• Subway
• Burger King
• Dairy Queen
• Carl’s Jr.
• Baskin Robbins
• KFC
• Domino’s Pizza
• Pizza Hut
• Outback Steakhouse
• Applebees
• Red Robin
• Five Guys Burger
• TGI Fridays
• Golden Corral
• Chili’s
• IHOP
• Olive Garden
• Red Lobster
• Buffalo Wild Wings

3. Grocery Stores & Retail Companies

Grocery stores and retail stores are also known for offering felony-friendly jobs. Some behind-the-scenes jobs include stocking shelves, unloading inventory in the warehouse, cleaning, and maintenance. Depending on the nature of your charges, there are also storefront options available, such as cashier, working in the deli or cafe, bagging groceries, order picking, and customer service.

Some grocery stores and retail chains that hire felons include:

• Walmart
• Target
• Kohl’s
• Kmart
• Sears
• Costco
• Trader Joe’s
• Publix
• Whole Foods Market
• Krogers
• Safeway
• Home Depot
• Lowes
• Best Buy
• IKEA
• Walgreens
• Bed, Bath & Beyond
• Under Armour
• Dollar General
• Dollar Tree
• Petsmart
• Party City

4. Tech Companies

Our world is digital, which means there are many job opportunities in the tech industry. These can include entry-level jobs like data entry, sales, and customer service or manual labor jobs like cable assembly, line installation, and repair. If you are technically skilled, there are also jobs in communications, tech support, software development, web design, and web maintenance.

Some tech companies that hire felons include:

• Google
• Facebook
• Intel
• Apple Inc.
• Microsoft
• Dell
• Verizon
• Sprint
• AT&T
• Motorola
• Comcast
• T-Mobile
• IBM
• Sony
• Hewlett-Packard

5. Hospitality Companies

Hotels are always hiring people for their housekeeping and maintenance staff, and many of the bigger chain companies are willing to hire felons to fill these roles. It may not be your first choice, as it can be hard work for low pay, but it’s a place to start. They also hire customer service jobs like shuttle bus drivers, baggage porters, and reservation agents.

Some hospitality companies that hire felons include:

• Marriott Hotels – Delta Hotels, TownePlace Suites, and Sheraton
• Wyndham Hotels – Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Howard Johnson, and Travelodge
• Choice Hotels – EconoLodge, Comfort Inn Suites, and Quality Inn
• Holiday Inn
• Hyatt Hotels
• Hilton Hotels
• Best Western

6. The Military

The US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the Canadian Armed Forces have all hired people with criminal records.

Whether or not you qualify will partially depend on the number of convictions you have, the nature of your convicted offenses, and when the crime took place. You also can’t currently be in jail or serving a prison sentence, facing criminal charges, or being on probation or parole.

But if you meet the mental and physical requirements and are granted a felony waiver (or record suspension in Canada), you can have a very rewarding career in the military.

The military offers various roles that don’t include going to combat, such as administration, food services, driving, maintenance, health care, and communications.

7. Driving & Trucking Companies

If you have a clean driving record, you could find a great job driving in the delivery or trucking industries. There are plenty of places that need drivers between shuttle services, moving companies, food delivery, and shipping.

If you don’t mind long-distance travel and being alone on the road for days or weeks at a time, many trucking and transportation companies offer on-the-job training and typically pay well.

Certain organizations will require that you already have driving experience or that your convictions are at least 5 years old. You can find an updated list that breaks down the hiring practices for different trucking companies.

Some driving and trucking companies that hire felons include:

• United Parcel Service (UPS)
• FedEx
• Swift Transportation
• J.B. Hunt
• Walmart
• CRST International
• TransAm Trucking
• Prime, Inc.
• Allied Van Lines
• Barr-Nunn Transportation
• Knight Transportation

8. Gig Driving & Delivery Companies

If you have access to a reliable vehicle and a clean driving record, you might consider applying for gig jobs instead. A gig job provides flexible hours, decent pay, and independence, and some companies offer sign-up bonuses.

Driving and delivery gig jobs companies include:

• Lyft
• Uber
• UberEats
• Instacart
• DoorDash
• Postmates
• Grub Hub
• Amazon Flex

Ride-sharing and delivery jobs are tough to get into, as these companies perform background checks, and their policies are pretty confusing, to be honest.

But if you live in a state that limits felony record access, you weren’t charged with certain crimes, and you live in an in-demand area, you can find gig work with these companies. (People with a criminal history seem to have better luck with Uber, though.)

My suggestion is to apply if you’re interested, be honest about your background, and see what happens. If you do get hired, keep job searching and applying elsewhere. These companies have also been known to disqualify drivers even after initially approving them, so it’s best to be prepared in case that happens to you.

9. Mechanics & Automotive Companies

If you like cars but don’t want to work as a driver, there are plenty of good jobs in the automotive industry.

If you have the right skills and experience, you could fix and service vehicles, be a lot attendant or a car washer at car rental companies or dealerships, or work as an auto glass installer, fixing and replacing windshields. If there’s an automotive plant nearby, it requires factory workers.

And like most other companies, they also need customer service agents, cleaners, maintenance workers, warehouse or stockroom staff, and administrative support.

Some automotive companies that hire felons include:

• Enterprise
• Budget
• Avis
• Hertz
• Jiffy Lube
• AutoZone
• Goodyear Dunlop Tire
• Bridgestone
• Dunlop Tires
• Firestone
• Tesla
• Ford
• General Motors
• Harley Davidson
• U-Haul
• Delta Air Lines
• American Airlines
• British Airways

10. Manufacturing & Food Production Companies

Factories and manufacturing production plants exist all over North America, and they are always looking to hire. They cover a wide range of products from food production, industrial manufacturing, metal and mineral manufacturing, and consumer products manufacturing.

Working in a factory is hard work and the pay isn’t always great, but it’s steady and offers opportunities to grow on the job.

Some manufacturing and production companies that hire felons include:

• Unilever – Dove, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Ben & Jerry’s, and Klondike
• Tyson Foods – JimmyDean, SaraLee, and Hillshire Farms
• Keurig Dr Pepper – Van Houtte, Cinnabon, Sunkist, Snapple, and Motts
• Deer Park Spring Water
• Aramark
• Pepsi Co
• Coca Cola
• Campbell Soup Company
• Del Monte Foods
• Kraft
• Perdue Farms
• General Mills
• General Electric
• Boeing
• Stanley Black and Decker
• Praxair
• Duracell
• John Deere
• Caterpillar

11. Labor, Construction & Skilled Trade Companies

Construction companies are known to hire qualified felons, and some ex-felons start their own construction businesses.

There are many different opportunities to get a job, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, woodworkers, construction sites, roofers, HVAC, and general labor needs. Your charges may prevent you from working at the residential level, but there is a high demand for workers with commercial businesses.

Although skilled trades jobs usually require training, the training programs are short and might even be paid. Certain occupations in the trades, however, are regulated and will require certification. You may need to start in a lower-skill role, such as installation, digging, cleaning equipment or worksites, moving materials, or assisting licensed journeymen. But it’s a great way to learn more about specific trades and gain the skills needed to move into better roles.

Some labor and skilled trade companies that hire felons include:

• United States Steel
• Labor Finders
• Ace Hardware
• J.B. Hunt
• Caterpillar
• ServiceMaster
• WIS International
• Lowe’s
• Home Depot
• Local companies

12. Warehousing, Shipping & Receiving Companies

I’m assuming that you have shopped at a big box store or ordered something online through Amazon before. Companies like this have a lot of inventory or merchandise coming in and out. Therefore, they require staff to load and unload these boxes, arrange shipments, verify records and deliveries, and stock shelves. While it can be physically demanding, the work itself is fairly straightforward.

Some warehousing and shipping and receiving companies that hire felons include:

• Keurig Dr Pepper – Sunny D, Evian, Vernors, and Krispy Kream
• Amazon Warehouse
• Publix
• PAC Worldwide
• Preferred Freezer Services
• Restaurant Depot
• DAP Products
• Alpine Food Distributing, Inc
• Walmart
• Target
• Whole Foods
• Sam’s Club

13. Oil, Gas & Energy Companies

If you are physically fit, don’t mind hard work or getting dirty, and live in the right area or are willing to move or travel, you might consider a job in the oil and gas industry. They often have a hard time finding workers, especially for offshore jobs, making them more open to hiring felons. Some even offer apprenticeships as a way to attract and keep employees.

There are a variety of job opportunities, including oil rig operators, derrick operators, rotary drill operators, petroleum engineers, technicians, administration, tech support,

Some oil and gas companies that hire felons include:

• Chevron
• Exxon Mobile
• BP
• Shell Oil
• Exelon
• Koch Industries
• Gibson Energy
• Duke Energy

14. Community Service Companies

A former felon can find it very rewarding to give back to their community, which is why many former inmates end up working or volunteering with community service agencies.

As a counselor or speaker, sharing your unique experiences with others who are at risk can help them avoid making the wrong choices. If you’ve had your own issues with substance abuse, you can identify with people looking for support better than those who have not personally faced those challenges.

There are also opportunities to work in administration, sales, shelter support, cleaning, maintenance, warehousing, and cooking.

Some community service companies that hire felons include:

• Goodwill
• Salvation Army
• Volunteers of America
• Local shelters and charities
• Local addiction support companies

15. Temp Agencies

Temp agencies (also known as staffing agencies or temporary employment agencies) always need qualified workers, and many are willing to hire ex-offenders.

Through a temp agency, you will be matched with a felon-friendly employer that is willing to give you a second chance. The type of job you can get will depend on your skill set, background check, and what jobs are currently available.

The benefit of working with a temp agency is that you have access to a large number of open positions, many of which are not advertised anywhere else. (This is known as the hidden job market.) Once you have been approved as a temp with the agency, you don’t have to go through the hiring process and apply and interview with each individual company that you match with. You just start working as soon as the contract begins.

The downside is that contracts can last as little as a few days. It can be hard to go back and forth between working full-time and part-time hours and not working at all when a contract ends. But these are paying jobs that also help you establish a work history and rapport with employers.

When you are matched with a company as a temp, and things go well, the job can turn into a permanent, full-time role.

If temp work sounds like a good option, try contacting the following places:

• Manpower
• Kelly Services
• Adecco
• Oasis Outsourcing
• Aerotek Recruiting
• Dillard & Associates Staffing
• Integrity Staffing
• Express Employment Professionals
• Staffmark
• Peoplelink Staffing Solutions

16. Start Your Own Company

Do you have skills that you can use to start your own business? If so, self-employment could be a great option for you. Your criminal record likely won’t be a hurdle, as your customers won’t run a criminal background check on you.

You can offer plenty of different services as an entrepreneur both online and offline, including landscaping, tech support, personal training, or any of these other 300+ small business ideas.

There are many different options, depending on what you are good at and what level of risk and investment you can make. Some businesses have little to no start-up costs, so you can start right away, while others will cost a lot and take a while to set up or require specialized training, licenses, or certificates. If something interests you, look into what starting your own business would entail.

Get Help with Your Job Search

Now that you have a better idea of where you could find jobs, get help applying for them! Job searching is not something you should do without support. This is particularly true for anyone that has barriers to employment like having a criminal record.

If you have spent the last couple of years in prison, how will you explain that gap? What if you’ve never had a job before? What do you put on your resume? Or in a cover letter?

Should you disclose your incarceration right away, or should you wait and see if your felony convictions come up? What do you say in a job interview?

Maybe you need a bit more training or a refresher course before returning to the workforce but don’t know how to get it.

There are free government services available to help with your reintegration into your community. (I work for one of these places myself.) Please don’t be embarrassed to ask for help! We regularly help people with records find work and have strategies to help minimize its impact on your future.

Most communities have employment service agencies where you can get free help writing your resume, find referrals to free or low-cost training and other supports (like housing and clothing assistance), and the staff will know what specific companies hire felons in your area. And trust me, we want to see you succeed!

Don’t forget – you are still competing with other qualified applicants for the jobs you apply to. Companies will hire the best candidate, so you need to do whatever it takes to stand out.

With the right approach and the right attitude, it is possible to get a good job regardless of your past.