Finding a Job as a Felon
Society is unforgiving of those who have wronged it. It does not make rebuilding easy. Finding a GOOD job with two felonies on my record was one of the most difficult obstacles I faced during life in addiction recovery.
I was released from prison in 2014. After spending four months in a halfway house, I finally returned home. I was pregnant and single, with no car, no job, no house, no money, and two felonies on my record. My sister was kind enough to let me stay with her while I rebuilt my life from ground zero.
I was overwhelmed. How could I rebuild from this? I had hurt my family, ran off my friends, and had little support left. But I bonded with the baby in my belly quickly and I was determined to make a life for him. I would do whatever it took.
My second day home, I enrolled at a local community college. I was going to study addiction counseling…you know, like everyone who first gets clean. I set to work finding a job and quickly learned that my interviews would be a little different these days. There was that box on the application. “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?” Do I check yes? Do I lie? I tried both.
I had a few awkward interviews and a few denials. I finally decided to try the truth as I interviewed for a server position at a local truck stop restaurant. “I like you,” the manager said as she ended the interview. “You can’t work the cash register because of your burglary, but you can serve.” And for two years, I served the truckers of America, greasy country cooking, from a cockroach filled kitchen. My nights consisted of taking care of my son and doing schoolwork after he went to sleep. The day shift was poor money though, and I needed my own apartment. I pursued a factory job through a temp agency, hoping for daytime hours (daycare was my only childcare) and steady pay.
My first day at the factory the line leader calls out to everyone on our assembly line, “We didn’t meet our quota. Be here at 4:30am Saturday morning!” Uh oh. No daycare on Saturdays. I quickly ran out of points for missing Saturdays due to lack of childcare and was fired from the factory, two weeks after I moved into my first apartment. Now I was jobless, with a son and an apartment to support. My 98 Toyota Camry was on its last leg and there were weeks I honestly didn’t know how I would keep food in the house (no food stamps for drug offenders back then).
I tried everything. I applied EVERYWHERE. I applied at jobs I always thought were beneath me. Internet gigs. All of it. For six months, I lived off credit cards and ran myself into great debt. One of my last applications was at a Chipotle restaurant, 30 minutes away. I interviewed and was hopeful this would be the one. A few days later I received that email, “We’ve accepted another candidate.” I was distraught and hopeless. Between two felonies and a daytime hour requirement, it didn’t seem like I would ever find a job.
I saw an ad for a job at a local mental health center. It would be perfect for me! It’s the field I was studying in school and would allow me to get my foot in the door. I knew I would never get it. Places like that don’t hire felons. “I may as well not even apply,” I thought. But something in the back of my mind told me to apply anyway, and I submitted an online application. A couple of weeks later, I received a call. “We would like to interview you.” No. Freaking. Way.
I got dressed up, my nerves in a bundle, and set off to awkwardly explain why I have a burglary and possession on my record, but should be hired anyway. I guess there was a reason that I was denied that Chipotle job because after a few weeks of statements, background checks, explanations, and awkward conversations explaining my situation to the higher-ups, I began my job as technician at a mental health center. I was so happy to be working in the field and to have a job I could be proud of! The only problem was that it was part-time, so it wasn’t quite paying the bills yet. I had to keep searching.
More awkward interviews and I landed another part-time job as a the property manager of an apartment complex. Excuse me!? You know I have a burglary on my record right? You’re letting me collect people’s rent? You’re letting me pass medication at the mental health center with a possession charge? How did this happen? I guess my gratitude showed through, because a couple of months into my job at the mental health center, I was offered to interview for the position of case manager; an upgrade in pay, with weekday hours. From there, my career continued to grow. A few months later I received an offer from a local hospital. They were launching a new substance abuse program, and heard I may be able to fill the role of recovery coach.
I received amazing opportunities in my position at the hospital. I spoke in front of hospital boards and conventions, held meetings with judges and doctors, was put in newspapers, and best of all…was treated with respect. My opinion mattered. No one looked at me as a felon. They looked at me as a professional. During my time there, I was also able to work with a local attorney to expunge my felonies.
Years of criminal history, seven arrests, two felonies, multiple misdemeanors, erased as if they were never there. My rights restored. I can legally own a firearm. I can travel to any country I’d like. I never again have to check the box that says, “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?”
I have continued to work in the mental health and social services field and have done so for the past five years. I graduated from college in 2019, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Indiana University. I’ve obtained certifications in substance use (IU), recovery coaching (ICAADA), nutrition counseling (AFPA), and crisis counseling (Crisis Text Line). Today, I am enrolled in the Master of Social Work program and after 6 years of college, am seven months from graduating with my Masters degree. I purchased my first home in 2019 and my second in 2021. I have a nice car that starts for me every morning, I work from home, travel fairly often, and now have 3 little boys to motivate (and drive me crazy) me everyday.
I’ve heard people say, “I wanted to be a nurse, but I can’t now because a have a felony,” and other similar statements. THAT. IS. NOT. TRUE. Felony or no, you can be anything you want to be. Does it take work? Yes. Time? Yes. Is it worth every ounce of effort? YES. I can honestly say that I love my life today. Coming from someone who once sat on a dirty gas station bathroom floor, hoping for an overdose, that is far more than I ever expected to be able to say.
If you are a felon struggling with finding a job, allow me to recap the most important tips I learned during my time on the prowl.
Apply anyway: Even if company policy says no felons, APPLY ANYWAY! Rules are made to be broken. This is no exception. Companies have more leniency over this than you may think. Consider also, that we are in a country-wide staffing shortage, meaning it may be easier than ever to get the job of your dreams!
Be honest. To check or not to check the box? Check the box. Companies WILL find out about your felony and they will not hire a liar. If you check the box, you still have a shot and they may even respect you for being honest about your situation an view it as an asset.
If you are just not having any luck finding a job, there are many companies that are already felon-friendly. www.helpforfelons.com has a huge list on the site of companies that are forgiving of criminal records!
The link below this post has a comprehensive guide for finding a job as a felon. It includes my exact process, tips for managing the awkward interviews, how to stand out, where to apply, etc.
I also offer one on one coaching for those in early recovery, to provide support and help you rebuild your life from ground zero after addiction, so that you can also say one day that you love your life again. Check out the services page or email me for more info.
Until next time….