Companies That Hire Felons

Getting a job after a felony may be difficult but it’s not impossible. Multiple companies in the United States are open to hiring felons.

Even with the growing unemployment rate due to the current pandemic, there are still opportunities for felons they can explore.

Many small and large organizations choose not to discriminate when hiring potential employees with felony charges.

The Struggle Is Real

It is no secret that felons will have to go through more interviews, more scrutiny, and wait longer to bag a job. It would have been so much easier if there was a list of jobs available so you know which companies to apply with and which ones to ignore.

This also helps increase your chance of getting a job and ensures you do not waste time applying with the wrong companies. It also takes away any fear and negativity from your mind because you know the organization is willing to hire you even with your felony background.

List Of Industries That Hire Felons

It is important to understand where your interests and skillsets are. Many felons end up applying for multiple jobs because they are in desperate need. They will get rejected in most places as they may not be the perfect match for most of these jobs.

In some cases, even when the company is hiring felons they may not find the felon to be the right fit for the job.

The first thing you need to narrow down is the industry you think you are the perfect fit for. You can then check various companies that are open to hiring felons under that particular industry. Once you have a list of potential companies you can work with, you should then check which of them are currently hiring.

While this may give you a very narrow list, you should remember that the chances of you bagging a job from these interviews are much higher than randomly attending interviews. It also relieves you from the frustration of getting rejected multiple times.

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Grocery Stores

Most grocery stores are open to hiring felons. You can start with jobs such as arranging and stocking products, working behind meat and fish counters, and even assisting people with their shopping needs as a customer service representative.

Based on your past felony, certain stores may even allow you to work the cash register. Once you start working with a grocery store for a long duration, the trust eventually builds up and you start growing within the store.

List of felon friendly grocery stores:

Hospitality

You will be surprised to know that the hospitality industry welcomes felons as employees. You can begin working as a cleaning or maintenance staff, bellboy, or even a luggage carrier.

Although these jobs are entry-level jobs, you can grow with the organization you are working with. After a few years, you can hope for a promotion as well.

You need to be prepared to work minimum wages at most organizations. You can even choose to undergo a hospitality course to better your chances of bagging a job.

List of felon friendly hospitality groups:

Restaurant & Food Services

One of the largest Industries that hire felons happens to be the restaurant or the food services business. You will find numerous job opportunities in this sector. While the salary may not be high, your efforts eventually pay off and you will get promoted within the company.

The good thing about a restaurant job is you get free meals at the restaurant. A few jobs may even provide accommodation. You also get lucrative tips from happy customers and this can add to your wages.

List of felon friendly restaurants:

Food Packaging

Food packaging is a huge industry with multiple facilities all over the country. Minimum wage workers are required by the dozen in each of these facilities. While the job is a little difficult, it is a stable job and you will come home with good pay if you put in the effort.

List of felon friendly food packaging companies:

Wellness & Health Care

Foundations Wellness Centre that deals with alcohol and drug addiction hire felons. They believe in giving felons a second chance. While this is just one in the category, if you live in Florida and you are close to Port Saint Lucie, you may want to give them a try.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing units have many entry-level jobs that could be laborious and require physical strength. Certain jobs may also require operating heavy machinery and equipment.

If you have a license to operate these types of machinery and you are open to operating at an entry-level job, multiple manufacturing companies hire felons. If you work with them long enough, you can grow and expect an increment.

List of felon friendly manufacturing companies:

Delivery Services

The demand for delivery personnel is increasing by the day. Various delivery services hire felons to get the job done. December is the best time to bag a job with these delivery service companies since deliveries are at an all-time high during the festive season.

List of felon friendly delivery services:

Retail

Retail brands choose to hire felons to give them a second chance. You may have to start at an entry-level job here but you can work your way up the ladder and grow with these retail chains.

The best part about retail is there are multiple brands with multiple franchises. This makes it easy to bag a job in one of these stores.

List of felon friendly retail chains:

Cab Services

The demand for drivers is high and brands like Uber are open to hiring felons and give them a second chance at life. To qualify for a job as a driver you must have a valid license and you shouldn’t have been charged with a DUI felony in the past.

List of felon friendly cab services:

Automotive & Car Repair Services

If automobiles are your thing and you have an unfulfilled dream of becoming a mechanic then multiple automobile companies would be glad to hire you. Completing a course or diploma in a specific skill set can increase your chances of bagging a job.

List of felon friendly car repair services:

Trucking

The trucking industry is one of the most felon friendly Industries out there. Not only do these companies hire felons but they also provide them with relevant training. A job as a trucker is difficult and you may have to spend a lot of time alone on the road.

The pay, however, for this job is more than most other entry-level jobs available. If you are confident in handling a large vehicle then this could be a great career opportunity.

List of felon friendly trucking companies:

Freelancing

If working for an employer is not your cup of tea then looking for freelancing jobs could benefit you. There are multiple reasons why a felon can enjoy working as a freelancer. One of the best things about freelancing jobs is there is no background check required.

Some of the highest paying freelancing jobs include blogging, coding, web design, and writing. To start your freelancing career, you should create a strong portfolio that portrays your capabilities and skillsets. You can start small and then build a brand where you get good reviews from clients.

Platforms That Support Freelancing

Upwork

Upwork is one of the largest freelancing marketplaces today. It is a safe platform to get in touch with clients that can offer jobs that pay you hourly or by the project.

Craigslist

While a little unconventional, Craigslist is known to have some amazing job opportunities for people with a keen eye. It is easy to explore multiple opportunities on this platform and you can apply for limitless jobs, unlike online marketplaces.

Fiverr

Fiverr not only helps you bag virtual jobs but you can also get some remote jobs that can help you complete projects based on your skillset. This can include services like plumbing, electrical work, or even handyman services.

List of some more felon friendly freelancing platforms:

Warehouses

Warehouses are known to be large and it requires a lot of manpower to keep it running smoothly. This is not an easy job opportunity however if you can’t find something that can help pay the bills then looking for warehouse jobs may seem like the best bet.

People with felony convictions can easily land a job at any warehouse and can begin their careers.

List of felon friendly warehouses:

Contract Jobs

Many agencies help you find contract jobs to keep you busy. If you have tried your luck at multiple places but you couldn’t manage to get a job then contract-based employment can be a good option.

The best thing about a contract job is you don’t have to go through a background check or an interview over and over again. You begin the job as soon as you are placed and move from one contract to another. With more time in hand, you can also take up multiple contracts in one go. This gives you the flexibility of earning more money.

Part-Time Jobs

If your felony is ongoing and prevents you from getting a full-time job, you can always look for part-time work. Part-time jobs may not pay as much as you would like but it can help you pay your bills and make you a responsible individual. Here are a few more reasons why taking a part-time job is beneficial to a felon.

Most of the industries mentioned above not only look for full-time employment but also part-time employment so you should keep your options open when it comes to getting a good job.

Background Check Before Employment

One of the most daunting questions for a felon is whether or not their potential employers would run a background check on them. The answer is yes. Almost every organization will run a background check to determine whether the candidate has any criminal history or financial history that got them in trouble with the law.

Different states have different rules concerning criminal background checks. In certain states, a record older than 7 years may not show up while in others, records as old as 10 years won’t show up. Some companies are allowed to check records irrespective of the time lapsed for the felony.

In such cases, if your felony is as old as 35 years the company will still know about it. Most businesses that are open to hiring felons don’t have an issue with your past crime. What is important is to inform your employer about your past and be honest and upfront about it rather than trying to hide it.

Tips That Can Help Increase Your Chances Of Bagging A Job

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to walk out with an offer letter the very first time you get interviewed? This may seem like a dream come true but for most felons, it is far from reality. If you are worried that you will never manage to get a job then here are a few tips that could increase your chances of getting a job the next time you are interviewed.

1 Be Clear

Desperation often leads to applying for multiple opportunities that may or may not match your skill set and experience. Just because you are a felon doesn’t mean you should take up whatever comes your way. It is important to make a list of your skills and compare it with what is available in the market so you know where you are needed.

2 Research

Before going in for an interview it is important to learn as much as possible about the company. This gives you clear insight into the culture of the organization, the kind of questions they usually ask, and even the salary cap. Most interviewers also look for a proper conversation rather than a one-sided interview.

When you show employers you know about the organization, they are more likely to hire you.

3 Customize Your Resume

The next time you plan on going in for an interview don’t hand out an old resume you had printed in bulk. Every job is different so your resume should be drafted based on the job requirements. You should alter your responsibilities and skills based on what employers are looking for. A lot of people also believe that lengthy resumes work well and impress employers however that’s not true.

If your resume is too long, chances are the interviewer will get bored and put it down. Make sure your resume is just the right length and provides sufficient information without making it boring. These days various online websites and apps help you design and create your resume from scratch.

4 Create Your Brand

The one thing you should invest in is you. These days’ people tend to go online to find information about you. This is why you should create a strong LinkedIn profile and a social media presence. When employers check you online, there should be a strong profile with recommendations. This makes it easier for them to hire you.

5 Organize

Come up with a system that makes it easy to organize the interviews you plan on giving. It can be a simple excel sheet that keeps track of the jobs you applied for and the outcome. This can help you understand where you are going wrong and what you need to change.

6 Your Network

Sometimes the answer you are looking for is right in front of you. Glance through your mobile contacts and lookout for people who could help you with job opportunities. You could also post a small advertisement on LinkedIn or your Facebook profile informing people that you are in search of a job.

Individuals who know you are more likely to hire you even with a past felony. Take a chance and let people know you are available to work.

7 Don’t Limit Yourself

Ever since the internet came into the picture, people have become lazy. If you have just been sending out online applications and waiting to hear back then it’s time to get on your feet and give some face-to-face interviews. Organizations encourage candidates to walk in and be interviewed face-to-face. You should know that a face-to-face interview is better because you can convince your potential employer to hire you.

8 Set A Goal

When looking for a job, it is easy to get scared and feel frustrated when things don’t go your way. In such a situation, setting a goal can help you move on through difficult times and help motivate you.

9 Be Kind

Looking for a job is painful especially when you have a felony charge. Remind yourself that you are starting afresh. Even if it is something below your payday or a lower position than you anticipated, there is no reason to be disheartened. You can always work hard and get promoted as long as you are dedicated, honest, and hardworking.

Just because an organization is felon friendly doesn’t mean they will hire you. Every organization has certain rules and they will not only look at your skills but also the nature of your felony.

For example, banks will choose to stay away from felons that have a history of theft while driving companies will stay away from felons who have driving-related crimes including DUI. You should be ready to accept entry-level jobs with minimum wages. This is something that can help you restart your career and eventually grow as a person in your personal and professional life.

Finding a job as a felon may not be the easiest thing in the world however that doesn’t mean the opportunities are not there. All you need to do is find is the right path and take it one step at a time. Get in touch with organizations you want to work with and see if they are fine with hiring a felon.

When being interviewed, you should always be upfront and honest about everything. Sometimes, speaking about your deepest fear is the first step towards moving forward and never looking back.