Nucor Hiring Overview For 2023

Official Nucor policy for hiring felons

When we asked Nucor if they hire former felons, they sent us this reply:

“Our process is to hire the best and most qualified candidates who share the same values as we do. Having a felony conviction does not automatically preclude you from being employed by Nucor.”

That’s a good policy! Even so, their answer leaves us uncertain about whether or not they hire former felons. However, it’s nice to see they didn’t simply say no. Their job search page also indicates they’re an EEOC employer, so you know they aim for equality

Let’s dig a little deeper to see what else we can find out.

Has Nucor hired felons in the past?

Nucor didn’t give us any information regarding whether or not they’ve hired former felons in the past. Unfortunately, we didn’t find any other sources saying they have, either. This doesn’t mean they’ve never hired anyone with a criminal record. It just means that we don’t know about it.

Does Nucor hire people with misdemeanors?

Based on their response above, having a misdemeanor probably wouldn’t automatically disqualify you from being employed with Nucor, either. Although, with that being said, we weren’t able to find any information indicating they’ve hired people with misdemeanors before.

Will Nucor hire you with pending charges?

There’s nothing that lets us know what they think about unresolved charges. It might be a case-by-case basis as well.

Is Nucor on the Ban the Box list?

The Ban the Box Campaign was created to make sure former offenders aren’t written off because of their past mistakes. The Fair Chance Business Pledge has a similar goal of making sure people with criminal records aren’t unfairly judged. Employers supporting these initiatives delay questions about legal history until after the initial application. This helps make sure applicants are viewed in light of their qualifications, not their records.

We researched to see if Nucor was associated with either of these efforts, but were unable to find a connection. While Nucor doesn’t participate in these movements, they do follow EEOC guidelines. This means they will only consider your offense in light of the position you’re applying for. Keep reading to see a list of offenses which may make it harder to get a job here.

Does Nucor have special programs for hiring felons?

We weren’t able to find any information about programs for hiring former felons at Nucor.

What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?

After extensive research, Relaunch Pad believes your odds of getting hired at Nucor with a felony are uncertain. Their official policy on hiring former felons is positive, but we don’t know of any former felons actually getting hired.

Although they don’t Ban the Box, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re opposed to hiring former offenders. However, it may mean getting a job here will be more of a challenge for those with a criminal record.

What are some entry-level jobs?

Most people who begin working with Nucor start out in their Entry Level Production position. You’ll be working in a steel plant, so this position will likely involve heavy lifting and working in extreme temperatures.

On the bright side, according to indeed.com, the average salary for Entry Level Production Operators is over $50,000 a year!

If you have relevant experience, it may be possible to start in a slightly more advanced role.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

So, having answered those questions, what can you do to improve your chances of getting hired here?

First, we recommend spending time coming up with a great resume:

• Not sure where to start when it comes to a resume? For essential advice on putting together an excellent resume as a former felon, check out our complete resume guide.
• Need some help with details like spelling and grammar? Check with local job placement agencies and ask them to look over your resume to make sure it reads well.
• Do you have manufacturing or production experience? Make sure you highlight this experience on your resume and application.
• Do you know what Nucor is looking for in Entry Level Production employees? Be sure to check out listings on their careers page to see what requirements they have. That way, you can be sure to highlight your relevant skills and experience.
• When you submit your application and resume, you’re placed in a pool of potential employees. Having an amazing resume will help you to stand out from the crowd, so take time to do it right!

Next, you’ll have your interview. If you’ve made it to this point, congratulations! Now it’s time to make the most of the opportunity.

• When you’re interviewing, be sure to stand out for the right reasons. Prison slang and filthy language are out of place here. So is big jewelry, including certain piercings (cover up or remove the ones you can).
• Come in with a great attitude that shows them you’re excited to get to work. Think about it: Would you rather hire the sulky person who won’t look you in the eye, or the excited applicant who makes eye contact and asks lots of questions? Make sure you fall into the second group!
• Working for Nucor is going to be challenging. The work is hard and hot. Let them know from the moment you sit down to interview that you can handle it. Share stories of other situations which have tested your endurance, and how you came out ahead.
• Also, don’t complain about previous work situations. For many interviewers, this is a quick turnoff. If you complain about previous employers, they assume you’re going to complain about them, too. Don’t dwell on negatives from past jobs. Instead, focus on the skills and strengths you gained in those positions and brag about yourself a little.

The information we found suggests they will do a background check. Again, according to their statement, having a felony in your past won’t automatically disqualify you from working with them.

However, you should also be aware not every state conducts background checks in the same way.

Here’s some helpful information about background checks:

Several states won’t consider background information over seven years old. This is great news for former felons living in these states:

• California
• Colorado*
• Kansas*
• Maryland*
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire*
• New York*
• Texas*
• Washington*

(* some positions in these states may require a more thorough background check.)

There are also eight states that won’t consider cases where you were found not guilty:

• Alaska
• California
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New York

Many states still bring up your entire background, including cases where you were found not guilty:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• DC
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• Indiana
• 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

So, how do current and former employees feel about working at Nucor? We went online to see what they’re saying. Reviews tend to be positive for the company. In fact, employees on glassdoor.com gave them 3.7 out of 5 stars, and employees on indeed.com gave them 3.9 stars! Over half of the employees who left reviews on Glassdoor said they’d recommend the company to a friend.

What felonies Nucor will not hire

We didn’t get a straightforward response on this so we’re not sure if there are any redflag offenses. Read on for some barriers that could stop you.

What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?

Does Nucor hire felons? It’s hard to tell for sure. However, based on our research we believe certain types of felonies could make it more difficult to get a job here. Consider the following, for example:

• Alcohol-related offenses, because you’ll be working around heavy machinery.
• Drug-related offenses, as they pride themselves on having a drug-free environment.
• Violent offenses, as the work will be physically demanding and potentially stressful.
• Theft-related offenses are also a concern when it comes to any production position

Does Nucor hire sex offenders?

There’s no evidence saying they have nor reports stting they won’t. That means we don’t know.

Does Nucor drug test?

Because Nucor is a drug-free workplace, it’s likely they will drug test new employees. One of our online sources said they not only drug test when hiring, but also do random testing.

Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!

If you’ve been able to get a job at Nucor with a felony, we’d love to hear from you! What was the hiring process like? Do you have any advice for other former felons applying here?

Your feedback helps us make these articles as helpful and accurate as possible!