Jobs for Felons: How to find a Job – Every year, more than 600,000 people are released from the nation’s prisons. Without the hope of finding jobs, many of them will go back. Too many feel that they have no chance of being employed, and will return to the activities that originally landed them behind bars.
Finding a job with a criminal record is not a hopeless wish. With unemployment at the lowest in many years, the economic climate in this country favors more former felons getting jobs.
With unemployment rate at its lowest in ten years, employers are looking at qualified people with criminal records to fill open jobs. The opportunities are there for ex-offenders and felons who are prepared to take advantage of them.
Felons do get jobs and there are employers that will hire people with records. Developing a plan that will increase the chances of them getting hired, can make the difference between going back to prison and turning one’s life around.
Starting Your Job Search
If you have a criminal record, making a decent life may seem nearly impossible. Many employers automatically discount those with criminal records. Depending on your state and the type of conviction, public assistance and other government resources are unavailable. Without access to resources or gainful employment, many ex-offenders and felons return to the same things that got them into trouble in the first place.
Having one criminal conviction makes it hard enough to get a decent job, but having multiple convictions makes it next to impossible. Felons get hired all the time, so knowing exactly what to do will make a big difference between surviving on the outside or going back to prison.
Employment Expectations
So you need a job? Let me start off by telling you that you are wasting your time unless you totally commit to finding the job you want. As many ex-felons have told me “I want to stay out, but everywhere I go I get the same thing. Who is going to hire me? I have a criminal record.” Let’s face it. You do have a criminal record. That is not going to change. What must change is your attitude about your record. The truth is there are people in the world that will hold your record against you. That is a fact of life. That’s not fair. but you already know that life isn’t fair. There is a bright side. One of the growing untapped labor sources in the country are those who are classified as ex-offenders and felons. More and more employers are finding that hiring ex-offenders makes good economic sense. People that have been to prison, that are committed to overcoming the past, make excellent employees. Most are disciplined, hard working, and honest.
You have skills, and talents that would be valuable to the right employer. There are many employers looking for someone just like you. The challenge is finding the right employer. If you have skills and the right attitude, you will get a job!
Your success will depend totally on your personal attitude and the tried and true methods outlined here. This information comes from my own experiences as both a job seeker and an interviewer. I have successfully helped hundreds of people just like yourself not only obtain employment, but get jobs that they love going to everyday.
If I told you getting the job you want is going to be easy, I’d be lying. Your criminal record may put you at a disadvantage, but not one that cannot be overcome with hard work. It is going to take planning, preparation, dedication, commitment, and faith.
The key to staying free and enjoying an independent life is finding stable employment. Studies have shown that a former inmate with a full time job is less likely to go back to prison. There are other good reasons to get a job.
Greater sense of self–respect and self-esteem
Better role model for family
Greater control over one’s own destiny
Greater sense of security for self and family
Greater sense of accomplishment
How long will it take to find the job you want? Unfortunately I cannot predict when you will get hired. All I know is that this program has worked for countless people just like you. How well it will work for you will depend on your commitment, self-discipline, attitude, and desire. Your results will depend on you mapping out a complete plan of action. I can help you do that. What I cannot do however, is apply the time, preparation, perseverance and effort necessary to be successful. Only you can do that.
Bear in mind that you may not get the job you want right away. You may have to settle for a job that you may not want but the important thing is to get to work, earn some money and start to feel normal.
Now let’s get started.
Have Proper Identification
Under the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act, newly hired employees must present documentation that they are authorized to work in the United States. You will need three forms of identification to legally work in the United States.
Social Security Card
If do not have your Social Security card, you can get a duplicate car at your local Social Security office. Below is a link to the application for a replacement cards along with instructions.
Application for Social Security Card
Birth Certificate
To obtain a copy of your birth certificate, contact the office of vital statistics in the city where you were born.
Valid Driver’s License
To obtain a copy of your driver’s license, contact your local motor vehicle agency. It is listed in your local telephone directory. Some motor vehicle agencies may even offer “Identification Only” cards if you do not have a driver’s license.
Photo Identification
Many county agencies provide photo identification cards.
Green Card (if necessary)
To obtain copies of your alien registration card contact the office of Immigration and Naturalization. You can information about the process of renewing or replacing your green card here: Green Card Replacement Application Process
Know what is on your Record
How do I get a copy of my criminal record?
Individuals can obtain a copy of their national criminal history record from the FBI by submitting a request to the address below. In order to receive a copy of your FBI record for personal, employment, or international work requirements the FBI requires the following:
1) A signed written request with a brief explanation for the request and your complete return mailing address.
2) Each request must contain two completed applicant fingerprint cards with all of the applicant’s personal information (name, date of birth, place of birth, etc.) and a current set of 10 rolled fingerprints and eight flat finger impressions. Fingerprints and impressions must be taken by a local law enforcement agency.
3) An $18.00 fee in U.S. currency by certified check or money order payable to the United States
Treasury. This information is provided in compliance with the U.S. Freedom of Information Act.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Attn: FOI/PA Request
Record/Information Dissemination Section
170 Marcel Drive
Winchester, VA 22602-4843
For more information, you may contact the FBI at 304-625-3878
State criminal records may be obtained by contacting the State Police. Your parole or probation officer may be helpful in obtaining state and local records.
Get A Resume
A resume is a one page compilation of your skills, experience, education and training. Your resume will give employers useful information about you that could land you an interview. Every good job search starts with a good resume. If you don’t know much about writing a resume, find someone who does and get it done properly.
Get Good References
Most applications ask for personal or professional references. A reference is some who will say something positive about you as a person, or your work performance. Find upstanding members of your community or former colleagues and ask them if they would be a reference for you. If they agree, be sure you have their correct contact information.
You will need at least four outstanding references. Remember, references are so valuable, they should only be provided upon request.
Find Companies That Hire Felons
There are employers that hire felons. It is predicted that more employers willing to hire people with criminal records. As of April 2019, the United States unemployment rate was 3.6 percent. This very low employment rate has employers looking for alternate sources of labor. Roughly 73.5 million people in the United States have criminal records of some type. People with criminal records have been disregarded in the past when it comes to employment. Employers now consider them a new pool of potential employees. Many employers and governments are adopting the Ban-the-Box approach to the application process. Ban-the Box essentially removes the question about criminal records from applications. This doesn’t mean that employers do not care about criminal records, it means that they will be able to focus on the applicant’s qualifications before they inquire about criminal backgrounds.
You will find a huge list of companies that hire ex-offenders and felons: Companies that Hire Felons
Use Your Network to find Jobs
Most people get jobs through people they know. Who you know is often just as important as what you know. Finding open jobs from people you know is called networking and it is the single most powerful way that people get jobs. A great 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 going through piles of applications and resumes.
What is your network? Your network is simply all of the people you know. Ask them if they know of open jobs and who they should talk to in order to get an interview. You will be surprised about how well this works.
Classmates
Former co- workers
Former employers
Former teachers
Friends
Members of your worship group (especially ministers, imams, pastors, etc.)
Neighbors
Probation/parole officers
People with whom you do business (attorneys, barbers, healthcare workers)
Relatives
In each group, identify five people that you can contact. That is at least 50 people that you could potentially get a job lead from. Let each person know that you are job searching and that any information about open jobs would be helpful. Always have copies of your resume available for your contacts to give to other people.
One-stop Career Centers
In every state there is a network of state sponsored centers that provide a variety of free services that are available to the community that can help job seekers on their job searches. These centers are called One-stop Career Centers.
Some services available are:
Career Counselors who can provided one-on-one job search assistance and career planning
Help with resume writing, interviewing skills, etc.
Computers with internet access for job search use
Thousands of local job listings
Phones, printers, phones, and copiers for job search use
You can find the nearest location of the One Stop Career Center in your local phone book or on the web at: www.servicelocator.org
Job Fairs
Job fairs are usually a gathering of many employers at a centralized location. Employers use job fairs to quickly fill open level positions. They are a good way to meet, pre-screen, and interview eligible applicants. Usually, job fairs are highly publicized with the roster of participating companies advertised. Because they are publicized so well, they attract a large number of job seekers. Being prepared is the best way to be successful at a job fair. Here are some tips to give you an edge at the next job fair you attend.
- Be professional at all times. You never know who is watching.
- To save time, have a list of employers you are most interested in. You can get a list of participating employers from the job fair advertisement. Select the companies you are interested in and get some basic information on them.
- Approach job fairs like interviews (see the section on interviewing.) Dress appropriately. Have your resume ready
- Speak to as many employers as possible to practice your interview skills.
- You may have to wait in line to speak with an employer. Pay close attention to the person ahead of you as he is being interviewed. Listen to the questions being asked.
- Always ask for a business card so you can follow up later.
Dress like a professional
Whenever you meet anyone related to your job search, you should look like a professional. You will get only one chance to make a first impression. You would want make an impression that you are serious about getting a job. You will be judged by the way you look. Meeting someone for the first time, you should look as professional as possible. A neatly pressed dark suit, a light colored shirt, a tie and shined shoes would give you a professional look. You may not have a suit, but a light colored shirt, dark slacks, a coordinated tie and shoes would work for you. You may not own professional clothes, but you should do your best to get them. You should look like someone who is serious about getting hired.
Always be Honest
Whether speaking face to face or on applications, ex-offenders and felons are encouraged to be totally honest when asked about their backgrounds. Some feel that being honest about having a criminal record, they won’t have a chance at getting hired. The truth is, that in this age of computers, finding the facts about one’s criminal history is fairly easy. Honesty is always the best policy. If asked about anything on your record, briefly talk about it and what you have done to put it behind you.
Practice Interviewing
Your success on your interview will depend on how well you prepare. Prepare well and you will be successful. Prepare poorly and your interviews will have poor results. Successful interviewing will depend on how well you use both verbal and body language.
You will find that the more you practice, the better you get. Practice your posture and body language. Practice answering questions until they sound natural and convincing. Do not try to memorize your answers. Use your own words. Be prepared to answer difficult questions like the ones below:
Tell me about yourself…
What are your greatest strengths?
What is your greatest weakness?
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I see you have been to prison. Tell me about that.
Why should I hire you?
Get a friend or family member to help you by pretending to be the interviewer. Set up practice interviews that will allow you to rehearse your body language and answers to tough questions. Go through an entire interview from first meeting, to answering and asking questions to closing the interview. If possible, video record your practice interviews so you can judge your responses to questions and your use of grammar and diction. Take turns being the interviewer so you can see the process from the interviewer’s point of view. Practice until you feel comfortable and confident. Remember, the more you practice, the better you will get.
Government Help for Felons Looking for Jobs
Federal Bonding Program
Many employers are hesitant to hire felons because they fear they may be the victim of theft. There are jobs that require that employees be bonded, but many bonding companies will not issue bonds to those with criminal records. What is a bond? A bond is an insurance policy that insures employers from theft, fraud and other losses by dishonest employees.
The federal government will issue a bond to any felon who has a promise of employment. The bond is issued free of charge and can be issued the same day. It could be a big selling point on in interview to say “I can Be Bonded.” To find out more about the Federal Bonding Program here: Federal Bonding Program
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain segments of the population who have regularly faced barriers to employment. One of these segments is felons who are within one year period after completing his/her sentence.
The credit is typically equal to either 25 or 40 percent of an employee’s first-year salary. The exact figure depends upon the number of hours worked in a given period. You can learn more about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit here: Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Pre-employment Drug Testing
There are employers who use drug testing as part of the pre-employment hiring process. Being offered employment may depend on the applicant’s ability to pass a drug test. Typically, employers tests for the five most common illegal drugs:
- marijuana
- cocaine
- phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust)
- methamphetamines
- opiates
Blood Testing
Mouth Swab Test
Urine Test
Hair Test
The most common type of drug test is the urine test. Urine analysis is much cheaper than other tests and tends to have a longer detection time than the other tests.
Drug Testing Cut-off Levels and Detection Times
