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25 Most Effective Ways to Find Jobs for Felons in Cincinnati in 2023

By Last update August 9, 2022
Cincinnati Ohio downtown

Looking for a job can be difficult, especially if you have a record. In this article, we hope to assist you by providing some resources to help you with finding jobs for felons in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati is Ohio’s largest metro area, with a population of over two million people. It is known for the Cincinnati Museum Center, Findlay Market’s food and craft vendors, the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and its Over-the-Rhine district with famous 19th-century architecture. 

If you want to find a job in Cincinnati, then you have come to the right place! Our staff has contacted over 1,000 companies to find you the information about company hiring practices and their inclination to hire former felons. This article specifically looks at some businesses in the Cincinnati area and lists some of the most likely companies that hire felons in Cincinnati. 

Please check out the rest of our website for a lot of great information on getting a job and being successful despite legal challenges. It’s hard out there for former felons, and we want to help you in your job search and give you the benefit of our experiences.

Jobs that hire felons in Cincinnati

Cincinnati Ohio cityscape

Cincinnati has a long cultural history and is home to architecture dating back over 200 years. In the late 1800s, Cincinnati was commonly referred to as the “Paris of America.” It is a major economic hub in Ohio and has numerous businesses. You should be able to find a lot of potential jobs in the metropolitan area!

Take a look at the great search tool on our website to narrow your job search. Use the different fields below (job type, industry, etc.) to focus your search for jobs that hire felons in Cincinnati. 

Top companies that hire felons in Cincinnati

If you are having trouble finding a job that fits your experience, then you may want to try focusing on entry-level jobs. Entry-level positions have the lowest requirements and are more likely to hire someone with a criminal record. Another great source of job opportunities is temporary work through a staffing agency because these roles often require little to no education or experience. There are many employment agency jobs for felons in Cincinnati, and you should check them out if you’re looking for immediate work, particularly in entry-level positions.

We have put together a list of companies that are most likely to hire felons in Cincinnati below. Click on the company name to go directly to its section, or just continue to see all of them. 

Skyline Chili

Watson’s

Cintas

Givaudan

TriHealth

D2 Landscaping

Parkway Automotive

Grippo Potato Chip Company

Burger Farm and Garden Center

CBRE

To prepare for your job search, one of the first things you need to do is put together a solid and up-to-date resume. We have an excellent and comprehensive guide to making a resume for people with a record on our website.

Skyline Chili

Skyline Chili is a chain of chili restaurants that sell Cincinnati-style chili. It is named for Cincinnati’s skyline view, and it is the “official chili” of many local sports teams and venues, including the Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati Cyclones, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Kings Island theme park. As with any restaurant chain, they have a lot of different jobs and many that are entry level. They are always looking for good workers!

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Team Member
  • Server
  • Production
  • Shift Leader
  • Assistant Manager

Watson’s

The A.S. Watson Group is the world’s largest health and beauty retail group with over 14,000 stores worldwide that serve over 28 million customers per week. Watson’s has 120,000 employees and is headquartered in Cincinnati. They have a variety of entry-level type positions in the Cincinnati area.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Customer Service Representative
  • Warehouse Associate
  • Retail Operations Associate
  • Field Service Technician
  • Storeman

Cintas

Cintas is a large multi-billion dollar company that provides products and services to businesses including uniforms, mats, cleaning and restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers, and testing/safety training. They are headquartered in Cincinnati, have a good record for hiring felons, and have a lot of different jobs available.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Sales Representative
  • Assistant Route Service Sales Representative
  • Warehouse Associate
  • Production Associate
  • Route Delivery Driver

Givaudan

Givaudan is a Swiss company and is the world’s largest manufacturer in the flavor and fragrance industry. They make popular fragrances such as Blue Sugar, Chocolovers,  Gold Sugar, Pink Sugar, and Far Away. It is based in Cincinnati with over 11,000 employees and annual revenues of over $164 million. They have a good number of opportunities for entry-level positions.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Production Operator
  • Customer Care Representative
  • Material Handler
  • Associate Quality Lab Analyst
  • Forklift Operator

TriHealth

TriHealth is a major healthcare and services provider based in Cincinnati. It is an industry leader with over 11,000 employees and annual revenue of over $265 million. They are a major employer in the Cincinnati area and have a number of good entry-level opportunities.

Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Account Specialist I
  • Access Associate
  • Food Service Worker
  • Guest Services Associate
  • Environmental Services Technician

D2 Landscaping

One of the best ways to put yourself to work is with your hands. Landscaping is an excellent industry that’s almost purpose-built to let you free your mind (or your ears!) for other tasks while keeping your hands busy. D2 Landscaping has a solid industry rep and are often in need of hard-working yardwork enthusiasts.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Landscaper
  • Administration
  • Sales
  • IT
  • General Labor

Parkway Automotive

Do you have experience workng on cars? Here’s the chance to put your mechanic skills back to work. Parkway Automotive has been around for a long time and is a reputable place to get your vehicle fixed. If you’re ready to add to the excellence, send on your resume!

Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Mechanic
  • Administration
  • Technician
  • Sales

Grippo Potato Chip Company

Food processing is a strong industry here in Cincinnati, so looking for work at a place like Grippo makes sense. You’ll have to pass a drug test, just so you know. The company frequently posts open positions on social media and is upfront about pay structure.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • General Labor
  • Production Worker
  • Maintenance
  • Sales

Burger Farm and Garden Center

A relaxing yet occasionally really busy place to work, Burger Farm & Garden Center is a popular local spot to get starter plants and garden supplies for Cincinnatians. Keep an eye out for seasonal or festival-related work, as well. This can be a great spot to pick up extra occasional work!

Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Cashier
  • Farmhand
  • Garden Center Associate
  • Stocker
  • Table Attendant

CBRE

CBRE (Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis) is a multi-billion dollar commercial real estate services and investment firm. It is a Fortune 500 company and is the largest commercial real estate services company in the world. They have numerous entry level maintenance, support, and service jobs.

Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Mobile Maintenance Technician
  • Maintenance Tech Apprentice
  • Maintenance Assistant
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Transaction Coordinator

Trucking jobs for felons in Cincinnati

The truck driving industry is always a good source of in-demand jobs and has a history of hiring former felons. A lot of companies even provide training for starting a career as a trucker.

If you’re looking for trucking jobs for felons in Cincinnati, here are some companies to check out:

  • Old Dominion Freight Line
  • Ohio Freight Solutions
  • B & K Trucking Company Cincinnati
  • Trans-States Express
  • Duke Transportation LLC

Warehouse jobs for felons in Cincinnati

Warehouses can provide a lot of job opportunities such as loaders, handlers, forklift operators, drivers, and even administrative roles. Below are some warehouse companies to look for jobs with. You can also find the same types of jobs at any company with a warehouse or shipping department.

Here are some of the top warehouse jobs for felons in Cincinnati:

  • Verst Logistics Warehouse
  • Coca-Cola
  • Commonwealth Inc
  • World Distribution Services
  • Heidelberg Distributing Company

Temp agency jobs for felons in Cincinnati

Staffing agencies are a good way to get hired fast and are great sources of jobs overall. Below are some places to look for temp agency jobs for felons in Cincinnati.

Here are some of the best agencies in the area:

  • Advantage Resourcing
  • Randstad
  • Excel Staffing Services
  • Certified Staffing
  • Staffmark

Second chance and job training programs for felons in Cincinnati

Good news for felons in Ohio! A Ban the Box law went into effect in 2017. This means that employers can no longer ask prospective employees about their criminal history and are expected to look at a candidate’s qualifications.

There are second chance and job training programs for felons in Cincinnati to assist former felons. These programs provide a variety of resources for legal aid, medical, financial, education and more.

Resources for former felons in Cincinnati:

  • Alternative Solutions Associates, Inc. Re-Entry Program
    • Mission: It is our mission to provide returning citizens reentering the community after incarceration with the necessary, immediate and long-term resources needed to successfully reintegrate back into the community.
    • Services offered: Employment
  • Community Action Agency (CAA) Fresh Start
    • Mission: CAA assists ex-offenders in finding employment by providing services with a special focus on the unique barriers that people leaving prison often face when returning to society. We are committed to provide ongoing retention services in order to promote stabilization and reduce recidivism.
    • Services offered: Clothing and Household, Food
  • Biblical Counseling Institute
    • Mission: BCI has brought counseling training to Thailand (left), Trinidad, Ghana, Uganda and opened its first Satellite Training Center (STC) in Odessa, Ukraine. Trinidad / Tobago and Brisbane, Australia are now STC’s. Invitations have come from Russia, Kenya, Eastern Europe, the Philippines, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. Third world pastors are poorly equipped and hungry for training.Our passion for missions includes our own country. BCI joined a team of biblical counselors to serve returning students at Virginia Tech the Sunday following the murder of several students. BCI intends to provide quality training at little or no cost to missions, with your prayerful help.
    • Services offered: Spiritual Services
  • St. Vincent de Paul
    • Mission: St. Vincent de Paul Reentry Services is a collection of programs centered around assisting in a successful transition from incarceration back into society for returning citizens.
    • Services offered: Spiritual Services
  • Franklin County Re-Entry Coalition
    • Mission: The FC-RAB is charged with creating safer neighborhoods and more productive residents by increasing the success rates of ex-offenders transitioning from correctional and rehabilitative institutions back into the community. We hope the resources listed on this page are a valuable resource toward achieving that vision.
    • Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Clothing and Household, Education, Employment, Family, Food, Housing, Legal, Medical, Mental Health
Garland Brewster headshot

After a successful 25-year career in the IT industry, Garland is now a Reentry Educator with The Relaunchpad. He has significant experience writing documents (resumes, LinkedIn profiles, etc.) and advising job seekers. Garland shares his experience overcoming legal challenges to help others in similar circumstances move forward and find happiness and prosperity.