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It’s an unfortunate fact that many former offenders have a hard time finding employment. We have put together this resource with the sole purpose of making it a little easier to find jobs for felons in Boston, Massachusetts.
There are a ton of jobs in Boston — we’re talking almost three million. Something you should bePeople from all walks of life have found their way and with this guide, you’ll hopefully find that it is just a little bit easier.
To help you, we have reached out to over one thousand major and minor employers to learn more about their hiring practices for former felons and use that information to help you find a job. We even have former offenders on our own staff who are well acquainted with the realities of your struggle. We know the struggles you face in the job market, and we want to make it easier to find jobs that hire felons in Boston!
Jobs that hire felons in Boston
Below we have included a search feature, along with a listing of companies that hire felons in Boston. You can narrow the focus of your search on this list by focusing on the industry or type of job you are interested in.
Top companies that hire felons in Boston
There are a lot of factors that can make a job friendly to former offenders. It’s for that reason that the list you are about to read is so diverse! This article is filled with jobs that are appropriate for people with a range of different backgrounds.
Some of the companies have made a public commitment to hiring former felons, while others just provide a large number of entry-level positions to the Boston community. Whatever your background, there should be something on here for everyone.
Fill in the fields to narrow down your search fields such as job type or industry.
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts Bay Transportation
Before you go out there and start looking for work, make sure that all of your ducks are in a row. A good resume can go a long way towards shortening the length of your job hunt. Here is a complete guide to making a resume with a record.
Now that we’ve taken care of that, read on to find out more about the employment opportunities in Boston!
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General is a massive hospital that requires a lot of labor power to keep it running. While many of the jobs at any hospital will require an advanced degree, job hunters are often surprised by how many entry level positions are also available.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Custodian
- Landscaping
- Cafeteria
- Housekeeping
Lawn Starter
A city like Boston has a ton of great lawn care service providers in the area, and Lawn Starter is a giant among them. They offer full landscaping services and could provide you with a fresh start, just as they do their lawn care clients.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Lawn Installer
- Landscaper
- Blog Writer
- Customer Support Representative
Gillette
Gillette produces razors along with a wide slate of other personal care products. They have both a corporate office and production and shipping location in Boston, making them a major employer in the area.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Manufacturing
- Shipping and Handling
- Custodial
- Quality Assurance
Boston University
Boston University is a large college in the Boston area. While it does have plenty of high level positions, there is also a lot of work for people who are looking for something a little more entry-level.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Custodian
- Administrative Assistant
- Food Service
- Maintenance
Flour Bakery and Cafe
Not only do you get to work in a positive and structured work environment, you get a discount on the food and beverages here! That said, it’s well-earned because the work is hard and you’ll be busy. Flour Bakery and Cafe might just be the right fit to get you going again.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Counter Staff
- Steward / Dishwasher
- Baker
- Driver / Receiver
Massachusetts Bay Transportation
The Massachusetts Transportation Authority is responsible for most of the transportation services in the city of Boston. It’s a large network that features a range of steady employment opportunities.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Driver
- Maintenance
- Custodian
- Ticket Sales
Cleanzen
You’ve likely seen their cleaners driving around town, but if you haven’t heard of this company before, Cleanzen is a popular commercial cleaning service in Boston. They call their cleaners Cleanzeners and offer a variety of services, though they do also perform a background check so make sure you’re prepared to offer the level of clearance to match the type of cleaning you want to do.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Residential House Cleaner
- Housekeeper
- Administration
- Commercial Cleaner
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is actually a Boston-based publishing house. They provide lots of jobs in the area, many of which are entry level. Here are a few jobs you might expect to see them offering.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Administrative assistant
- Customer service
- Custodian
- Editorial Assistant
Legal Sea Food
Legal Sea food is a large Boston based restaurant group. They own a large number of restaurants in the Boston and broader Massachusetts area. In fact, Legal Sea Food employs over 2500 people, making them a great opportunity to find work.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Busser
- Host
- Server
- Food Prep
Prudential Center
Have you shopped here before? The Prudential Center houses lots of local retailers you can consider for employment, but also offers roles for the mall itself.
Consider one of these entry-level roles to step into:
- Greeter
- Custodial
- Maintenance
- Security
Trucking jobs for felons in Boston
The Trucking industry serves as a great opportunity for former offenders for several reasons. For one thing, they provide positions that tend to pay a good deal more than minimum wage. The industry has also historically been pretty open to hiring former offenders
Here is a list of some trucking jobs for felons in Boston.
- YRC Freight
- Walmart Transportation
- Schneider
- Dart
Warehouse jobs for felons in Boston
Warehouse jobs are another great source of opportunity because the hours are long and the pay is typically fairly high. Like any city, there are quite a few warehouse jobs for felons in Boston to bring your attention to.
Temp agency jobs for felons in Boston
Sometimes it may be to your benefit to look for shorter-term employment. Staffing agencies have long been a good source of employment for former offenders. Fortunately, there are employment agency jobs for felons in Boston.
These are the top temp agency jobs for felons in Boston!
- ACE Employment Management Services
- Beacon Hill Staffing Group
- Hollister Staffing
- Scion Staffing
- Marathon Staffing
Second chance and job training programs for felons in Boston
As of 2018, the Boston area has adopted Ban the Box laws, which means that candidates will not be asked about their criminal history when they send in their resumes. This is great news, but also not the only second chance opportunity for Boston based former offenders looking for a little extra help.
There are some other second chance and job training programs for felons in Boston that help former felons looking for work
- Boston Reentry Initiative (BRI)
- Mission: This inter-agency public safety initiative aims to help incarcerated violent adult offenders transition back to their neighborhoods following release from jail through various services. The program is rated Promising. The study found that after three years statistically significantly fewer program participants had been arrested for any crime and violent crime compared to the control group. The program was also associated with reductions in the subsequent overall time to arrest for crime.
- Service offereds: Addiction and Recovery, Education, Employment, Family, Food, Housing, Mental Health
- The Mayor’s Office of Returning Citizens Mission
- Mission: Our mission is to assist Returning Citizens to reclaim their dignity and purpose; and rebuild their lives through positive choices, incentives, and opportunities.
- Services offered: Employment, Food, Housing, Legal, Medical, Mental Health
- Boston Project Rebound Reentry Services
- Mission: The purpose of Boston Project Rebound Re-Entry Services, Inc., Inc. is to meet the service needs of reentry, previously incarcerated, women and men, from release to successful reintegration into community living through Peer Navigator Services.
- Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Employment
- STRIVE Boston
- Mission: STRIVE Boston is a Workforce Readiness program that envisions a world where everyone has the opportunity to achieve economic self-sufficiency, dignity, and a promising future.
- Services offered: Employment
