Phillip believes every company should have a clear statement whether they hire people with criminal history or not. He was the best candidate for five to six jobs, but they rescinded the offers solely because of his criminal record. With the help of Honest Jobs, he found stable employment where he makes $24.65/hour and receives full benefits. Hear Phillip tell his story: Read the full interview with Phillip here: What experience do you have with the criminal justice system? P

Raven drove 45 minutes to find agencies who would give her a chance of employment. However, once the background check went through, she got rejected. Honest Jobs helped her find stable employment that she loves, where positivity and accepting each other is the core of the company culture. Learn more about Raven's experience in the video below: Read the full interview with Raven here: What experience do you have with the criminal justice system? Raven: “I ended up getting char

Millions of people in the U.S. are facing barriers to employment There are more than 10 million open positions in the United States. At the same time, there are millions of people facing barriers to employment. One major group is people with criminal records - stunningly, 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. This oftentimes prevents them from getting a job, even when they are the best candidate for the position. Currently, the unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals is 2

The Kirkland Chamber Foundation’s 2022 Kirkland Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Symposium focused on the barriers of reentry that formerly incarcerated people face in Washington State. Barriers to reentering society Christine Hendrickson, a formerly incarcerated author, spoke at the symposium. She expressed how hard it is to build a stable life and find a job after release because of trauma and stigma. She had many barriers after release, such as a three-year probation period

Unfortunately, employers often rescind job offers because they judge candidates on their criminal history. Naaim had that same experience. Honest Jobs helped him eliminate the need to explain himself over and over again, and he found a job where he was accepted right away. Watch his story: Read the full interview with Naaim here: What was a your job search experience before you found Honest Jobs? Naaim: “I was using Indeed and just other job boards and temporary agencies. I g

The Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala, FL, started the Second Chance Farm three years ago, thanks to the leadership of Brandi Jenkins. The aim of the program is to develop skills, hope, and connection among incarcerated women by taking care of retired racehorses. The women of the program say that being with the horses gives them something to look forward to every day. In addition, they learn important life skills that helps them secure a stable job after the program en

Jonathan received three job offers in four months, but the offers were all rescinded because of his criminal background. With the help of Honest Jobs, he found a job which he loves and from which he is planning to retire. Learn more about Jonathan's experience in the video below: Read the full interview here: What was your job searching experience like before you found Honest Jobs? Jonathan: “I just got out of prison for the third time in January, so four months ago. I was i

Checkr easily integrates background check into companies’ workflow, builds fairness into their product to reduce human bias in hiring, and creates more opportunities for a wider pool of talent. Checkr is a valued customer of Honest Jobs , and has hired candidates with criminal background through the Honest Jobs platform. Ken Oliver, the Executive Director of Checkr.org says that “hiring workers with conviction histories not only creates a more inclusive, diverse workforce,

Elizabeth got turned down many times because of his criminal record, despite being well-qualified. Honest Jobs helped with not having to explain herself over and over again. With her new job, she has a chance to reestablish herself, with more stability and full benefits. Learn more about her experience in the video below: Read the full interview here: What experience did you have with the criminal justice system? Elizabeth: “I was convicted in 2019 for felony theft. My ex-wif

Open Hiring, the progressive hiring practice initiated by Greyston founder Bernie Glassman in 1982, continues to be adopted by more employers. It is a powerful, systemic way to boost diversity and inclusion, and provide opportunities to candidates who are otherwise often overlooked. Since adopting Open Hiring in 2019, The Body Shop North America has seen an improvement in retention and productivity. These are common benefits for Open Hiring ( as well as Second-Chance Hiring )

Gregg almost gave up hope of finding a permanent job because of his criminal background. However, with the help of Honest Jobs, he found one within a month. Now, he has the opportunity to build his life back and reach his goals. Learn more about his experience in the video below: Read the full interview with Gregg here: What experience do you have with the criminal justice system? Gregg: “Basically back in 2012, I was 23. I was young, dumb, doing stupid stuff. I thought I was

1.9 jobs for every unemployed person The Labor Department’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey discussed in Bloomberg’s article shows there were 11.3 million job openings in May, or about 1.9 jobs for every unemployed person. Hiring, quitting and layoffs The report also shows that 4.3 million Americans quit their jobs in May, which was the lowest in months. While hiring held steady, layoffs were about 1.4 million, way lower than pre-pandemic levels. It is still a job seek

Harley Blakeman, Founder & CEO of Honest Jobs , talks about how having a felony helps him be a better entrepreneur in this article for Denver Startup Week . Paul Graham, the co-founder of Y Combinator, coined the concept of Problem-Founder Fit. Harley spent more than a year in prison and got rejected for nearly 100 jobs he was qualified for. To address this problem at scale, he founded Honest Jobs , a Denver-based startup helping people impacted by the criminal justice system

Michael had his own company for 30 years. However, after being incarcerated, he couldn't find a job for 9 months. At Honest Jobs, he got hired at the first company he applied to from where he is planning to retire. Learn more about Michael's experience in the video below: Read the interview with Michael here: What experience do you have with the criminal justice system? Michael: “I just got out of federal prison for an income tax evasion charge. I was supposed to get probatio

Andy Hale’s article in Rolling Stone highlights why prison reintegration programs are needed - and who is doing it right. It is a lot harder for formerly incarcerated people to reassimilate into society after prison than many people realize. Not only because of fundamental issues finding housing, employment, and transportation or being able to afford clothing or food, but also because the stigma of being an ex-convict affects their personal lives. The majority of incarcerated

Ameer had job offers rescinded because of his criminal history, in spite of his qualifications. With Honest Jobs, he got a job where he can work with people facing similar challenges, and can help them succeed. Learn more about his experience in the video below: Read the full interview with Ameer here: What experience do you have with the criminal justice system? Ameer: "I was arrested back in 2015, went through the court processes, got a lawyer around that time. I was senten

Elizabeth was looking for employment for 3-4 months before she found Honest Jobs. With Honest Jobs, she got an offer only within a few days. Read about her experience in the interview transcript below: What was your job searching experience like before and after you found Honest Jobs? Elizabeth: "I have a Bachelor's degree and I'm used to having good paying positions. Getting in trouble, I did not realize the impact that it will have on my employment and my life. I was lookin

Alejandro has an assault charge, which made it very difficult for him to find stable employment. With Honest Jobs, he found an employer that welcomed him and a job that allows him plenty of time with his kids. Learn more about his experience in the video below: Read the full interview with Alejandro here: What was your job searching experience like before and after you found Honest Jobs? Alejandro: “Everything was good until I hit the background checks on the jobs. I followed

Building Freedom Ohio is an organization run by individuals who were affected by the criminal justice system - either they themselves or their family members. They are passionately pushing for changes in Ohio’s criminal justice system as they know the difficulties people face once they have been convicted of a crime. Source: https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2022-05-24/advocacy-group-gives-new-voice-to-formerly-incarcerated-people Their goal is to eliminate barrie

Recoveryworks was initiated by the Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) in Huntington, WV. They provide free educational programs with a holistic approach. The programs are available to formerly incarcerated people who were affected by the opioid epidemic and are the residents of Ohio, Kentucky, or West Virginia. The 4-week programs offer industry training, preparing candidates for manufacturing job opportunities. The participants receive hands-on machinist training, an $8 per hou