Christopher has a violent felony conviction, which is usually hard for employers to look past. However, at Honest Jobs, we work with fair-chance employers who are ready to give second chance and help people build back their lives and careers. Christopher changed his life and was ready to build a stable future. Once he came to Honest Jobs, he found an employer who realized his potential and gave him the chance he needed to overcome his past. As Christopher said: "Accept that w

Gerry has several felony convictions and he is currently serving two years probation. After spending months searching, he thought it would be impossible to find a job that he could pursue long term. However, once he found Honest Jobs, he was hired in a day! Learn more about his experience in the video below:

Benevolence Farm’s vision is to create a more equitable, nurturing world for women and the communities they transform. Benevolence Farm is committed to helping women impacted by the criminal justice system in North Carolina. They believe in second chances and provide transitional employment with a living wage for women leaving North Carolina’s prisons. “We recognize that change must come from within, but can be cultivated and inspired through a supportive, natural environment

To be great at interviewing is a valuable skill regardless of your criminal background. It often takes a lot of preparation to get in front of a hiring manager and explain your criminal record. It can be also an exhausting and stressful process, but it gets easier and you will feel more prepared every time. We’ve talked about how to explain your criminal record to an employer , but it is only one part of the interview. Here are some tips on how to be the most prepared for you

20 incarcerated people graduated in Wisconsin It is great to see that people are not giving up their hopes of pursuing their dreams even while incarcerated. For the first time, a group of incarcerated students in the Waupun Corrections Institution graduated with bachelor's degrees last Tuesday. The program is offered by the Trinity International University, from where twenty incarcerated men received their diplomas in biblical studies while also earning a minor in psychology.

Interviewing with a felony is frustrating for many reasons. You want to be upfront and honest about your past, but you don’t want to eliminate your chances of getting the position. At Honest Jobs, our purpose is to minimize this stress throughout the hiring process and match you with second-chance employers who are open to accepting your situation. However, it is still important for you to understand how to explain your background in terms of the values you have gained and th

Sewing quilts with each individual child in mind A small group of inmates at South Central Correction Center in Licking, Missouri is committed to sewing 80 personalized quilts, one for every child in the Texas County foster care system. Seven men have signed up for the program and they meet daily in the sewing room to go through designs and sew the quilts with each individual child in mind. They make sure that each quilt is high quality, carefully embroidering the child's fir

The focus is on keeping people out of prison The Alternatives to Incarceration Act and the Re-Entry Success Act took effect on the 1st of July in Tennessee. These much-needed laws are meant to resolve longstanding problems of incarceration by helping people stay out of prison. They offer a more compassionate approach to criminal justice since the two laws aim to place a cap on the duration of probation, limit reincarceration for technical violations, and remove obstacles for

Devin was looking for a job for three months before his probation officer suggested Honest Jobs' website. Once he used our services, he started working within just a week. His new job gives him a path to grow his career and the flexibility to attend his court-mandated classes appointments without interfering with his everyday duties. Learn more about his experience in the video below:

Taylor has a felony conviction, which initially made searching for a job very difficult. He applied to many jobs, but he was turned down because of his criminal background, without the employers taking into consideration his qualifications. Once he came to Honest Jobs, everything changed. He found a job and a stepping stone to build his career and to pursue a better life. Learn more about his experience in the video below:

Interviewing with a criminal record is frustrating for many reasons. At Honest Jobs, we are here to help you connect with second-chance employers who are willing to hire ex-felons with the aim to reduce the uncertainty and stress throughout the hiring process. However, being prepared for an interview is one of the most important parts of proving that you are truly interested in working for the company and you are the right fit for the job. As part of a series of blog posts, f

Having a pending charge makes it even more difficult to find employment. However, Jacob’s example shows us that it is far from impossible to find a great employer through Honest Jobs who cares about their employees regardless of their background. With this opportunity, Jacob can build a career and pursue his goal to become an engineer. Learn more about his experience in the video below:

Jeff Beer's article explores how ConCreates , a non-traditional creative agency, helps currently and formerly incarcerated individuals maximize their potential while overcoming the challenges of being judged for their past. 1. Changing the stigma of how society perceives incarcerated individuals by offering employment. Vincent Bragg and Janeya Griffin founded ConCreates , a creative agency solely employing formerly or currently incarcerated people with the mission to change t

Belle has several felony convictions, which made it difficult for her to find employment. However, not only did she find a job using Honest Jobs' services, she also reached her ultimate career goal by landing a position that allows her to help people after incarceration. Learn more about her experience in the video below:

1. Changing lives through offering employment More than 600,000 people reenter society every year after incarceration. If we take under consideration misdemeanor charges, one-third of Americans have some kind of criminal record. It makes it hard for them to find good job opportunities that could potentially help them work for a better future. Many people with records struggle to find employment, and even if they do, they frequently have to settle for unpredictable hours and

Honest Jobs is here to help you connect with second-chance employers. We have seen more and more fair-chance employers change their policies to be more open to hiring ex-felons, however, it is important to make a good impression and set yourself apart from the competition regardless of your criminal background. Building a professional resume is an essential part of getting hired at your desired job. Here are some tips on how to write a resume that will be appealing to employe

There are more and more felony-friendly job opportunities on the job market and Honest Jobs is committed to helping you connect with these second-chance employers. However, looking for a job with a felony conviction comes with its unique challenges, and reentering the job market after incarceration requires a different preparation process to be successful. Here are a few ideas to help you overcome some of the biggest challenges you'll face if you have a record and are trying

Julianna Morano ’s article in the Dallas News talks about how the GEM (Girls Embracing Mothers) program helps currently or formerly incarcerated women rebuild the connection with their daughters. Rebuilding the mother-daughter bond The GEM program was founded in 2013 in Texas by Brittany K. Barnett after her own mother's incarceration. She wanted to form a community that supports and empowers girls who are struggling with the same problem. Girls who are separated from the

Have you ever been convicted of a crime? If yes, you probably know that finding a job with a criminal record can be a stressful process that sometimes feels impossible. The discouragement you feel when being turned down for a job solely based on your background check is valid. Even though more and more employers are offering fair-chance job opportunities, having a criminal record is still a significant disadvantage when searching for a job. Finding a felony-friendly job isn't

Karen J Bannan's article summarizes some of the best practice strategies related to second-chance hiring. There are companies, such as the Greyston Bakery in New York City, the primary supplier of brownies for Ben & Jerry's ice cream, who already realized the benefits of hiring formerly incarcerated people. The hiring process is solely based on qualifications, rather than background checks or focusing on the candidates' past. We have also seen some great initiatives from ot