Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone deserves a chance to improve. Getting a job is a great way to start a second chance and make your life what you want it to be. Regardless of any past record, starting to job search can be hard, but it’s ultimately a rewarding experience.
While it’s well-known that most companies don’t like to hire felons, more and more employers are dropping that requirement and are being open-minded. It’s possible to find a job and start your life, no matter what happened in your past.
This guide is a great starting point for your job search, so keep reading if you’re in the market for a new job.
If you’re looking for work as a felon, a good place to start is with entry-level jobs. These can give you the opportunity to get your foot in the door at a company, then gain skills and training that can help you rise through the ranks.
These aren’t the only jobs out there for felons, but they’re commonly-held jobs that are popular with people who have a criminal record:
Average Annual Salary: $86,000
Tired of running into roadblocks because of your record? Passionate about a product or service? You can work for yourself and build your dream company as an entrepreneur.
You’ll need to do a lot of preparation and research on your own before you launch a company, but it will be rewarding to see your efforts come to fruition with your very own business.
Skills needed:
Business management
Communication
Active listening
Critical thinking
Analytical thinking
Problem solving skills
Find Entrepreneur jobs near me
Construstion worker
Average Annual Salary: $23,000
Construction is a great field to get involved with for anyone who wants an active job where you can use your hands. There’s plenty of opportunities across the country for construction workers, and you’ll get to work on some pretty cool projects.
Once you have a good understanding of how construction works and companies function, you can pick a skill or a few to specialize in.
Skills needed:
Physical strength and stamina
Great hand-eye coordination
A good memory
Building and engineering knowledge
willingness to learn
Find Construction worker jobs near me
Welder
Average Annual Salary: $38,000
Learning a trade skill like welding is a good way to jump into an industry. You can start off as a generalist and eventually specialize in a particular skill or type of welding that you’re interested in.
Skills needed:
Attention to detail
Steady hands
Good hand-eye coordination
physical strength and stamina
Great communication skills
Find Welder jobs near me
Truck Driver
Average Annual Salary: $59,000
Driving a truck is a good option for anyone, including people who are still on parole. If you’re on probation or parole, there are opportunities for short-haul driving that allows you to stay within your state. Otherwise, you get to drive across the country and see new places.
If you like driving, want to see more of the country, or just like spending time on your own, trucking can be a great career.
Skills needed:
Excellent Communication
The ability to navigate
Proper driving skills
Organization skills
Basic mechanical knowledge
Patience
Find Truck Driver jobs near me
Locksmith
Average Annual Salary: $43,000
People lock themselves out of their cars and their houses all of the time, so there’s always a need for a locksmith. You can earn a vocational certificate in the field and work for yourself or find a job at a locksmith, alarm company, or other places.
Just be wary before choosing this career since sometimes it’s impossible to become a locksmith depending on your criminal charge.
Skills needed:
Patience
Problem solving skills
Critical thinking
Flexibility
The ability to think on your feet
Find Locksmith jobs near me
HVAC Technician
Average Annual Salary: $49,000
Almost every building has an HVAC system, so many people need help maintaining and fixing them. You’ll have lots of work opportunities; you just need to learn the trade and sharpen your skills.
If you want to join the industry, you can either enroll in a trade school or find a company that will train you on the job.
Skills needed:
Problem solving skills
Communication
Time management
Physical strength and stamina
Customer service
Critical thinking
Find HVAC Technician jobs near me
Food service worker
Average Annual Salary: $26,000
Another popular industry with convicted felons is the restaurant business. There are lots of opportunities, from the back of house cooks to the front of house bartenders. No matter what your skillset or interests are, there’s a job that can fit you in the industry.
You can think outside of the box here and apply to companies that host banquets and events (like a hotel) or go the usual route of looking for restaurants that are hiring. Many restaurants, including national chains, have lenient hiring policies, so you have a pretty good chance of landing a job in the industry if you have an impressive application.
There are also many opportunities to grow and get promoted, which is good to keep in mind.
Skills needed:
Customer service skills
Time management
A good memory
Organization skills
Communication
Attention to detail
Find Food service worker jobs near me
Electrician
Average Annual Salary: $53,000
Electricians are in huge demand, so if you go into the business, you’ll have lots of potential for employment. Many companies will teach you the skills you need and train you to be a good electrician, so there isn’t much you need to do besides apply and land the job.
Skills needed:
Communication
Problem solving skills
Standard technical electrician skills
The ability to work with a team
Physical strength and stamina
Basic math skills
Find Electrician jobs near me
Freelancer
Average Annual Salary: $42,000
Many people work from home as freelancers these days, and if you have an area you’re particularly good at (like design, writing, or customer service), you can work for yourself and sell your services.
If you’re just starting, freelance customer service, telemarketer, or sales associate jobs are a great way for you to get your feet wet and figure out what you like best.
Consider whether you have some skills, or you’re passionate about fields like coding, website design, marketing, writing, consulting, and project management. If you are, you can pitch your services to clients and begin to build your portfolio.
Skills needed:
Communication
Marketing
Negotiation
Creativity
Writing and research
Find Freelancer jobs near me
Mechanic
Average Annual Salary: $45,000
Do you love cars? Are you good at fixing things? Mechanics can make a lot of money and help people out with their useful knowledge.
Consider looking for a mechanic job that comes with training on the job, or head to a trade school to become a competitive applicant at an auto repair shop.
Skills needed:
Problem solving
Communication
Attention to detail
Time management
Physical strength and stamina
Find Mechanic jobs near me
Counselor
Average Annual Salary: $42,000
Sometimes people who have gone through the criminal system are best equipped to help others navigate it too. If you want to use your experience to help improve others’ lives, think about going into counseling.
It might take awhile for you to get the education, experience, and certifications or licenses required to become a counselor, but it’s an extremely rewarding field.
Skills needed:
Communication skills
Active listening
Patience
Confidence
Find Counselor jobs near me
Sales representative
Average Annual Salary: $56,000
Do you have good people skills? Are you a convincing speaker? You should try your hand at sales and find an entry-level sales job.
You can work for all kinds of companies and sell all kinds of products, plus you get to travel around and meet new people. It’s a great job with lots of potential to get promoted, no matter what your interests and skills are.
Skills needed:
Customer service skills
Communication
Active listening
Storytelling
Time management
Find Sales representative jobs near me
Carpenter
Average Annual Salary: $40,000
Carpenters have a wide range of specializations available to them, so take a look at what carpenter jobs you could do and decide if the area is right for you.
Some states require carpenters to have licenses, and some companies want you to have training from a trade school, so do some research on carpenters hiring in your area so you can make sure you have the right qualifications before applying.
Skills needed:
Math skills
Physical strength and stamina
Attention to detail
Problem solving
Communication
Find Carpenter jobs near me
Temporary work
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Temporary jobs are a great way for anyone to get professional experience in a wide range of roles and industries.
Consider working with a staffing agency or a temporary agency to find some temporary work and build up your resume as you figure out your career path.
Skills needed:
Flexibility
Good social skills
Communication
If you’re looking for work but unsure what role you want, you should take a look at these companies. They hire felons, and you might find a role that’s interesting to you by looking at their website.
These are by no means the only companies that hire felons and have lenient hiring policies. Still, these are some large national corporations that have locations across the US and have many jobs available.
It’s always a good idea to check in on local businesses run by families to see if they welcome felons.
