Minimum Wage Jobs in Indiana

People who have a felony record often face the problem of getting a job in various states such as Indiana. Many businesses are unwilling to take the risk of accepting an ex-felon into their workforce and those that do usually offer a minimum wage salary.

Nevertheless, there are certain high-profile companies like UPS and Safeway that have established a policy of hiring ex-felons. Persons with felony records that are several years old and have not violated the law since can also seal their criminal records at the Indiana State Police Central Repository as a way to increase their chances of being hired. They can also try getting assistance from the Indiana Department of Labor and other government agencies in improving their chances of becoming employed.

Individuals with felony records can also focus on the kinds of jobs where the criminal record does not matter. Examples are telephone customer service and truck driving. Temp agencies may also be willing to provide work although it usually requires physical labor. The Army can also accept persons with criminal records although this will depend on the crime. It would be advisable to contact your local recruiter to see if you are qualified.

Another possibility is to work as an independent contractor because many people may still be willing to hire you to do a certain job as long as you do it well. You may also want to focus on small businesses because they are more willing to accept someone with a record.

Jobs for Felons, Indianapolis, Indiana

Individuals with felony records discover the harsh reality that many companies are not willing to hire them the moment they get out of jail and try to find a job. It is a hard fact that many businesses even conduct investigations on the backgrounds of job applicants and refuse to accept those with criminal records. And even if they do find work, the pay is usually low.

The situation is no different in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, but there are organizations and government agencies that can offer assistance. One such organization is the Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, which provides various kinds of services to different groups, including ex-felons. Its central office is located at Michigan Street in Indianapolis. For ex-offenders, some of the services offered are English as a Second Language classes, Adult Basic Education and General Equivalency Diploma preparation, transitional employment, general assistance in looking for a job, and youth services for those who are 14 to 25 years old.

The transitional employment program of Goodwill allows individuals to get the necessary work experience that they need to qualify for jobs that will make them self-sufficient. Meanwhile, Goodwill’s Resource Centers can help ex-felons by providing all of the materials that are required for the task of looking for a job. Workshops are also offered to provide advice on important job hunting activities such as looking for job leads, writing a resume, completing applications, the job interview, and job retention strategies. Assistance is also provided with regards to aptitude testing, career exploration, and in the actual writing of job applications and resumes.

People don’t know that there are actually companies that are paid an incentive by the government to hire convicted felons. Work One, the state employment agency, hires employment specialists who work to find or persuade companies to hire felons in Indiana. WorkOne’s program for ex-offenders, for example, helped 150 felons secure employment during 2005.

When looking for a job you should look for one that has a tax credit that can be used to pay for skill development and training for felons. Employers consider the development of communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills as a first priority.

Places to avoid looking applying for a job are long term temporary employment agencies. You will have better luck at a Labor Ready employment service for short term or daily employment until you are hired at one of the companies or businesses which you have applied to.

Keep in mind that small companies are more likely to hire a felon as the owners are more involved in the day to day business, and can see firsthand the ability of their hires to perform the tasks involved in the job.

• 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.