Finding a job with a felony conviction can be somewhat of a difficult task. A criminal history can impede your ability to gain meaningful employment.
While there are a plethora of companies that frown upon hiring felons, there are a multitude of companies that have adapted an innovative employment strategy.
For example, there are tons of retailers, restaurants, and construction companies that hire felons. You can also consider applying to a trucking company that hire felons.
These felon-friendly companies assess applicants on a variety of factors with little to no regard for their criminal history.
Therefore, felons have an equal opportunity for gaining employment. If you are a felon on the job market, here are 15 companies that hire felons you may want to consider applying for.
While you may be wondering what companies hire felons, this guide will provide you with all the information that you need.
Walmart
As one of the top contending companies in the world, Walmart has maintained its successful position through a variety of innovative business techniques.
In addition to offering consumers a wide variety of low-priced products, Walmart has also implemented a similar form of innovation in their employment strategy.
If you have a felony on your background you may want to consider applying with the company.
Although a position is not guaranteed, your chances of gaining employment with the company are high.
Walmart offers a great work environment for individuals with felony convictions. The company treats all of their employees with the same regard.
Therefore, felons can work in any department and in managerial positions. As long as the position does not require access to firearms, felons can occupy them.
Furthermore, the company does not have a special program for felons, which tends to create an isolating experience.
Bottom Line: in addition to being a felon-friendly employer, Walmart has also expressed support to several initiatives; to include the Ban the Box list and the Fair Chance Business Pledge.
Through these programs, Walmart has expressed its support to remove barriers to employment for job applicants with criminal records.
If you’re among this pool of job seekers, you may want to consider applying to one of Walmart’s open positions.
Amazon
Another large company that has been offering applicants a fair chance for employment is Amazon.
Although the company may not be as supportive as Walmart, the company is known to hire felons on a case by case basis.
If you do have a criminal record, consider applying to one of Amazon’s many warehouse positions.
Although Amazon’s employment policy does not discriminate against individuals with felony convictions, they base their hiring decisions on several factors.
Bottom Line: applicants with felony convictions will be assessed on the type of conviction, the timeframe of the conviction, and your previous work experience.
If you’ve been charged with a violent, sex-related, theft, or drug crime, your chances of being hired may be smaller than if you committed other types of crimes.
On the other hand, if your most recent charge occurred over seven years ago, it may not be considered in the hiring decision.
The Military
Another great employer to consider is the United States Military. Similar to Amazon, the Military accepts individuals with felony charges on a case by case basis.
Therefore, while it may be possible for felons to gain employment within the Military, it can be a bit of an uphill battle.
As the five branches of the Military are looking for candidates with a sound moral character, a felony conviction is often considered a failure to meet this standard.
However, depending on what type of felony conviction you have, you may still be able to gain employment.
Bottom Line: in addition to reviewing the type of conviction you have received, the Military will also assess your current involvement with the criminal justice system.
Therefore, the Military will consider whether you are currently on probation or parole, or facing criminal proceedings.
The Military will also consider your age at the time that you committed the act and your moral history.
The term moral history refers to having a habit of criminal behavior. Furthermore, the Military will assess their own employment needs.
For example, in a time of war, more felons may be employed by the Military to accommodate personnel needs.
Together these factors influence whether you will be selected for the position.
Among the companies that hire felons is Facebook. If you are interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry, Facebook has a ton of positions for you.
Whether you are considering taking on a role in their administration, corporate, or IT department, there are tons of positions for you to choose from.
In addition to having a wide variety of positions, the company also offers a multitude of benefits and perks to its employees.
For example, Facebook has a reputable vibrant office environment and is known for catering to their employees.
Facebook employees are provided with reliable transportation to and from their offices. They also have access to on-site health centers and laundry facilities.
Bottom Line: frurthermore, the company has been very vocal about supporting the fair chance initiative. By signing the Fair Chance Business Pledge, Facebook has confirmed its role as an equal opportunity employer.
Although Facebook considers qualified applicants with criminal records, their application process is notoriously tricky.
Therefore, gaining employment with the company may not be a simple and easy process.
However, if you truly are interested in gaining employment with the company, you can rest assured your criminal history won’t be a hindrance.
The Salvation Army
Among the places that hire felons, is the Salvation Army. While the company has a great mission of providing support through performing social services across the country, the company is also very felon friendly.
It’s Christian faith-based programs assist individuals from all walks of life.
Although the company requires applicants to submit background checks, they use full discretion when making hiring decisions.
If you are a convicted felon you may want to consider applying to a position within the Salvation Army.
Bottom Line: in addition to the company being dedicated to supporting people through their hardships, the company is a fair chance employer.
Applicants with a criminal record can gain meaningful employment with the company, and can even excel to higher positions.
The ability to climb the corporate ladder at the company increases the attraction of their employment opportunities greatly.
American Express
American Express is a financial institution that prides itself on upholding a standard of inclusion.
While most companies avoid hiring felons for a variety of reasons, American Express has embraced the rejected subgroup. Their employment policy is known to be felon friendly.
If you have a criminal record and are interested in pursuing a banking or financial career, you may want to consider applying with American Express.
Bottom Line: the company is dedicated to serving the underserved. Although the company is felon friendly, every case is evaluated on an individual basis and employment is not guaranteed.
Therefore, applicants will be required to submit a background check, but the company has notated its openness to consider applicants with a criminal history.
Apple
As one of the most innovative companies of today, Apple is a great employer for felons to consider. The company is highly regarded for its diverse collection of thinkers and doers.
These individuals greatly contribute to the company’s ability to reinvent entire industries.
Bottom Line: the same passion for innovation that is invested in their products is also embedded in their policies. This includes a felon friendly hiring policy, which considers applicants on an individual basis.
Therefore, a felony conviction will not guarantee an individual is offered employment within the company.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in technology, Apple has a ton of positions for you and a pleasant work environment.
Your felony convictions may not impede your ability to gain employment with the company. A position within the company may be the perfect opportunity for you to make your mark in the industry,
Boeing
As the world’s largest aerospace company, Boeing is the ideal employer for individuals looking to make a contribution to the field of science and engineering.
Boeing is a lead manufacturer of commercial jetliners and defense, space and security systems.
The company is comprised of innovative thinkers and dreamers who continue to push the company to new heights.
While the company recognizes the value of a skillful team, they are also a second chance employer who seeks to give everyone an equal opportunity for employment.
Bottom Line: boeing has a variety of positions for applicants to fill. This includes job opportunities in manufacturing, engineering, IT, and cybersecurity.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in these fields, you may want to consider applying for a position with Boeing.
In addition to being an equal opportunity employer, the company also offers a wide variety of benefits; to include health and life insurance, retirement plans, and work-life programs.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, also known as BCBS, is a national federation of 36 independent, community based companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for millions of people across the United States.
If you are interested in a career in the healthcare industry, you may want to consider applying to Blue Cross Blue Shield.
For individuals with a criminal history, employment with the company is highly possible. Although each application is considered on an individual basis, the employer will consider a variety of factors while making a hiring decision.
Therefore, you can rest assured that if you are a qualified applicant, you won’t be thrown out for your notation of a criminal history.
In addition to being an equal opportunity employer, BCBSA also provides employees with a well-balanced work culture that emphasizes and caters to diversity.
Bottom Line: the inclusive workplace encourages employees to share their diverse perspectives. Therefore, the organization provides all employees with an equal opportunity to make an impact in the industry.
Furthermore, the company offers a great number of benefits to employees. If you are looking for meaningful employment, consider applying for a position with BCBSA.
Calvin Klein
Another felon friendly employer is Calvin Klein. As a global lifestyle brand, the company exemplifies bold and progressive ideals.
While the company is widely known for its striking designs and distinctive products, not many people are aware of how progressive the company truly is.
In addition to being a cultural catalyst, Calvin Klein also is supportive of the second chance initiative offered to felons across the country.
While some employers may toss out your application when you reveal your criminal status, Calvin Klein won’t.
The company has sought to make an all inclusive workplace by considering applicants with little to no regard for their criminal history.
Casio
Whether you have used one of their musical instruments, or one of their computer systems, you may be familiar with the wide variety of products that Casio manufactures.
Going beyond the consumer market, Casio has made great strides as an equal opportunity employer.
If you have a criminal record, you may still be able to find employment within the company. Whether you are interested in pursuing a career in technology or hospitality, there’s a position for everyone at the company.
Comcast
The Comcast Corporation is one of the leading global media and technology providers in the world. As a large corporation, the company understands the value of a large and diverse task force.
Furthermore, the company believes and emphasizes their role as an equal opportunity employer and has extended the olive branch to include individuals with criminal backgrounds.
Bottom Line: while each individual is considered on a case by case basis, the opportunity to gain employment with the company is somewhat high.
Furthermore, felons are allowed to progress within the company’s infrastructure. While some companies are restrictive on the type of roles felons can fill, Comcast has a more relaxed policy regarding employee advancement.
Dell
While most people may be familiar with Dell’s line of computer products, the company is a large IT servicer with a variety of products for consumers.
In addition to providing quality technological services, Dell is also a great employer for a wide variety of reasons.
In addition to offering employees a multitude of benefits, Dell is also an equal opportunity employer and has made it a mission to accommodate applicants with felony convictions.
Therefore, if you are looking for a position within the technology industry, consider applying to a position with Dell.
Dow Jones and Company
Operating out of New York, NY, Dow Jones and Company is a global provider of news and business information.
The company has made quite a name for itself, delivering content to consumers and organizations across the world through a variety of platforms and formats. For example, the company produces print content, digital content, and live events.
If you are felon seeking employment within the professional news industry, you may want to consider applying with Dow Jones and Company.
Although the company does not have any policies that cover an applicant’s criminal history, the company is known to be felon friendly.
Each applicant may be evaluated on a case by case basis, but the company strives to immerse diversity into its structure.
Therefore, an applicant with criminal history may fare well with the company.
Another large tech company that offers employment to individuals regardless of their criminal history is Google.
If you are seeking employment and are concerned with your criminal history interfering, consider applying to a position with Google.
As a leader of innovation, it comes to no surprise that the company is also implementing their innovative techniques in their hiring decisions.
