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Does T-Mobile Hire Felons in 2021?

By Last update February 5, 2019
jobs for felons, company profile, T-Mobile, telecommunications, mass media

Knowing if a company hires former offenders can save you time, which is why we’re answering the question: Does T-Mobile hire felons? They’re one of the largest wireless network companies in the US. They pride themselves on providing incredible service to their customers and taking care of their employees. With that in mind, let’s look at how to get a job at T-Mobile with a felony.

We’ll also answer questions like:

  • Does T-Mobile hire people with misdemeanors?
  • How can I find out if they’re hiring near me?
  • Does T-Mobile do background checks?
  • Will my felony disqualify me?

Let’s face it, finding a job can be a challenge even for people without a criminal record. We try to make this process easier for you by contacting companies directly and asking them if they hire former felons. We also do a ton of research to verify the responses we get. Why do we do this? We’ve been there. Our team is made up almost entirely of former felons and people who’ve worked closely with former offenders in the past.

We’re passionate about helping you succeed after prison.

Now, let’s take a look at how to get hired at T-Mobile with a felony record.

Does T-Mobile hire felons?

jobs for felons, company profile, T-Mobile, telecommunications, mass media

Official company policy for hiring felons

We contacted T-Mobile to ask if they hire felons, but they didn’t respond. However, we did find this statement on their website that helps explain their hiring practices:

“We take equal opportunity seriously — by choice.

T-Mobile USA, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All decisions concerning the employment relationship will be made without regard to age, race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, the presence of any physical or mental disability, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Discrimination or harassment based upon any of these factors is wholly inconsistent with our Company values and will not be tolerated. Furthermore, such discrimination or harassment may violate federal, state, or local law.”

This tells us they’re an EEOC employer, which means they’ve agreed to certain standards in their hiring practices. One of these standards is not turning down applicants simply because they have a criminal record. The exception to this is if that person’s crime would directly impact their ability to do that job. We’ll dive more into what that means a little later on.

Has T-Mobile hired felons in the past?

Based on our research, we’re unsure. We found mixed online reports — some employees said yes, and some said no. The good news is we’re not seeing ‘no’s all across the board. This means there are locations willing to hire former felons, or at least have been in the post.

Does T-Mobile hire people with misdemeanors?

It’s entirely possible. We know they’re an EEOC employer, so they should give someone with a misdemeanor a chance. They’re usually less severe, so it may be easier for you to find a job here than it would be for a former felon.

Is T-Mobile on the Ban the Box list?

Do you ever wish companies would remove the box on applications that asks if you’ve been convicted of a felony? That’s the goal of the Ban the Box Campaign. Another effort to help former offenders find employment is the Fair Chance Business Pledge. Companies that make this Pledge commit to delaying questions about a person’s criminal record until later in the hiring process.

We were unable to find a connection between T-Mobile and these efforts. That doesn’t mean they won’t give former felons a chance, it just means they haven’t officially signed on with either initiative.

Does T-Mobile have special programs for hiring felons?

Not that we could find. Again, this doesn’t mean they won’t hire former offenders. They simply don’t have a program with this goal in mind.

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

Uncertain likelihood of being hired with a felony

After researching T-Mobile, Relaunch Pad believes your odds of getting hired here are uncertain. This is partly because they didn’t respond to our inquiry and let us know if they hire former felons. It’s also because we saw conflicting information about whether or not they’ve hired former offenders in the past.

What we do know is they’re an EEOC employer. So your criminal record shouldn’t prevent you from working here unless it’s directly related to the job you’re seeking.

What are some entry-level jobs?

The T-Mobile Careers site uses a few different names for their main entry-level position. It may be listed as Retail Sales Associate, Mobile Associate or Customer Service Associate. In the end, the roles are very similar. You will be working in a T-Mobile store taking care of customers. This means you need to have customer service skills and be tech-savvy as well.

How to get hired at T-Mobile with a felony

What can you do to improve your chances of getting a job here? Start by following these steps as you begin putting together your resume:

  • Make sure your resume highlights your relevant experience. In this case, you’d want to point out any customer service or retail jobs you’ve had. T-Mobile wants to know you can greet customers and help them find the product and plan that are right for them.
  • List skills that show you’re a perfect fit for the position you’re applying for. Excellent customer service skills and being tech-savvy will go a long way in helping you get the job.
  • Don’t just throw a resume together and send it off. Be sure to have someone else look over it for you. Local job placement agencies or career centers are often happy to help you perfect your resume.
  • Submit your resume with confidence!

Okay, once you submit your resume and application, it’s time for the interview. Here are a few tips to help you make the most of this opportunity:

  • Walk in and introduce yourself with confidence. Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and be sure to look them in the eye. If you do this well here, they’ll know you can do it well when a customer walks into the store.
  • Stand up straight when you first meet the interviewer, and sit up straight during your time together. Good posture helps you feel more confident and it makes a great first impression!
  • You want everything you say and do to tell them you’re a responsible person. If any of your tattoos or piercings conflict with this message, try to cover them (at least until you know the company policy).
  • Be careful with your language. Remember, you’ll be working with a lot of families with children, so be sure to leave the prison slang at the door. Keep your language clean and be careful what stories you tell.
  • Keep the focus on how your unique skills will benefit their team. Talk about your relevant experience and tell stories about how you’ve overcome challenges in your past jobs.
  • If the interview shifts toward discussing your offense, be honest. We know they’ll do a background check. Take responsibility for what you did, but be sure you also talk about the positive changes you’ve made since then.
  • All of these things will help you stand out in the interviewer’s mind as a great potential employee!

Does T-Mobile do background checks?

Yes. The information we found online indicates T-Mobile will conduct a background check on all applicants. The timing of the background check may vary from one location to the next. Does that mean you shouldn’t bother applying here? Not at all.

Here’s what you need to know about background checks:

Not every state handles background checks the same way. In some states, their background check only goes back seven years. Here’s a list of those states:

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

(*positions that fall into certain salary brackets may require more thorough background checks.)

Along those same lines, there are states where your background check won’t show cases where you were found not guilty. These states are:

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

Ultimately, there are still many states where your background check will bring up your entire record. That includes cases where you were found not guilty. The states in this category are:

  • 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

What’s it like to work for T-Mobile? We went online to find out. Reviews on glassdoor.com tended to be extremely positive. Over 4,000 employees have reviewed the company, leaving them with a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars. 80% of these employees said they’d recommend T-Mobile to their friends.

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

Does T-Mobile hire felons? It’s possible they do, but some felonies may make it more difficult to get a job here. Here are some examples:

  • Misuse of technology, since that’s their main service.
  • Child abuse, as they work with a lot of families.
  • Theft, since you’ll be required to work the register.
  • Violence, as you’ll be working closely with customers in a fast-paced (sometimes stressful) environment.

Does T-Mobile drug test?

It doesn’t look like T-Mobile does a pre-employment drug screening. However, some other material we looked at mentioned the possibility of random drug screenings. So, it’s safe to assume they’ll test anyone who appears to be under the influence of drugs.

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

This is a chance for you to help other people in your situation. If you’ve been able to get a job at T-Mobile with a felony, please tell us about your experience. We’d love to hear what the hiring process was like, as well as any advice you have for others applying for a job here.

Josh Speraneo
Reentry Educator

Josh is a former offender who has faced the challenge of finding employment after spending time in prison. He is currently pursuing a career as a writer and Reentry Educator. His hope is that he can use his writing as a way to encourage others and help them to reach their full potential, no matter what struggles they've faced along the way. He also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Ozark Christian College.