There is a lot of debate about what jobs convicted felons can and cannot get after they have served their time. Because of this debate, we thought it would be helpful to put together a comprehensive list of what jobs a felon cannot get after they have paid their debt to society.
There are many jobs that felons can’t get. A convicted felon is not allowed to be employed in a position where they have access to cash or cash equivalents, such as an armored car driver. They also aren’t allowed to work in the banking industry or handle valuables.
Some employers may allow ex-offenders to work for them, but only if they are willing to accept a lower salary than other employees. In addition, some employers may be willing to hire ex-offenders if they have worked hard at staying clean and sober while they were in prison.
Finally, it’s important that you understand that having a criminal record makes it more difficult for you to find a job than someone who doesn’t have such issues; however, there are still many jobs out there for you—you just need to search hard enough!
What jobs can a felon not get
Introduction
It’s a sad fact that getting a job can be difficult for anyone with a criminal record, including those who have served their time in prison or jail and are now looking to re-enter society. Unfortunately, many companies won’t even consider hiring someone with a felony conviction—even if the offense is clearly unrelated to the job.
There are many other industries that hire felons. If you’re struggling to find work, you may want to explore these options:
Child care provider (i.e., child-care worker, daycare employee, foster home operator).
- Child care provider (i.e., child-care worker, daycare employee, foster home operator).
- Personal care aide.
- Residential housing manager or supervisor.
Teacher (i.e., preschool teacher, professor, tutor).
Teaching is a job that involves interacting with children, who are impressionable and need to be taught right from wrong. A person convicted of a crime may not be able to successfully teach in a classroom setting because they do not have the necessary skills. For example, teachers must be able to inspire and motivate their students, as well as guide them through academic challenges. Teachers must also maintain order in the classroom and discipline students when necessary; if a teacher can’t do these things due to past convictions or bad behavior, they may not be able to succeed at their job.
As such, anyone convicted of a crime may not be able to become a teacher or tutor because it requires empathy for others (for example by understanding what motivates students), self-control (so as not to discipline inappropriately) and integrity (in being honest with oneself).
Counselor (i.e., drug abuse counselor, mental health counselor, sex offender counselor).
The counselor position is a job that requires the highest level of trust. As such, you need to be able to rely on your counselor’s ability to help you overcome your problems and make better decisions. If you can’t trust your counselor, how will they be able to help?
Unfortunately, there are some instances where counselors are not able to work with clients due to their own past convictions. This includes those convicted of felonies or misdemeanors in the last five years (or within five years after applying for job). In addition, there are certain types of misdemeanors that may disqualify one from becoming a counselor:
- A misdemeanor involving physical violence;
- Two or more convictions for driving under the influence within ten years; or any other crime related to alcohol; and
Job placement specialist.
A job placement specialist is a person who helps people find work. This can include people with criminal records. A job placement specialist will help these individuals find work in a variety of fields, including information technology and customer service positions. The reason this type of position is so helpful for those with criminal records is because the professional will come up with a strategy for finding employment that works best for the individual’s needs and limitations. He or she may also have access to special opportunities within his or her network that aren’t available elsewhere on the market.
Social worker.
A social worker is a trained professional who provides services to people with mental and physical disabilities, such as substance abuse disorders, as well as those suffering from poverty or homelessness. Social workers assist individuals in finding employment and housing, supporting them through difficult times and helping them manage their daily lives.
Unfortunately for felons seeking this career path, many states prohibit convicted felons from working with the public or vulnerable populations (including children), so there’s a chance your state won’t allow you to become a social worker. If your state does allow felon-friendly positions in the medical field (like nursing or pharmacy), it’s worth contacting local social service agencies to see if they offer any job openings that would allow you to help others while not being around children directly—and yes, this is absolutely possible!
Graduate school student (i.e., master’s degree student or doctorate degree student).
If you’re a felon and want to get a graduate school, good luck. Felons can’t get into graduate school.
Some felons might think that if they have a master’s degree, they can get a job at any company in the world. They are wrong: many companies won’t hire an individual with a master’s degree because of their felony conviction history. It makes sense; the employer doesn’t want someone who has been convicted of fraud working for them and potentially committing fraud again on their dime!
The same goes for getting a doctorate degree or professional license—if there’s even one thing on your record about your criminal past, it will be impossible for you to acquire either one of these things unless you move somewhere else (and even then).
Police officer.
Police officer is a job that can be filled by a felon.
Police officers are required to carry firearms, make arrests and testify in court. Although these duties may be difficult for some felons, it’s possible for them to perform their duties as police officers if they have been given permission by their employer or agency.
Lawyer (i.e., attorney, criminal defense attorney, parole lawyer).
If you’re going to be a lawyer, you’ll need to take an oath that requires you to uphold the law and be of good moral character. These standards are required by all states and are monitored by the American Bar Association (ABA).
Not only is it illegal for a convicted felon to practice as an attorney, but it’s also illegal for them even apply for admission into law school. The ABA publishes lists of approved schools that offer federal loans and grants for students who meet certain eligibility requirements—and most states require applicants to clear background checks before being admitted into these programs.
So if you want any chance at getting back on track after your conviction(s), consider pursuing other options instead:
Medical career field professional (i.e., dentist, nurse, doctor, social worker) *.
If you’re a felon and hoping to get into the medical field, it may be time to pivot your career goals. Many states have strict laws that prevent felons from working as doctors or other medical professionals. The reasoning behind this is that anyone who has committed a crime should not be given access to the human body, which can cause serious damage if used improperly.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule:
- If you were convicted of a misdemeanor instead of a felony (i.e., it wasn’t considered “serious” enough). In many cases, misdemeanors are considered less severe than felonies and don’t carry with them as much punishment or stigma attached. Even so, if you have been convicted of two or more misdemeanors within five years—even if they were not crimes against another person—you will likely still be prohibited from obtaining employment in the medical field until at least five years after those convictions occurred (unless those convictions resulted in jail time).
- If your offense was committed over 20 years ago and hasn’t resulted in further criminal activity since then (and maybe even if it has). If someone was convicted of drug possession 20 years ago but hasn’t since been arrested again for any reason whatsoever during that span of time (or longer), then they may qualify for licensure as an RN once their probation period ends; however each state sets its own regulations regarding these requirements so speak directly with an attorney before pursuing this path!
Military personnel
If you are serving in the military, there are a few ways that your felony conviction could affect your service.
If you have already been convicted of a felony and are serving in the military, it’s likely that your discharge has already been approved by the Secretary of Defense. However, some felons may still be able to join the reserves or National Guard if they meet eligibility requirements for those services.
If you were convicted before enlisting but were not discharged from the military at that time because of a good faith mistake about whether or not one could serve with a felony conviction (for example, if one believed he/she would get an honorable discharge), then one can request discharge from his/her current branch immediately after being found guilty of another crime committed after their initial enlistment was completed.[ii] This option is only available for up to 90 days after being convicted; however, those who want to reapply must wait six months before doing so.[iii] Once granted this option again by superiors within their respective branches of service,[iv],[v] they’ll need permission from their commanding officers before actually being discharged once again.[vi][vii][viii]
Conclusion
It’s best to find out what you can’t do before applying for something. This way you won’t waste time on something that doesn’t work and it won’t hurt as much if they deny you. It’s easy enough to find out but still, it can be disappointing when there are all kinds of jobs that felons can’t get.
