Smaller companies hire ex-offenders and felons

Q: I have been filling out application after application but no one is calling me. I know my felony is keeping for getting a job. What can I do? I really need a job.

A: I hear this frequently from ex-offenders and felons looking for jobs. Please don’t give up. You just have to change your strategy. If I am an employer, I probably want to hire someone without a record before I hire someone without one. Most applications ask about criminal convictions. If you are being honest, as I recommend, an employer may eliminate you from consideration.

An effective strategy for ex-offenders to find job openings is to apply to employers directly. Once you have a general idea of the type of work you would like to do, t he next step is to identify employers that could possibly use your services. Ex-offenders stand a better chance of being hired by small companies rather than larger ones. The owners or managers of smaller companies usually make the hiring decisions. Make a list of employers in your chosen field. Contact each one of them to see if there are positions available and how to apply. The telephone is the best method of contacting employers. You may even get job leads from people you know. Another advantage to applying to small companies is they are less likely to run background checks because they can be expensive.

If you can set up an interview, remember not to volunteer information. If you are not asked directly about criminal convictions don’t mention it. If you are asked, be prepared to answer this difficult question. You may have an answer similar to this:

I’m glad you asked because I want you to feel comfortable about hiring me. I’ve done some things that I’m not proud of. I had to learn the hard way that there are no shortcuts in life. If I’m going to be successful it’s going to take a lot of hard work. I started working on that when I was away. I have been working very hard to turn things around. I’m just looking for a chance.

I hope this helps.

Are you an ex-offender who has a question about finding a job with a criminal record? You could have your question answered right here. Email your question to: BelievePublications@comcast.net.