Making the adjustment from being in prison to living on the outside as a convicted felon can be very challenging. Many felons have a hard time finding housing and employers that are willing to provide jobs for felons. Our organization, Help For Felons specializes in providing information about felon friendly jobs and much more.
List of Jobs for Felons & Companies that Hire Felons
We will not sugar coat anything here, we simply tell you the truth and give you the knowledge and tools to find a job. It is hard to find jobs for felons but not impossible. We know of many success stories and it all comes down to having a cool head and a good attitude!
Many of you are probably wondering where does a felon get a job? We are happy to tell you that there are some companies out there that do hire felons, it’s just a matter of finding out which companies will hire you and applying to as many as possible.
Online Jobs For Felons – Work from home
- These are all legitimate, good paying and reputable companies
- None of these jobs require a background check of any kind
- Easy to apply, start quickly or the same day
- A wide variety of jobs for felons, suited for different skill sets
- Save money on gas, food and other expenses
Temp Agencies – Which ones hire felons
- A wide variety of employers gives a greater chance of getting a job as a felon
- Temp agencies are always in need of workers
- Quickly search multiple jobs
- Temp jobs can become permanent
Becoming A Truck Driver With A Felony
- List of trucking companies that hire felons
- Getting a CDL with a felony
- A step by step guide on becoming a trucker
- Trucking schools that accept felons
Start Your Own Business – Self employment
- Are you willing to work harder than everyone else to get a larger reward
- Low cost start ups that anyone can do with enough planning
- Have unlimited earning potential
- Be your own boss and let go of your past
- Have something you can believe in
Quick Ways To Get Cash
- Easy to get day jobs for felons
- Where to sell stuff for cash
- Unique ways to find money
- Borrow money
- Fast emergency cash ideas
Career Paths – Felon friendly Industries
- Which fields are easier to find jobs in
- What pays the best
- Career Ideas
- Who has jobs for felons
Does that company hire felons?
We have number of helpful blog articles titled “Does (fill in the blank company) Hire felons“. These articles are about the large employers and their hiring policies concerning felons in the United States. We also cover there exact policies regarding hiring felons and the best way to apply to them. This is an ongoing project and we will be adding new companies daily to weekly so please bookmark us and check back soon!
Post Office – Home Depot – Costco – Starbucks – Lowe’s – McDonald’s – Walmart – AT&T – UPS – Walgreens – Kroger – Amazon – AutoZone – Best Buy – IHOP – Applebee’s
Search jobs for felons
Search each state for jobs that hire felons. We are still working on this page so check back soon to see if your state has been added yet!
Tips and Information about Finding Jobs For Felons
There is a list of companies that have jobs for felons at the bottom of the page, you will see it on most felon job related sites or pages online. The truth is that it is HIGHLY OUTDATED at best. We are not even unsure as to if the companies on it will actually still hire a felon. Our advice is to read the below article as it is chalked full of helpful tips, companies and jobs for felons. There is no magic list or bullet out there, it all comes down to knowledge and attitude!
Not all company locations are the same!
It is very important to keep in mind that specific company locations may hire felons or even a parolee while another may not. Let’s use Mcdonald’s as an example; Mcdonald’s has many stores all over the United States but each store is individually owned and operated (for the most part), policies regarding hiring felons can vary greatly from location to location, even within the same city or town. We have found that there is very little rhyme or reason behind this except that each location has different managers and owners with different personalities, policies and views.
Because of the varying policies regarding the hiring of convicted felons many rumors start as to who will and who will not hire someone with a criminal background or felony conviction. It is very important to fill out every application you possibly can at every location. It is also important to note that there is a lot of misinformation on the internet dealing with jobs for felons and related subjects. If it sounds too good to be true then it is! Our organization Help For Felons strives to supply real up to date information for felons and their families.
Where to look for a job that will hire a felon?
Most very large corporations have blanket policies and are filled with cookie cutter managers that will not hire felons. These are the last places that I would look for a job as a felon. There is so much red tape and policies to get through. Think outside the box for a little bit rather than like everyone else. This article on How to Find a Job as a Felon may be helpful in addition to the below article although it is a little thin (working on that).
Small Locally owned businesses
There are many advantages of applying at small businesses as a felon.
- You can walk in the door and talk to the owner. No human recourses department to deal with or cookie cutter store managers. At the least you will get a chance to explain yourself and what happened in your past. Bring a resume with you and understand that the interview already started when you walked through the door.
- You may be able to work out a deal working for cash or just part time to see how you work out. This may not be ideal but it is a start to allow you to build a trusting relationship with the owner. Getting your foot in the door should be your main goal.
- Even if the owner can not give you a job be very polite and give him a resume anyway if he will take it. Remember that small local business owners are a tight group and they all know each other so ask if they know of anyone that could be hiring.
- Local restaurants can be really easy to get into. Not pizza hut but independent free standing restaurants often times have jobs for felons..
Start by looking on Craigslist under gigs and jobs. Many small business use craigslist to advertise because it is either super cheap for them or free. After you have applied to every job possible on Craigslist then it is time to hit the streets with resumes in hand. Walk in and ask if the owner is available, tell them that you’re curious as to whether they are hiring or not. Remember to check craigslist daily for new job and gig postings!
Temp agencies
Temp agencies have a very wide variety of jobs for felons and positions available from random employers, some big corporations and some small businesses. It may be worth your time to walk in and talk to them since you never know what they have. We have an article about temp agencies that may be very helpful to you if you are interested.
Make your own job? Yes it is possible!
We are talking about self employment here. While this may sound crazy it has worked well for a number of of our readers. Read the book Guerilla Marketing
- Landscaping – Cutting grass can be a profitable but you can not be afraid of hard work and long hours. The start up costs are nearly nothing in comparison to most businesses. A push lawnmower, gas and a string trimmer is about all you need. Have some flyers printed up and work super cheap until you have a client list!
- Cleaning – Same concept as above. Print up some flyers, use facebook, craigslist and other free advertising methods. Low start up costs and anyone can do it if you know how to clean well. Remember to go above and beyond what is expected of you!
- Work Online – Yes there are real work online jobs, I have done them in the past I promise you. Check out Upwork and become a freelancer. These are sites with all types of work from writing articles, IT work and creative projects. There are many people that make a good living off of these sites and it is NOT A SCAM!!!
Large Companies
I know I said that your chances are slim or at least harder for a big company hiring you as a felon.
Make your job finding a job
Life may be hard at the moment but it is very important to be motivated and stay positive when seeking out a felon friendly employer. Have purpose in your life and make finding a job your job until you find one. Put in at least 8 hours a day into finding a job, working on job related skills, contacting places that may hire felons or learning a new skill. Never let your past bring you down, be happy that you are free and make use of all your abilities and skills.
It may be helpful to stay on a regular schedule because it gives you a sense of purpose and dignity. Wake up early in the morning and go to sleep at a decent hour, this will help you stay focused on finding a job and will prepare your body and mind for a regular work schedule when you do get hired.
Felon Friendly Careers
Some careers paths have more felon friendly jobs and positions than others. Some small to mid-sized general construction companies will be willing to give you a chance. Roofing companies are another good option when seeking employment and they always seem to short people since the work is so hard. Construction also allows you to earn money while you learn a particular trade or skill. Mastering a trade allows you to market yourself easily and will allow you to earn more money in the future. You could even become self employed!
Many felons also find opportunity in manufacturing and warehousing. Order selectors, forklift drivers, packers and loaders are good positions to apply for when trying to get your foot in the door and often pay better than most low skill jobs for felons. This article about Career Paths For Felons may have some helpful information for you if you are interested in further reading.
Your chances of getting a job as a felon
Your chances of getting a job as a felon are really good if you put the effort into finding one. On the other side of the coin is if you do not put the effort in then nothing is going to happen for you. You may very well be hired after only putting in 10 application or it may take 200. The important thing is to keep trying every single day.
We had one individual tell us that he submitted nearly 100 applications to a variety of companies and never heard back from anyone. Then out of the blue he got a call, was interviewed and started the next week.
Each person will have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to finding a job. Many factors come into play such as:
- Length of time since conviction
- Type of conviction
- Experience
- Age
- The Amount of available work in your area
- Skills
- Previous experience
- Attitude
Your link work from home jobs for felons does not actually go to a job bord or search for jobs
Can you send me the link please i need that.
I earned my one felony conviction on March 1st, 2009, that being the charge of simple possession of a controlled substance. I haven’t so much as had a jay-walking ticket in the 7+ years since. I’ve been in the glazing trade since I was a teenager because my family owned and operated a glass shop, starting in 1957. But, when the economy tanked, we had to close the doors in early 2010. Although I have a suspended CA drivers license )I have an expired Alaska DL as I lived there from 2002 to late 2004 though) I have over 20yrs experience working with my hands, clean and sober for over 7 years, but I’m still struggling to find work. Everywhere wants you to apply online, and my record doesn’t look good on a comp screen.
I live in Alabama and have 1 Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance charge and 1 Attempt to Distribute a Controlled Substance charge. These both happened at the time I was my Mothers acting caregiver while she was dealing with Terminal Cancer. Not only did I use some of her Medicines to ease my own pain, I also gave some of it to an Ex-Girlfriend that ended up turning me in for doing so. With all of that being said, I have went through treatment and have been clean and sober for over 5 years. Now that I am trying to come back out intop society and help my family by contributing to paying the bills and trying to be a good father to my children, I am running into every kind of roadblock possible as far as getting a job. I have applied for low level Fast food jobs up to cooking in restaurants like Cracker Barrell and Golden Corral. I thought these places might give me a chance, seeing as I didn’t get any jail time and completed my probation without even a slap on the wrist for doing anything wrong. I have lived a clean and sober life since my Mothers death and just want a chance to be a good parent to my daughter now. Does anyone have any advice for me?
it’s a technical thing.. it depends on the outcome of your charges… most companies are afraid to hire people who have a ‘conviction’ (that is a ‘guilty or adjudication not withheld’ charge/ within 10 or 7 years) and may not hire people who have a ‘withhold of adjudication, no contest or not guilty’ charge depending on the job you’re applying for. The type of charge might or not be an issue and it seems that lately employers do not care if the charge is a misdemeanor or a felony, they are pretty much treated the same way especially if you are found guilty of a misdemeanor. The way the court system categorizes crimes and determines guilt is ambiguously imperfect and the court system will charge people for just about anything without being entirely fair.
Have you tried IHOP?
My son had dated a girl that represented herself as and adult and in fact she was only 16 or 17. He was convicted as a sex offender and had served his time and now he can’t find a job or a home. I am an elderly mother who can’t help him very much. This is a one time offense and it ruined him for the rest of his life. No one will hire him or even rent a place out to him once they find out that he’s a sex offender. He has a lot of management experiences. As I write this, tears flowing out for I feel very bad for him. He think he will end right back in prison if he can’t find a job or a place to stay. He has no vehicle either and no money except what I can afford to give him which not much. He just had knee surgery and that is not helping matter either. Need help.
Been looking for around a year. I not only have two class 6 undesignated felonies but am also limited to locations reachable by bus. I have had zero luck, can’t even get an interview. Those places may hire people with records but you’ll still be placed at the bottom of the barrel. If two peole apply for a position, both equally qualified and one has a record who gets picked? The one with no record.
This is very true.
They key is to network and get in the door first. Always be honest and disclose your history. Spin your story, i would work on volunteering, a college degree, etc…put in that blood sweat and tears. You will have to prove you are the best candidate and how much you improved. It is hard but can be accomplished.
Fleeing and Eluding 3rd degree Felony. I have been turned away at some places but other places I’ve been hired. I now have a good career working in Finance for a Fortune 500 company. I worked as an intern an then hired in full time. It has been 6 years overall and my felony was 9 years ago. It can be done through hard work.