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Hewlett-Packard is a major tech company that makes computers and provides IT services. They will be a great source of employment for the right candidate, but does Hewlett-Packard hire felons?
If you have a record, this is a question you need to think about as you hunt for a job. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy for former felons to find career opportunities. That’s why we do our best at Relaunch Pad to make your job search as painless and efficient as possible.
To accomplish this, our qualified writers research the facts thoroughly and even ask companies directly about their hiring policies. Members of our staff have years of experience in reentry programs, which means we know what it takes to find work.
We also make a point of addressing other concerns that might weigh on your mind, such as:
- Does Hewlett-Packard hire people with misdemeanors?
- Does HP do background checks?
- Will they test for drugs?
You have questions! Our job is to answer them. So, let’s get right to it. Read on to learn more about Hewlett-Packard’s hiring policies.
Does Hewlett-Packard hire felons?
Official company policy for hiring felons
Unfortunately, we have not yet made contact with HP about their hiring policies for former felons. We hope to do so soon so we can update this article. Until then, however, we’ve made some guesses based on our research.
Has Hewlett-Packard hired felons in the past?
Unfortunately, we haven’t found concrete evidence that HP has hired former felons in the past. This doesn’t mean they haven’t, or that they aren’t willing to hire people with a record in the future. It only means that the information we have doesn’t definitively say that former felons have worked here before.
Does Hewlett-Packard hire people with misdemeanors?
Unfortunately, we also have no evidence that Hewlett-Packard has hired people with misdemeanors. Again, this doesn’t mean that they won’t, it just means we haven’t seen any confirmed reports that they will.
The good news (so to speak) is that companies are usually more willing to hire people with misdemeanors than they are people with felonies. If your record contains minor offenses, you may have an easier time figuring out how to get hired at Hewlett-Packard with a record.
Is Hewlett-Packard on the Ban the Box list?
Ban the Box is a movement with the objective of removing questions about criminal records from job applications. The goal is to give former felons the opportunity to be considered for their work history, rather than their past mistakes.
There is also the Fair Chance Business Pledge. The Fair Chance Business Pledge is an optional promise that employers make to not discriminate against former felons in the hiring process.
These movements are both really awesome, but unfortunately HP isn’t involved in either. It’s easy to read into this as a bad sign, but the truth is that it’s not a huge deal. A lot of companies that hire felons aren’t involved in either program.
Does Hewlett-Packard have special programs for hiring felons?
There are some companies that have programs designed for hiring people with criminal records. These programs are an excellent resource for people trying to find work with a record.
However, as you’re likely able to guess, HP doesn’t have any. That said, programs for hiring former felons are rare. Many companies that are open to hiring people with records don’t have programs in place for that.
What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?
Based on what we know, we can only rate your chances of getting hired at Hewlett-Packard as low. This is based mostly on the fact that there is little evidence that they have a history of hiring former felons.
This probably isn’t what you were hoping to hear. It’s possible, though, that this will change when we hear from the company. They may straight-out tell us you can get a job at Hewlett-Packard with a felony!
What are some entry-level jobs?
As a leading tech company, Hewlett-Packard has lots of high-level positions for people with advanced degrees and specific experience. However, if you are looking for entry-level work, there are also plenty of opportunities to look into.
Perhaps the most obvious are in their customer support branch. Like most big companies, they have positions available for customer service professionals. Your duties will include answering the phone and addressing customer concerns. These jobs will have you dealing mostly with dissatisfied customers, but it’s an opportunity for regular hours.
There are also positions available for tech support. The IT jobs will require you to have some specific skills, so be ready. However, if you can land one, these jobs may be a little bit higher paying.
Customer service positions will be shift work and require you to be flexible in your schedule.
How to get hired at Hewlett-Packard with a felony
Because Hewlett-Packard doesn’t seem extremely interested in hiring people with felonies on their record, you will need to be very focused during the application process to have any chance at all.
It starts by submitting a great application and resume. Clearly highlight any experience you have in IT. The idea is to make yourself stand out from the rest of the pack, but this is particularly true when the company isn’t very felon-friendly.
If you need a little bit of help with your resume, there are several ways to get it. Career centers are a great way to get professional input on your resume before sending it in. If you can’t make it to one of those, seek help from a friend or family member before submitting your application.
In the best case scenario, you get called in for an interview. Since we know HP doesn’t advertise if they hire felons (or if they do at all), your objective should be to make it impossible for them to imagine you in jail.
Show up dressed professionally, and be sure to cover any unconventional tattoos or piercings. This is expected of any applicant, but perhaps even more so of you as someone with a record. You will also need to be extra mindful of your presence in the room. Be polite, try to come off as comfortable, and take every opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge and experience.
To make the best first impression possible, you may want to have a practice interview with a friend or family member.
Does Hewlett-Packard do background checks?
HP does conduct background checks before finalizing a hire.
However, not all background checks are the same. Where you live will have a big impact on what the company sees.
For example, there are some states that only look seven years back. Here are those states:
- California
- Colorado*
- Kansas*
- Maryland*
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire*
- New York*
- Texas*
- Washington*
There are also some states that will not include information on charges you were found not-guilty of.
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana (limited check)
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
However, there are a number of states that include it all. If you live in any of these places, Hewlett-Packard will see your entire record, including things you were found not-guilty of:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- DC
- Delaware
- Florida
- Idaho
- Indiana (extensive check)
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Company ratings
We also went online to find out what it is like to work at Hewlett-Packard. On glassdoor.com, they have a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Their lowest average rating was a 3.2 for comp and benefits. Their highest rating was a 3.8 for work/life balance.
What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?
For any jobs with customer service, violent and sexual offenses will be weighed heavily against you. And of course, this is a tech company, so hacking, fraud, etc. may also be disqualifiying.
In general, people with records from many years ago usually have a slightly easier time finding work than people who were recently released.
Does Hewlett-Packard drug test?
They will drug test before finalizing a hire.
Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!
If you have experience with HP, we want to hear from you. Does HP hire felons? Did our guide help you figure out how to get a job at Hewlett-Packard with a felony? Let us know so we can improve our information.
