There’s a growing number of felons in recent years following the financial recession. The bad economic condition at the national level reduces the number of jobs available in the United States. What’s more, many employers check the history of their prospective employees. The number is astonishing, about nine in 10 employers will check the criminal records of the prospective employee. Therefore, it’s becoming increasingly hard to find second-chance jobs for felons in the United States.
It is often that some employers put the convicted felony checkbox in the application form, which often causes the felons to get an early cut. Fortunately, some states and cities have agreed on a law that requires employers to postpone the background check until the later stages of the hiring process. This significantly increases the chance of a felon getting hired, because now they have an opportunity to show their worth during an interview. Even with those laws, the fact remains that many employers prefer non-felon, preventing these people from becoming active and productive members of society.
What Kind of Second Chance Jobs for Felons should I Look for?
That said, it is not the time to be pessimistic. There are still many reasonable employers that are willing to hire a felon.
Many of ex-felons are thinking to get a minimum wage job such as waiter, truck driver etc. Their logic is that the job is not that hard, and they are just trying to make a living. However, this is actually a misconception. There are some exceptions, but in general, employers avoid hiring a felon for a job that provides a service and has a direct contact with the customer.
With that logic in mind, this means that you should be searching for a job that’s not related directly to the customer, and most of the time they are higher paying jobs with the average hourly salary of $10 to $30. Many factories accept ex-felons because they are getting a tax break from that.
Having a higher degree can be a great help. It really increases your chance of landing a job because it means that are skilled. Therefore, it is recommended to go to college if you can. We’ve seen many ex-felons getting jobs after they attend engineering class in college. If you can’t afford higher education, getting training or courses can also increase your value. For example, getting yourself CDL training will increase your chance of getting a job as a truck driver. These training or courses are typically more affordable than going to college. Some even offer a sliding-scale payment.
Aside from official jobs, there are other opportunities available that might hire felons. Small business jobs might be able to provide you with the second chance job you need. For example, you can try applying for lawn care, landscaping, plumbing, tiling, painting, welding, or other home improvement jobs.
Last but not least, it might be a good idea to create a job instead of searching for it. If you have a skill such as cooking, why not start your own small restaurant? Or perhaps you can make your own home improvement company, right? Just start small, you’ll get there eventually. Online sources can provide you with information on the companies that accept felons or accept ex-felons in their apprentice program. We’ve provided some references below for you to use.
Last but not least, the most important part of searching for a job is your attitude. Be positive and be patient, continue to improve yourself and you will eventually get a job you always wanted. We sincerely hope that this post helps you get that second chance jobs for felons.
References:
- What is the CTA Second Chance Program?
- Image: pbs.org
