Felon Job Search

How to find a job if you’re a felon is a tough question.  There are many things you can and cannot do.  You’re at a new beginning.  So if you are still under court supervision, you must be working in an atmosphere where your employer will understand your parole or work release requirements.

You will be restricted from positions working around firearms and explosives as well as Government jobs and jobs that require licensure.  That does not mean you will not be able to work.

Working for a small business employer may be a great option for you.  Many small employers need people who are willing to work hard and improve not only their own situation but that of the company.  They typically work with a small staff and with close supervision.  This is a perfect situation for a felon willing to work hard.  You can work in skilled and unskilled labor positions.

Temporary services may be a good option to check into for day labor, construction and manufacturing jobs.  The most important thing to remember when wondering “how to find a job if you’re a felon”  is that honesty will serve you well.  You must be prepared to discuss your conviction at length and assure potential employers that you know crime doesn’t pay.

Also, education is important.  If you need to get your GED, do it.  Or if you can attend community college this will help you build the skill set you need to find employment.

The economy has put a real pinch on the number of jobs available across Indiana.  This has caused an even greater hardship on those who have been convicted of a felony and are now available to return to the job market. With the increased competition from the non-felon community, and the strike against the ex-felon, the Indiana job search must be refined.

When performing the job search, an ex-felon needs to keep in mind that he or she will need to work in a place where they can prove that they are reformed.  This is accomplished most often when working side by side with the owner or general manager of the business.  Thus it would make sense to seek out small companies.

You will also want to look for employment in jobs where your felony conviction has no bearing on the type of work involved.  For instance, if you were convicted of neglect of a dependent, you should not apply for  work in a daycare, nursing home, or school.  Likewise, you will be hard pressed to find work in a convenience store, or retail establishment if you were convicted of robbery.

One of the best bets for the male felon, and many females as well, are jobs that involve construction.  Not only will the ex-felon be able to prove that they are worthy of the job, they can and will progressively gain skills in the field that may assist them in future jobs.  Perhaps eventually the ex-felon will then be in a position to start and run their own company using the skills they have acquired.

If you are a convicted felon and have been looking for a job in Indiana, you already know that this can make it even more tough for you to find a good job. If you’re smart about the problem, you can increase your chances of getting a great job, even if you have a felony on your record.

• Be Honest – If you try to lie on your application, you may get caught. Even if you don’t, you will always wonder if it will come up. If you are honest about your felony upfront you lessen your chances of losing the job once the employer finds out you lied on the application.
• Petition – If you think it’s unfair for felons trying to get a job in Indiana, there is a Petition for Indiana Felons looking for work. Will it be successful? Who knows. If nothing else, you can hear stories about looking for work in Indiana from other felons. You might pick up some good tips for finding a job.
• Goodwill Placement Programs – As can be expected, your local Goodwill Industries may have something in place to help felons locate and keep good jobs.

• http://www.goodwillindy.org/jobs/default…
• http://www.fwgoodwill.org/JobPlacement.h…
• http://www.goodwill-ni.org/job_seekers.p…
• http://www.evvgoodwill.org/

Do you have tips for a felon looking for work in Indiana? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and let us know what you think about felons trying to find work – anywhere in Indiana. Whether you’ve had trouble or not, sharing your story with others can help … more than you could ever know.