Jobs for people with a record
A record makes the job search harder, not impossible. Thousands of employers now hire people with convictions on purpose, and two federal programs — a free bond and a tax credit — give them a reason to say yes.
Start with the job boards and programs below, and bring up the Federal Bonding Program and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit in interviews. Many hiring managers have never heard of them.
A job search plan that works
- 1
Get your ID, Social Security card and a phone number first. Most applications stop without them (see Housing & basics).
- 2
Visit an American Job Center. They're free, they know which local employers hire people with records, and they can pay for training.
- 3
Apply on fair-chance job boards, where the employers are open to hiring people with records.
- 4
Prepare a short, honest answer about your conviction: what happened, what you did about it, and why you're ready now. Practice it out loud.
- 5
Tell employers about the free Federal Bonding Program and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Both lower their risk and cost.
- 6
Ask about paid transitional jobs if you need income right away while you look for something long-term.
Fair-chance job boards & employers
Honest Jobs
Job boardA job board built for people with records, listing employers that are open to hiring fair-chance candidates.
honestjobs.com ↗
Second Chance Business Coalition
EmployersA group of large U.S. companies that have committed to hiring and promoting people with criminal records.
secondchancebusinesscoalition.org ↗
Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
Paid work fastPaid transitional jobs soon after release, plus coaching and help landing a permanent job. Offices in many states.
ceoworks.org ↗
Goodwill
NationwideLocal Goodwill organizations run free job training and placement programs, and many work directly with people coming home.
goodwill.org ↗
Jails to Jobs
Free guideA nonprofit with a practical, step-by-step guide to finding work with a record, including how to talk about it in interviews.
jailstojobs.org ↗
Programs that make hiring you easier
Federal Bonding Program
Free for employersGives employers a free fidelity bond when they hire someone with a record — insurance against theft or dishonesty. Costs you and the employer nothing.
bonds4jobs.com ↗
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
Federal programA federal tax credit employers can claim for hiring people with felony convictions within a year of conviction or release.
dol.gov ↗
American Job Centers
FreeFree, local career centers run with the U.S. Department of Labor: job listings, résumé help, and funding for training.
dol.gov ↗
Reentry Employment Opportunities (U.S. DOL)
Federal programThe Labor Department's reentry program, which funds local organizations that help people with records get work.
dol.gov ↗
Know your rights
Ban the Box: state & local guide (NELP)
GuideWhich states and cities stop employers from asking about your record until later in hiring — check yours before you apply.
nelp.org ↗
SHRM Foundation: people with criminal records
Employer resourceThe HR industry's own guidance encouraging employers to hire people with records. Useful to share with a hesitant hiring manager.
shrm.org ↗
Common questions
What jobs can felons get?+
Most jobs are open to people with records. Common fields are construction and the trades, warehousing and logistics, manufacturing, trucking, food service, landscaping, and starting your own business. Some licensed jobs (like health care or security) have restrictions that depend on your state and your conviction.
Do I have to tell an employer about my record?+
If an application or interviewer asks, answer honestly — lying is usually worse than the record. Many states and cities have "ban the box" laws that stop employers from asking until after an interview or a job offer. Sealed or expunged records usually don't have to be disclosed.
What is the Federal Bonding Program?+
It gives employers a free fidelity bond (insurance against employee theft or dishonesty) when they hire someone with a record. It costs neither you nor the employer anything, and it removes one of the main worries employers have.
Can felons work for the federal government?+
Yes, in many jobs. Under the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, most federal agencies and contractors can't ask about your criminal history until after a conditional job offer.
Keep going
PenPalsOnly isn't affiliated with these organizations and doesn't give legal advice. Programs and rules change — confirm details with each organization directly.