Voya Hiring Overview For 2023

Official company policy for hiring felons

We reached out to Voya directly to find out. Here’s what they told us:

“We are committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment where all employees and customers feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of our customers and communities in which we live and serve, and to creating an environment where every employee has the opportunity to reach her/his potential.”

While the above is not a direct answer, it’s a good start. But what exactly does this mean? Does Voya hire felons? Read on to find out.

Has Voya hired felons in the past?

Judging from their official statement, it seems probable that a company so eager to promote such an inclusive work environment would have hired felons in the past. However, we didn’t get a straight answer from the company and our research didn’t tell us, either.

Does Voya hire people with misdemeanors?

Since their policy on hiring felons is so open-minded, we are confident they hire people with misdemeanors. Why, you ask? They’re less severe offenses than felonies, so will be treated lighter.

Will Voya hire you with pending charges?

The financial giant didn’t mention anything about this to us, and there is no information online about it. We think you should try!

Is Voya on the Ban the Box list?

Ban the Box is an initiative created to get companies to make the job application process fair for former offenders. To do this, companies that sign on remove questions about your criminal record from the initial application.

The Fair Chance Business Pledge is a similar idea: An initiative introduced by the Obama administration that encourages businesses to make getting a job easier for former felons.

These two programs are becoming increasingly important in a world where a growing number of people have some sort of criminal record. Giving people a second chance is more important than ever.

Voya, at the time of writing, has not taken the Pledge and is not on the Ban the Box list. We also know that they do ask about a criminal record on their job application. These things do not have to be a drawback, as Voya’s inclusive company policy can go a long way in helping former felons, too.

Does Voya have special programs for felons?

The number of people in US prisons increased fivefold since 1980. This is why programs helping former felons reintegrate are vital to help them thrive.

Voya may have no special programs for felons, but they do their fair share to help communities across the USA in many other ways. They give to a number of charities and have a grants program, for example.

For a program targeted towards helping felons, check out the Prison Policy Initiative. It’s a nonprofit based in Massachusetts that aims to point out and fix flaws in the criminal justice system to eventually end mass criminalization. Their site is a great resource for all kinds of useful information.

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

Your chances are uncertain. Voya encourages inclusivity and fosters a working environment that does not discriminate against anyone, whether that be on the grounds of race, gender or past experience. This basically means that you absolutely can get a job at Voya with a felony. However, a lot depends on how your record impacts the job you’re applying for. We’ll cover that in a minute.

What are some entry-level jobs?

While there are a large number of jobs at Voya, most of them do require a relevant degree. However, there are a few jobs that do not.

You can be a Call Center Employee, for one. These jobs are open to all skill levels, provided you have previous call center experience and a high school diploma or GED. Here, you would be representing the company over the phone, so it does require great verbal and social skills and a bit of patience.

Similarly, Voya looks for Customer Service Representatives with a year of experience, as well as a personable demeanor.

Otherwise, you could be something called Stop Loss Cost Containment Support. This is a data entry position that requires no degree, but does ask for a year or more of relevant work experience.

For more information on the above jobs or to see their current openings, visit Voya’s careers site.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

Getting a job in today’s world is hard enough as it is, not to mention with a felony on your record. However, times are changing, slowly but surely. Many large companies are adapting friendlier policies, and more entrepreneurs in the public eye are raising awareness and helping felons.

What this tells you is that, in many situations, your criminal record is not what matters. Sometimes getting a job depends only on how you present yourself. With that in mind, here are our tips on how to get hired at Voya.

First and foremost, it starts with your resume.

Choose a clear font, a professional but friendly picture of yourself, and make sure you stick to the truth. When writing a resume, less is often more. You can always elaborate on things at the interview, but you don’t want to cram the page with information that may not be relevant.

In case you need help creating a resume that will stand out for all the right reasons, check out our detailed how-to for people with records here.

Doubt and anxiety before an interview is normal. What to say if they ask about your record? What if you mess up?

The best thing you can do to combat nervousness is to prepare. The more you practice, the calmer you will be.

Consider, for instance, mentioning things they may want to know about your record before they even ask about it. This way, you get to be in control of the situation and show your potential employer that you are a trustworthy, honest person.

It may be useful to practice the interview with a friend beforehand. This way, the actual interview will feel like you’ve done it before.

Yes. And, as we mentioned earlier, they do ask about a criminal record on the application.

Here’s some more information on background checks:

There are a number of US states that don’t consider anything older than seven years a part of your record. It may be worth waiting if your record is close to that limit. The states that don’t look at felonies more than seven years old are:

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

(* there are certain salary bracket positions where other conditions apply)

There are eight states that don’t consider cases where you were found not guilty. These are:

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

However, if you live in one of the following states, your whole record will be looked at. No matter the verdict or the time passed, these states will see all of it:

• 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

Voya is rated 3.1 out of 5 on glassdoor.com. Additionally, 56% said they would recommend working there to a friend. Work-life balance scored the highest, followed by the benefits, which many reviewers stated are one of the best things about working at Voya.

What felonies Voya will not hire

Voya didn’t tell us any specific felonies that would stop you from being hired. That said, there are lots that will make it harder for you to get the job, so read the next section for more on that.

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

Since Voya is a financial services company, there will obviously be some restrictions on working there. If your criminal record has to do with financial crimes, you’re going to have a tough time getting hired.

Offenses like fraud, theft and bribery will be toughest to work around.

Does Voya hire sex offenders?

The company hasn’t been very forthcoming about their history of hiring offenders, so we have no idea if they’ve hired someone with a sex offense on their record.

Does Voya drug test?

Online statements say that drug testing is part of getting hired. They’re even part of working at Voya. This is standard practice for any financial institution, really.

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

Did you get a job at Voya with a felony on your record? Pay it forward by telling us how you did it. If this article helped you land a job there, let us know in the comments below.