It would be great to post a list of employers who are willing to hire people with criminal records. Unfortunately, that list doesn’t exist. Not only do employers fear the customer backlash of being known as “felon friendly”, but employers can also be a little skittish about hiring not knowing if they’ll be strong workers. It’s usually up to the job seeker to show the employer that isn’t true. What can you do to increase your chances of getting in front of an employer willing to hire you?

Contact a community organization. Pinellas County Ex-Offenders Re-entry Coalition can be a great resource as they expand their employment department, as well as the Pinellas County Urban League and your campuses’ Career Centers. Community Organizations will often have access to previously gathered information saving you a lot of time.

Use multiple ways to connect with employers. Using your friends and family as your network, let them know what sort of work you’re looking for and ask for leads. Also, watch out for job fairs or any other employer meeting events. Once you hear about an employer, reach out to them via phone, email, or in-person to talk about current open positions.

Talk about the tax benefits. If an employer seems interested in hiring you, but still unsure, encourage them to look into the Work Opportunity Tax Credit employers receive for hiring low-income ex-offenders and the Federal Bonding Program to protect their business against any potential loss.

For more information on finding employers and how to make that connection, visit Career One Stop’s Ex-Offender website.