For a friend: inspiration for getting a job with a felony in the tech industry
(or possibly any industry.)
I don’t have a felony. I’ve never been to jail, but my family has been in and out of prison my entire life. I can’t say I know what they have went through but I can say that I saw what they went through my entire life — how each of them ended up incarcerated again more times than I count because of how difficult the world made it to re-enter each time they left; how one of them spent the majority of their life homeless no matter how many times we tried to step in and help. Prison, it was like a safety net for them.
I spent more of my life traveling to see them in the visiting room rather than at our dinner table during the holidays.
It’s heart-breaking. My two uncles (rest in peace) were brilliant, talented, and intelligent.
(🗣️ EDIT: The new Medium “Listen” feature is wonderful. This post is incredibly long, if you want to listen to it in the background or just for a more seamless experience, I highly recommend using the “Listen” feature at the top of this article. It is the least “AI sounding” listening feature I have ever heard, very human. Pro tip: Laura is my favorite. 😉)
I recently graduated from The Bloom Institute of Technology (that’s another story) with a focus of “Full-stack Web Development” but have since switched gears to UI/UX. Regardless, I have a lot of friends that I made throughout this program currently searching for entry-level jobs. I know how hard it is without a criminal background haunting you. I know the despair of rejection, and that’s aside from the crippling feeling of experiencing “pre-rejection” internally without a chance to reveal who you are as a person beyond your record.
I’m pretty passionate about discrimination because, duh (?), shouldn’t everyone be (whether that be in regards to race, gender identity, sexuality, or religion, + a myriad of other issues ) — but especially because of my upbringing in rural America as a queer, woman of color. It’s remarkable to me how often we as people treat each other as less than human and I will always advocate for change.
I made a lot of close friends in this program, one of them dearest to my heart who will obviously remain unnamed. I have watched their struggle since graduating. They are one of the most talented, passionate developers that I have come to know. If it weren’t for them, I absolutely would not have made it this far and it pains my heart to see his discouragement. I know how difficult it is to get your foot in the door. I know how saturated the market is right now and that’s with this barrier aside.
However, I do truly believe that anything a human being puts their mind to (for the most part) is ultimately possible. Everything is a learned skill. Rejection and interviews are just a matter of gaining XP points for the game that is life. (Cliche, I know.)
With programs like, Ban the Box I feel like we are moving forward.
“As of October 2021, 36 states and more than 150 cities and counties have “Ban the Box” laws so a job applicant’s qualifications may be viewed without the stigma of a criminal record, according to the National Employment Law Project.” -nelp
“In 2014, research on the effect of Hawaii’s ban the box law showed that, “by mollifying the social stigma attached to a criminal record during the hiring process, Hawaii’s ‘ban the box’ law proved to be extremely successful in attenuating repeat felony offending.” — ncls
Back to my friend — they motivate me every single day and are constantly uplifting me to never give up. I decided to try and return the favor by composing a Google Doc list of inspiration/resources for them throughout this process. Upon completing it, I realized how many others might be in a similar situation. I know that the tech industry is becoming increasingly more accesible with the rising slew of bootcamps and education versus other expensive traditional education.
So, without further ado, I couldn’t help but to compile a list of quotes from people in similar situations who have made it out successfully, general advice, and a list of job boards specifically hiring ex-convicts. Some information may conflict itself but I’ve gathered a broad range of personal statements for full transparency. (I love making lists.)
I hope this helps someone. Let me know if it does further down the road.
*** Also, I’d appreciate no negative sentiment regarding this article or discourse in the form of negative opinion regarding this topic. This is a positive space. ***
However, if you have any information/resources to add, I’d love to hear it!
One of my favorite quotes from the following is,
“You have paid your debt to society, you should not continue to be punished in perpetuity.”
This is long. If you find it useful, maybe you can bookmark it to return to at a later date. Read a little bit for inspiration as you find the time. Share it if you know someone that it could possibly help. I tried to organize it an intuitive fashion, my apologies if I missed the mark!
EDIT: I’m going to provide a brief summary because man, this is long.
Startups are more likely to hire felons. There are also tech giants that hire felons. Ban the Box and the Fair Chance Business Pledge are making jobs a lot more accessible. Be transparent about your history before the final interview. Bookmark the listed job boards to use a resource (but don’t give up on other job listings.) These all include companies that are specifically vetted to hire ex cons. The personal accounts here carry an overwhelming summary of: It is possible. Yes, it might take work (but so does anything worth achieving) — but it’s achievable. Many people put their history right in their resume. Yes, for real! Work on side projects. Show your talent. Commit to open source projects. Find references for a resume. Avoid government jobs and jobs with security clearances. Start a blog. Be the person to tell your own story. Freelance. Build your portfolio by volunteering for organizations.
Sorry, Medium doesn’t have a text character limit. 😆
Alright, now for the real stuff!
Job Boards (specifically catered to those with a record)
I recommend searching for the exact field that you are interested in such as “development” in the Search Bar.
☑️ Jail to Jobs: (https://www.jailtojob.com/companies-hire-felons.html)
“ Never disqualify yourself from a job. Looking for jobs is hard enough without filling out application after application for jobs that you worry you may have little chance of getting, so knowing where to look can relieve some of that stress. If you are looking for felon friendly jobs, search for them here. After that, sign up to get job alerts relevant to your skills and experience sent directly to your email. There are high paying jobs for felons.”
“It also leaves you feeling ostracized. It is hard to put the blame on companies that turn down former offenders. Some have had bad experiences with felons, while others are just wary of negative outcomes. However, if you’re a felon or you have a loved one who is, you don’t have to despair. Today, many companies are more than willing to open their doors to former offenders. These companies have hiring policies that don’t discriminate against candidates that have felony records. They are big-name corporations and small businesses that function in different industries, so you have a wide selection. This is the #1 resource on the internet for convicted felons to get the second chance they deserve. The difference between our website and our competitors is that the accuracy of our list of companies that hire ex-felons is EXTREMELY important to us. Aside from utilizing internet research, we’re the only website that has our own felon-friendly job board where employers can post jobs for felons directly. This approach has allowed us to compile a current list of companies that hire those with a criminal background and it continues to expand every single day. You will find jobs for felons, a link to our comprehensive list of companies that hire felons, the best industries for felons to seek work in, and much more.”
☑️ Felony Record Hub: (https://www.felonyrecordhub.com/jobs-for-felons/)
This site has a lot more than just jobs catered to engineers/developers. Including resources on housing, programs, legal help, and specific companies that hire those with a record, etc.
It’s been featured on Business Insider, The Guardian, and Fortune.
☑️ Relaunch Pad: (https://therelaunchpad.com/jobs)
“Relaunch Pad is on a mission to help justice-involved individuals lead successful lives after their release from incarceration. Leveraging the internet and a nationwide network of similarly motivated organizations, they strive to provide helpful resources that increase the quality of life, decrease stress, and open pathways to more opportunities for personal growth.
Their team has years of experience leading job readiness and reentry programs inside of prisons and is very passionate about helping people with criminal records find success as they reintegrate into the community. Dozens of former offenders have found their home at Relaunch Pad in various positions, sharing their expertise through articles, guides and other content. “— relaunchpad
This website has been featured on Wired, Business Insider, Forbes, Legal Zoom, and Chicago Insider.”
☑️ 700 Million Jobs (https://www.70millionjobs.com/search)
“About two months before I was released from prison, I began panicking. I was returning to the outside with nothing: no money, no home, no job. Nothing. What was I going to do? Before spending 2 years in prison I was a partner at the infamous Wolf of Wall Street firm, Stratton Oakmont. Then I started my own firm, which got very big and made me very rich. But a lot of what I was doing was crooked. I knew what I was doing was wrong, but I was greedy. Going through the process of paying fines, reimbursing investors and paying lawyers wiped me out. I was actually relieved when I went to prison. At least I didn’t have to worry about bill collectors harassing me or buying food. I knew it would be tough when I got out of prison, but I had no idea it would be that tough. Friends deserted me. Business associates wanted nothing to do with me. Thank God my family stuck with me, or else I would have had nothing. I realized that if the process of reentering society was hard for me, it had to be hard for a lot of my brothers and sisters who also did time. And that was when I came up with the idea for 70 Million Jobs. My team and I want to help YOU land a job. My personal goal is to find jobs for one million people. We talk to large, national employers every day who are ready and willing to give people a second chance. And we want YOU to get a job with one of those companies.” — 700millionjobs
This website has been featured on Fortune, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Quartz, and Axios.
❗️Companies that hire felonies
I recommend scrolling all the way to the bottom of the 3rd site and finding the exhaustive list of vetted companies. (Honestly, this goes for any of the following.) There is a long, lost list of companies and going to any company website that interests you and finding the “Careers” page geared with the knowledge that they hire felons and looking at their current job listings!
| Job Board List 1 | Job Board List 2 | Job Board List 3 | Job Board List 4 |
💭 ADVICE (with sources):
😃 General positivity:
“Your mistakes from the past don’t have to continue to derail you.”
“I think the problem will be in getting that first job after graduation. The first person to employ you is going to be taking the biggest risk that you might re-offend and harm their organization.
The second person to employ you will have the confidence that you didn’t re-offend against that first employer…so it should get easier. Good luck. You deserve it.” — quora”
- “Your mistakes from the past don’t have to continue to derail you. Hold on to your goal and be defined by how you recover from your mistakes.” — felonyhub
- “Yes, it is possible, though it will be more difficult than for someone without a felony.” — insights.dice
“You can get hired as almost anything, it might be difficult and arduous but it can be done. I was in a similar predicament however I persevered, just keep at it, all it takes is ONE yes” — reddit
- “Yes, I can tell you from own hand that it is possible :).”-quora
- “After a six year sentence my first day “out” I started a job as Software Engineer. As a young kid I had learned by self programming, during time in prison I worked as an teachers assistant since I had good IT skills, I even wrote a 200 page tutorial on Word Perfect, did DTP for the prison staff and worked as a translator English and German. Then the teacher asked me or I was interested in a program were inmates created commercial software, I did a quick interview and since I already programmed in my youth it was a big plus. I made software for 3 years and it was very successful, we even made it to the national news. Also some members of the team were already released but continued to work there. I learned a lot of new skills, especially on 3D software. The last part of my sentence I was allowed to work as a trainee at a small tech company. Later I found out that their CEO was a former prisoner! The day I got out I got a message from a recruitment company that I was looking for a job and the next day I could start. This is now 21 years ago, I never saw a prison inside again and currently work as a cloud consultant and software architect.”
Apply For Every Job You Are Qualified For.
- Too many people with criminal records miss out on jobs simply for by not applying for them. The reality is, the more jobs you have applied for, the greater your opportunities to get interviewed. The more interviews you get the more opportunities you will get to be hired. There are jobs for felons.” — jailtojob
- “My previous companies have hired felons. Depends on the type of crime and probably also depends on how long ago it was etc” — reddit
- “All the above said, there are still plenty of companies a felon can work for, and some which (depending on the nature of the crime) may have no issues with hiring a felon.” — insights.dice
“Initiatives such as Ban the Box are designed to give you a chance to prove yourself as a professional. That way, when employers do learn of your history, they’re more apt to weigh it alongside your skills and personality.” — insights.dice
- “Ban the Box: The Ban the Box is a movement started by ex-offender advocates encouraging employers to eliminate criminal record questions from job applications to give candidates with a criminal past an improved chance of getting hired. By removing the checkbox asking if applicants have a criminal record, ex-offenders have the opportunity to show their experience and skills without automatic disqualification. The movement also minimizes accessibility for employers to criminal records until further along in the hiring process, helping reduce application discrimination. Ban the Box places restrictions on what types of questions employers can ask, how far back in criminal history they can inquire about and at what point in the hiring process they can discuss criminal records. Roughly half of the nation’s states have already moved this initiative into legislation and Congress is working to get more federal agencies and contractors on board.” — jailtojob
- “Because of a new initiative, called “Fair Chance Business Pledge” that was launched by the White House in April 2016, a number of very large tech companies, have pledged NOT to discriminate against applicants who have a felony.” — hirefelons
- “Fair Chance Business Pledge: The Fair Chance Business Pledge is a call-to-action urging employers to give felons and ex-convicts an equal chance to get hired regardless of their criminal record, by signing a pledge to determine a candidate’s eligibility only based on their skills. It also asks companies to commit to other business practices to ensure felons receive the same treatment as employees without a criminal record, including Ban the Box. Other practices it promotes are: using accurate background check systems, offering the same internships and on-the-job training as non-convicts, attending or hosting job fairs for fair chance employment, providing ex-offenders with business-appropriate clothing, bus passes and other tools for career success, supporting reentry facilities and programs. By promoting fair chance hiring practices, companies help give individuals reentering the workforce a greater chance at a successful life.”-indeed
- “Luckily, there are other employment options for ex-cons who’ve paid their dues to society. Jobs in information technology (IT) are more felon-friendly than most. Information technology is a field that covers everything related to computers. This includes the management of telecommunications, hardware, software, and information. It’s an innovative field that requires up-to-date training and skills. There are many courses and workshops that train people in IT. While related degrees in this area are important, specific training is more useful. Certifications are not necessary to get IT jobs. Hence, this kind of business is perfect for felons.” — ncesc
- “(70MillionJobs.com) We’re the first for-profit recruitment platform for people with records. We work with many large, national employers, as well as many tech companies. (We’re a YC company) We have amassed a community of 1 million + active job seekers, and are providing significant HR solutions to big companies. I believe we can help you. (No charge of any kind to an applicant.)” — ycombinator
“I can give constructive advice: 1. Set your expectations. Many things in life now are more challenging for you. You’re a second class citizen now.
Expending your mental energy hating that, or feeling victimized by it, will paralyze you. Instead, spend that energy identifying your specific challenges and planning how to deal with them.
2. Expect failure and rejection. Use each one to refine your approach. Rejection is a part of life now, but that’s okay. Just like sales is a contact game, so is the job hunt. You may need to make 50x more applications than a non-felon to get serious consideration. That’s not fair, but fair doesn’t matter. Just make those applications, and approach each one as if it matters. Use your network. Write good cover letters. Be ready to sell yourself as someone who is a better hire. Be ready to answer tough questions honestly, and with humility. 3. Recovery from a criminal conviction is a marathon, not a sprint. While you reach for what you want to happen, you need to be willing to take whatever you can get. Set realistic goals. It’s very oppressive, but it’s a necessary component of our system. You can’t stay free, and improve your life, if you don’t try. Know your conditions inside and out. Never make them question your compliance or honesty. Put yourself out, to never put them out. I wasn’t able to get back into programming until I was off probation. What employer wants to be told “If you hire me, federal agents reserve the right to search your office at any time, including copying all the contents of my work computer, and all network attached data too.” Lay the groundwork to sell yourself. You need to have more to offer than a college grad with a CS degree. Find, or refine, your specialty.
Be spectacularly good at something specific and specialized. Be prepared to prove that value to an employer.
The downtime with no job is terrible. But use it to improve your marketability. Then you can reach out to people who need that specialty. Find others with similar skills on IRC, mailing lists, boards like stackoverflow and HN. Learn to cold contact somebody and say “I see you’re into $skillset, I like what you have to say on that. I work with it a lot too. Do you know anybody that’s hiring with that need?” Us programmers love to make referrals… most orgs pay a big bounty for bringing in a new hire.
5. Don’t give up. Stay positive, especially when it hurts the most. For your family. For your friends, and the people around you. Don’t become one of those guys who has given up, who is always full of victimization and anger.
On a long enough timeline, as your trouble move further into the past, you will find more success.
Give everybody a chance to treat you like a human being. Sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised.” — ycombinator
- Just a nice article (https://www.getclockwise.com/blog/why-felons-make-the-best-engineers)
Job/companies to focus on & avoid on:
- “Many companies in the U.S hire felons for tech jobs. Some of them are:
Apple, Sony, Dell Corporation, Google, AT&T, Compaq Computer, Tesla, IBM, Xerox, United Airlines.” — ncesc
- “According to the online community jobsforfelonshub.com, a number of brand-name tech firms will consider convicted felons for employment.
These companies include Apple, AT&T, IBM, Sony, Tesla and Xerox, Google, Compaq Computer, Dell Corporation. So will enterprises with large IT operations, such as Boeing, Kohl’s and United Airlines.” — insights.dice
“Typically you’ll want to avoid job types that require licenses by the state or on a federal level as they aren’t usually felony friendly. This is because, in most (not all) cases, you won’t be able to get approval for your license to pursue employment.
Because of this, the applications you submit aren’t worth your time because the governing body of your state won’t let you work anyway, regardless of if the company is hiring people.” — felonyrecordhub
“First, any job that requires some sort of security clearance (think pretty much every defense contractor) is likely a nonstarter as you typically cannot get security clearance as a felon.
Also, most companies that have a fiduciary responsibility to their clients (think banks, law firms, accounts and financial service companies) are likely to have policies against hiring felons if they aren’t already legally prohibited from doing so.” — insights.dice
- “We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements” — Google (-relaunchpad)
- “Obviously, this doesn’t apply to government contracts. Don’t bother with those. They aren’t worth it.” — reddit (Yes, I’m a Reddit fan.)
- “Edit: Stick to startups and small companies.” — reddit
- “You will be fine working at 90% of early stage startups and small companies (think employees <25” — reddit
- “Good news: majority of startups or smaller companies rarely do background checks. The larger the employee count, the more likely they would perform background checks.
Bad news: Government agencies or most companies in the public sector are required to have background checks (and even credit checks) due to some positions having compliance and such requirements. Even positions dealing with network infrastructure and/or personal records. Build up your references that can vouch for your character. Good luck” — reddit - “Like the other posters said, try small companies and start ups. I work for a Fortune 500 financial services company and I can confirm that it can be difficult to get a job with a felony and my company definitely does more background checks than they used to.” — reddit
- “If a felon is truly qualified, they’d most likely get the job.” — ncesc
- “Work for a startup. They don’t care. No background check, no drug test, etc. I’ve worked for one major Fortune 500 company, and that was the only company that did a background check.” — reddit
- “Freelancers with good skills there is no reason for that to matter” — reddit
- “Yes, becoming a computer programmer is a possibility for you as a felon. It’s the type of field that doesn’t necessarily require a license or certification. You might have an easier time getting a job such as a computer programmer that doesn’t involve direct contact with the public. There could be limited opportunities finding a programmer job that includes working around personal records and information along with financial data.” — felonyhub
- “My last hint — lots of “temp agencys” and “placement agencies” will happily take you on as someone they can place.” — ycombinator
- “A small startup may be more forgiving of your history. While I have no hiring experience, if I was doing hiring for a small startup, I would want the potential employee to share upfront (perhaps in the second round, definitely in the in-person, not necessarily the very first call) if they were a felon (or for that matter, any other potential red flag which would it’d be reasonable to expect me to discover on a background check). Obviously YMMV.” — ycombinator
- “You’re definitely targeting the wrong companies if you are applying to Goldman Sachs. Apply to work remotely for a Bay Area startup like a YC company. They don’t run background checks as frequently or as well and they often don’t care about whether their remote employees are felons (while they might care about on-site employees).” — ycombinator
- “My best advice on where to find work is look for smaller companies or for remote work with foreign companies. Small startups and the like often don’t have the ability or the time to run background checks. It’s not worth it for them. And many countries outside the US have laws against discriminating against people with criminal history. For example if you look for remote job for a Canadian company you’d probably have a decent chance of finding something. The salaries going both of these routes are lower though.” — ycombinator
- “At least around me (SF Bay area), social service/healthcare non-profits are open to hiring felons, and do so regularly.
At my current job, the best boss I’ve ever had revealed she was a felon at her going-away party on her last day.
Organizations with missions focused on building life/parenting skills actively seek people who have learned from their mistakes, and who want to help others do the same.” — ycombinator
- “Many smaller companies that are not in the business of information technology per se, still have IT departments that provide computer and network support to the employees. These companies may hire a number of tech support personnel to help with daily system operations and management. What this means in practical terms is that these companies will evaluate your application and will give you a fair shot at the job based on your qualifications, education and experience. You will not be automatically rejected because you have a felony! So if you already have training in IT, or are planning to pursue a college degree in this fields of computer science, network administration, or technology development, you should know that you will have work opportunities available.” — hirefelons
On background checks:
- “I’ve got some advice for you. I’ve never been background checked.
It’s common for people to ask “Can you pass a background or credit check?” The correct answer to this question is, “I’m not worried about that, no problem. I also have a few references who can vouch for me anyway.”
This makes the problem ambiguous and deflects it onto your references. The company will generally call up your 3 refs and choose not to spend the money on costly background checks. If your criminal history does come up, and it probably won’t, then you’ll have a chance to explain yourself. If you worry about it then you’ll only hurt yourself. Be confident! Be calm!
Show them that you’re a normal person and that’s all they need in the software business.
Obviously, this doesn’t apply to government contracts. Don’t bother with those. They aren’t worth it. Background checks are typically only performed after an offer is given.
Once I sign an offer letter, I just ask, “So I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row. Is there anything else I need to sign? Are my background and credit checks all squared away?
The answer to this has always been: “Actually, we don’t do background checks. We just want to get rid of people who are too afraid to pass one.” — reddit
- “Counter-point: my last 2 jobs have BG checked me.
Some companies are going to care and disqualify you. Some won’t check. Some just don’t care. Apply anyway. Let them worry about it.” — reddit - “I work for a large company. This is what they say about hiring with a conviction: Candidates with a conviction are not automatically ineligible. When a background check reveals a criminal record, HR will research the offense. Factors for consideration include the relationship of the offense to the job, as well as when it took place. Eligibility for hire is determined based on these two factors.” Which is a long-winded way of saying “it depends.” — reddit
- “Companies that conduct background checks say that many employers look beyond the simple fact that you’ve committed a crime. They take into account your offense, how much time since it occurred, whether you’re a repeat offender and how your record relates to the job at hand.” — insights.dice
“I’m a federal felon myself and have found success by applying to companies based in states/cities which have “banned the box” for private employers. I’m currently working in a very respectable software engineering position, in a region which hasn’t banned the box. The largest part of this companies workforce however, is based in an office located in a state which HAS banned the box for private employers. They never had a felony conviction checkbox for me to check on the job application, and they didn’t bother running a background check which included the federal system. I’ve found that probably only around 50% of companies will include a federal background check. When it comes to background checks for housing or background checks for recruiting agencies, virtually none of them will do this.” — ycombinator
Portfolio/resumes:
- “So, I already plan on making myself the best, most experienced, and attractive candidate I possibly can, to make myself stand out.
By the time I start applying I hope to have more open source contributions, more complicated/higher quality apps for my portfolio and more in sheer number then the vast majority of people looking for their first programming job.
You’re literally a golden ticket candidate if you do these things that you listed. People will jump to get you in their office. F*ck felony discrimination. You should no longer be punished for your actions after serving time. Imposter syndrome is bad enough for programmers!” — ycombinator
- “I’m going to give you some either great advice or bad advice — only time will tell. First of all take ANY job you can get if you just got out — this means Starbucks is on the table — get back to work, even part time. Second, if you have skills then start putting them to use — open source, build your own thing what ever. At least 2–3 hours a day of WORK.
Google up non profits that help felons find jobs and ask them if they can use your services as a volunteer.
- You never know where opportunity will come from.
Third, start a blog.
- Tell your story, put your real name on it. It is compelling and your looking to make a change. Show your work.” — ycombinator
- “This is a wonderful startup in Las Vegas. They definitely hire Felons. https://pigeonly.com/about/#careers In other jobs, there is a potential for a reduced salary, while you work on your portfolio/freelancing/rehabilitating your record if you’re open to that.
References. I think long term you should focus on getting a good profile and work history on UpWork. This could lead to a steady job, and no one will ever check your background for freelance jobs.” — ycombinator
- “Project-based contract work / freelancing? A good portfolio, some networking, and interviewing well could get you some gigs. Not being an employee would probably reduce any risk-averse corporate refusals.” — ycombinator
“You’re just like every other entry level developer in the industry then. The only thing that is setting you apart is the conviction.
Yes it will be harder, but with the items you just specified, everyone else is dealing with too. Get a portfolio (make one), get references (find some), and don’t let your family starve. Take any job you can to make money while always looking for that better one, working on the references and portfolio. This is no different advice than what I’d tell any other developer starting out.” — ycombinator
On interviews:
“Ex felon here. In my experience, it was far easier to deal with people by being open about my criminal history. In a its-a-no-big-deal-if-you-know sort of way. If I’m trying to keep it secret, I have all this stress of wondering who knows, lying about it, etc. And that’s bad for me because I’m already in a stressful situation. Putting it out there saved me a lot of time with companies/HR departments by filtering out the haters in the first step.
I didn’t have to bite my nails wondering what their reaction to the background check would be. I put my record on the bottom of my resume. My father told me I would never get a job with that, but he was wrong. I landed one two weeks after my release. I asked the guy who interviewed (and hired) me if he had read about my criminal history on my resume, and he said, “Yeah, that’s not a problem. My cousin’s been in and out of jail all his life.” — ycombinator
- “Be 100 percent transparent,” said Chris Redlitz, co-founder of the San Francisco-based non-profit The Last Mile”
According to Pattillo, the CPIB encourages people to include their prison time on their résumé. “Basically, you want to say, ‘Yes, I was in prison or have a felony and this is what I learned there/from it,’”
he said. Programs like The Last Mile’s, he notes, “are well-known in the tech industry.” — insights.dice
- “It’s critical to bring up your past before the employer discovers it in a background check,” added Mark Drevno, executive director of Jails to Jobs, a Lafayette, Calif., non-profit that helps ex-offenders prepare for their job search. He coaches former inmates to focus on identifying the hiring manager and having a frank conversation with them.
“Tell them your turnaround story,” he said. “You want to show them how you’ve changed.”
Ultimately, the manager should become your advocate with HR, placing your background in proper context.
Additionally, almost any company will ask about a felony background in some part of the hiring process. Your best option is just to be frank and honest about the matter. Lying is grounds for immediate termination if you’re found out. It’s better to get it out there and let them hire you with full knowledge so you don’t start under false pretenses.
A number of HR executives suggest the background check serves as something of an integrity test.
If you’ve gone through an interview with the hiring manager and didn’t volunteer the story of your conviction, most companies will end the process as soon as they learn of your offense.” — insights.dice
- “Be transparent: During the interview, honesty is key. Felons should make sure they disclose their criminal background. They should explain how much they are willing to grow and change. Employers will run a background check on interviewees. So, it’s better they find out during the interview. Otherwise, there will be no chance of getting the job. Withholding that kind of information leaves a bad impression.
An employer getting to know about the felon’s criminal background is not a bad thing. Especially if this was done the right way. Here are a few things employers will consider: the timeline of the last crime the felon committed, if the felon is a repeat offender or not, and the nature of the crime. Sexual and Violent offenders will be less preferred. Also, hackers or those with cybercrimes.” — ncesc - “ IT jobs are high paying and felon-friendly. Most IT companies are more concerned with technical skills. And, there are many ways felons can acquire these skills. Felons can work as computer programmers, web developers, app developers, database administrators or network administrators. They each have their distinct responsibilities.” — ncesc
- “Felon here! Being a felon has impacted my life in several ways. I’m going on almost 10 years of being labeled a felon, so I have some stories to tell as to how it’s impacted my life: I’ve struggled with relationships (“omg my parents Googled you”), friendships (“I googled you”), finding a place to live (“sorry, we don’t accept people with a criminal history like yours”), bank accounts (“sorry, we can’t give you a bank account due to your criminal history”), payment processing accounts (“sorry, we can’t accept you to process payments on our platform because of your criminal history”)… list goes on.
But I’ve never, ever had a problem finding work. Maybe it’s because of how I go about finding work.
I don’t work in corporate environments by choice, as I’m just a terrible fit. I’ve worked with headhunters without issue, and I’ve applied to Who is Hirings without issue. I’ve worked as a business entity with larger-ish companies without issue too (but they’re still small enough to not be super corporate)
It’s one of the first things I tell people when I wouldn’t work under a registered entity: “just a heads up there is no way in hell I’ll pass any sort of background check whatsoever.
Somewhat ironically, what’s on Google, or any news outlet, is significantly less severe than what a thorough and complete background check will show because of how the courts proceeded (at least for me)” — ycombinator
- “In addition to demonstrating that you are qualified for the job you need to be prepared and proactive about discussing your felony. Here is what you can do to create the best impression and convince the HR manager why they should hire you. 1. Be honest: It is best to honestly state that you have a felony during the initial interview.
Briefly explain what happened and make it a point to describe in detail how you have changed and became a better person after this experience.
This may be the factor that determines whether or not you will be hired. The worst thing you can do is not to disclose your felony and just let the HR find out about it through the Background Check. In this case, the chances of you getting that job will ZERO. Understand the background check: Yes, there will be a criminal background check. However, more and more IT companies are willing to consider the details of a particular case, such as: 1. how long ago was your felony 2. what type crime you committed and the details surrounding the offense 3. whether or not you are a repeat offender 4. whether your crime is in any way related to the job you are applying for.” — hirefelons
- “Start-ups: some of the best paying jobs for felons can be at a start-up company. While a start-up may not pay as well as an established company, you will still earn more money than in most other types of jobs. Moreover, a start up may be more willing to overlook your personal history, if you have the skills they are looking for. Also, people that work in these companies are often more approachable and understanding of different circumstances, as compared to HR managers in larger firms, where there are many rules, policies and protocols that need to be followed. Internships: while this is not ideal, especially if you are pressed for money, Starting your IT career with an internship may be a good way to get your foot in the door. This will give you something great to put on your resume and will be another reason to overlook your felony.
Consulting/Freelancing: one of the best ways to find success in IT and avoid getting turned down from jobs because of your felony is to start your own freelancing business.
There are many niches to choose from, such as: web development, app development, design, computer repair, database administrator, etc. All you need is your skills and one or two satisfied clients who will serve as great references for future jobs. Successful consultants can make $120K or more.” — hirefelons
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I spent a significant time writing this. I know people don’t like thirteen page articles, but I do sincerely hope that it helps one person. That’s enough for me.
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(Also, sorry — this is only the second article I’ve ever wrote, so bear with me.) — sarahrose 🌹
