So, I am not a felon. However, a large percentage of my friends are. Those who aren’t felons often have other charges. Some spent a week in jail, others spent years, and at least one of my friends stared down two decades in the clink.
Over the past five years, I’ve seen countless friends of mine deal with career problems because of their incarcerations. Here’s what I’ve learned from folks who did it, researched advice, and my own brand of common sense.
Learn a trade.
#Sorrynotsorry, but most of the degree programs in jail are not going to do you any favors. Congrats. You have a degree. Most white-collar jobs and office jobs are not going to hire you if they run background checks. The chances of you getting a decent-paying office job are low —even if you’re in a “lax” industry like marketing.
A trade is a smart move. Everyone needs tradesmen, but not many people actually have the licenses to do the work. Moreover, trades are traditionally more amenable to felons. Whether it’s construction, electrical work, auto mechanic work, or hairdressing doesn’t matter. Trades do well!
Don’t Go Corporate
Corporations are generally not your friends. Most big corporations already exploited you when they bought prison labor. They will continue to exploit you out of jail. Corporations spend decades finding new ways to trim the fat and add more pressure to perform.
Besides, they are more likely to have background checks as part of their recruiting. If you can avoid them, by all means, do. Mom n’ pop companies are far more likely to work with you, though they might be lacking in the pay department.
Consider some of the programs geared toward newly-freed prisoners.
Not for nothing, but being formerly incarcerated does open you up for opportunities by nonprofits. This includes free (or greatly-discounted) college through the NYU PEP program, multiple business assistant programs from groups like Inmates to Entrepreneurs, as well as certain state-specific grants.
It makes sense to apply for these programs, even though they are not quite common or easy to get into. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Be your own boss.
So, let’s start with the most obvious thing possible: being your own boss is the only way to ensure that you can never be fired from your 9 to 5. It comes with a lot of pitfalls, including having to get your own clients, having to do your own taxes, and figuring out how to maximize your time.
It’s a lot to do, but the good news is that it can provide stability in ways that most other employers won’t. After all, no one will care about your bottom line as much as you will.
Use your jail time to your advantage.
Believe it or not, many social media aficionados started to make a living talking about their time in jail, what they learned behind bars, as well as what they think about current crime cases. More often than not, people eat this stuff up.
If you have the hustle, you might want to give it a try. Of course, this is assuming that you also have your own first business to keep you afloat. (Getting employment when you have a bunch of videos talking about jail can make things difficult.)
Go to ethical recruiting agencies, not “body shops.”
If you’re from the NYC area, you probably had at least one run-in with a labor broker recruiting for construction. Many of these labor brokers are decent and will actually train you to do the job the right way. Not all of them are.
A Guardian article highlighted the issue of “body shops,” also known as unethical labor brokers that low-ball ex-convicts on wages and hire them for dangerous jobs without offering the proper training. In a pinch, they can work, but it’s not a long-term issue.
Recognize companies famous for hiring felons.
Though large corporations *do* have that tendency to exploit, there’s a certain point where a job is a job. Thankfully, there are many companies that hire felons, including:
- Almost any fast food franchise or restaurant
- Apple
- Hilton Hotels
- Men’s Warehouse
- AAMCO
- General Mills
- AAA
- ConAgra Foods
- AT&T
- Verizon
- Dunkin’
- Dunlop
- Hanes
- General Electric
- Tesla
- PetSmart
You can find a more complete list provided by the US Courts System here.
Use your network to your advantage.
Most people who leave jail have people who are supportive of them on the outside and the inside. With jobs, it’s often not what you know, but who you know.
Now is the time to ask others in your circle for help. You might be surprised at how many people are willing to lend a hand. If they aren’t able to help you, don’t panic.
The best way to get a leg up in life is to go to some professional networking meetups in your area.
Leave a Reply