Job for Ex Offenders

Job Boards, Legal Services & Training Opportunities

BrokeButNotForLong, Inc., strives to reduce ex offender recidivism by assisting them virtually with the job hunt.  Hence, our overall goal is to reduce crime. There aren't many job resources available for them, as is evident in the few items posted here.  Contact us if you have more resources to share, and we'll post them on our website.

1.  iSeek.org has a Web page on their site specifically for exoffenders on the job hunt. They cover barriers to employment, background checks, and resume writing: http://www.iseek.org/guide/exoffenders/index.html.

2.  H.I.R.E. Resources is a national network for both employers, exoffenders and those practioners involved in criminal justice: http://www.hirenetwork.org/resource.html

3.  Goodwill Services offers job and literacy training for exoffenders.  They even offer services pre-release: http://www.goodwill.org/goodwill-for-you/specialized-services/people-with-criminal-backgrounds/

4.  The Next Step offers job board with "Felon-Friendly Employers", as part of the Cooperative of Felon-Friendly Employers (COFFE) database: https://www.thenextstep99.com/?ES=Y&EST=exoffenders

5.  Jail to Job is a blog for ex offenders with advice from an anonymous author at Believe Publications.  Since the author appears to know what he or she is writing about, and given the recent and ongoing postings, we suggest taking a look at this: http://jailtojob.com/wordpress/.

6.  CV.net provides resume and cover letter writing advice, as well as disclosure rules:

http://www.cvtips.com/job_search_ex_offender.html

7. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Exoffender Resources: This Web page provides to the Department of Labor's employment sites like the CareerOneStop, as well as information about financial aid and transcripts (including GEDs).

http://www.bop.gov/inmate_programs/itb_references.jsp

8. Those ex-offenders who are veterans should contact their local office of Veterans Affairs for assistance. They have a wide range of programs that can be helpful including rehabilitation services. The Web site for the VA is http://www.va.gov, or you can contact their national toll free number at 1-800-827-1000. Local offices are listed in the government pages of the telephone book.

9. Employment Information Handbook for Exoffenders from the Department of Labor has a plethora of information on apprenticeships, unemployment insurance, and federal bonding programs to name a few.  

10. Federal Bonding Program: This program provides fidelity bonding insurance coverage to individuals with criminal histories and other high-risk job applicants who are qualified, but fail to get jobs because regular commercial bonding is denied due to their backgrounds.  The US Department of Labor (DOL) created this program to guarantee the job honesty of at-risk job seekers.  Federal financing of Fidelity Bond insurance, issued free-of-charge to employers, enables the delivery of bonding services as a unique job placement tool. Contact your State Employment Service for the for issuance of a federal bond from the DOL.