Finding a Job following a Felony Conviction: There is Hope!

I am tired and weary of people who have climbed into the “Wambulance” of victimhood and own that experience as a mantra – a badge as to why they aren’t finding the success in life they want – it’s time to BS.  Finding a job following a felony conviction is hard – that is true – but it is possible.  I’ve done it and you can too!

Are You a Victim or a Victor?

It’s so easy to get caught up in “how things are supposed to work” – I call it the “should’s” of life vs exploring the “could’s” of life.  You see every choice we make has a consequence.  That is really a simple concept.  Stated another way – you reap what you sow.  So, if you’ve screwed up in life and the consequence is the label “convicted felon” then there will aways be a consequence that follows.  Big damn deal…  Well maybe said in a different way – you can make it a “big deal” and climb into the “wambulance” of life and whine over your plight or you can recognize that if bad choices have negative consequences then good choices can empower you to move past the label.

I wrote a blog regarding finding a job following a felony conviction sometime back that might be a good starting point for this conversation:  https://www.chuckgallagher.com/we-dont-hire-convicted-felons-raising-the-hr-bars-blog-may-change-your-mind/

This evening (you can tell when I write most often here) one of the readers responded with these comments (his/her name is being withheld out of privacy concerns):

After reading through the many comments and websites regarding felony convictions, Ive come to the conclusion that I’m not alone in this struggle.

You claim with hard work any felon can overcome the past. Your a liar …..

As many of us know all to well the mention of a felony is a death sentence.
Every company that I’ve applied at or interviewed for has turned me down any postion.

This morning I had a job offer with a trash company went through the entire interview process. What I learned is no matter how hard I try not even a trash collection company will hire me.

My felony is over 10 years old stop feeding these people false hope your doing us all a great in justice.

btw Ive applied at hundreds of positions only to be told never mind we made a mistake…

Finding a Job Following a Felony Conviction: Truth, Illusion, and Hope

Here’s the truth – I am a convicted felon.  It was hard getting my first job.  I know when I got it that I better be the best at what I did or I might not get another opportunity.  I sold cemetery property door-to-door.  Within 9 months I became their top sales person.  I was offered a chance to manage a team.  They became a top performing team.  From there…it was on!  Finding a job following a felony conviction is possible.

What can be learned from the above truth?

1. It’s likely going to be hard to get your first job.  Get over it.  Accept the truth and work hard.  No one said that life would be easy once you got out of prison…so deal with it and do what it takes to succeed.
2. Don’t apply to Wal-Mart, Verizon or most major companies – that’s a waste of time.  You’re likely smart so use your God given mind to think thru the process.  SECRET: Apply for jobs that most people don’t want to do.  Duh…if most people don’t want to do them, then there is likely a greater chance that they will hire you.  I sold cemetery property door-to-door and that is no glamor job.  But how many of you think of that as a career?  Think of it this way, everyone breathing needs to eventually buy what I had to sell…so all I had to do was ask people who were breathing.
3. Well, where should I look Chuck? Can you hammer a nail?  Can you set up a handyman business using “Thumbtack”? Are you able to clean a house or office building?  Perhaps you can mow a lawn or remove leaves?  Is selling something you can do? SIDE NOTE: Most of the folks I was incarcerated with were former drug dealers.  They were smart business people.  If they had used their skills in a legal business vs. drugs they would be wildly successful.  Use your skills and (back to #2) do what other people are unwilling to do.
4. But Chuck – when I apply they job turn me down.  That happens!  I don’t deny that.  I’ve been turned down for jobs, places to live and even traveling into Canada.  I’m a convicted felon and there are continued consequences.  But, with the highest incarceration rate of any developed country – have you considered that there are those of us (convicted felons) that would hire other convicted felons – just because it’s the right thing to do?  Don’t make this harder on yourself than you have to.
5. Be upfront on every interview you go to.  Ask them before they every have a chance if they have a policy against hiring convicted felons.  Trust me here – that will shock the interviewer.  If they say “Yes” then thank them for their time and let them know that you didn’t want to waste their time with an interview that might go nowhere.  They will likely ask you “what happened?” and then you have a chance to explain.  Two things are true with this strategy: (1) you’ve shown you respect their time and (2) AND MOST IMPORTANT: You’ve shown that you’re willing to own your mistake and be truthful.  EVERY SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP IS BASED ON TRUTH.  So if you want a chance you have to be transparent and truthful.  If they find out in a background check that you’re a convicted felon and you didn’t tell them up front – game over.  TRANSPARENCY is key to finding a job following a felony conviction!
6. When  you get the job – you have to do your job better than anyone else.  If you’re the BEST then you are making yourself valuable to your boss and companies keep employees that are valuable.  Finding a job following a felony conviction may very well be a challenge, but you control how good you are and whether, in many cases, you can keep the job.  Be respectful. Work harder than your co-workers. Make your boss love you for how hard and good you work.  And consider what you’re doing and how you look – clean cut works better than making a statement.  My son, for example, (not a convicted felon) has dread locks.  He is routinely turned down for jobs because of hiring bias.  That’s his choice.  I love my son and his hair is cool, but he has to decide to conform and improve his employment odds or make a statement.  With a felony conviction – most of us don’t have the luxury of making statements.
7. From cemetery property door-to-door sales person to Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing in a public company to an owner of several companies today – the truth is you can do it.  A wise man once told me: “Son, you’ve made a terrible mistake, but YOU are not a mistake!”

You are not a Mistake!

Never forget that!  Finding a job following a felony conviction may be hard – that I don’t deny.  But it can be done and don’t let anyone tell you it can’t.  That’s just BS.  People love to wallow in misery and many people who knew you want to keep you down.  Only you get to determine if you are going to be a victim or a victor.

I hope you choose – VICTOR!

If you have questions, please contact me here: https://www.chuckgallagher.com/contact/ – my number is published.  Meanwhile, my best to you.  You can do it!

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME!

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Create an ethical culture of people who do the right thing because they want to. Contact business ethics keynote speaker Chuck Gallagher directly at (828) 244-1400.