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Looking for a job is almost never fun, and this is doubly true for someone with a record. This article was written to give you a set of resources to help you with finding jobs for felons in Durham, North Carolina. Durham has a population of nearly 250,000 and is located in the Piedmont Triad metropolitan area that consists of Durham, Winston, Salem, and High Point. Think you might want some help finding work here? Look no further!
We have a lot of experience helping people with records find jobs. Our great team of Reentry Educators has done a tremendous amount of work and have contacted over 1,000 companies to find out the hiring practices and how likely the company is to hire former felons. We want to help you as best we can and give you the benefit of our knowledge and experiences, because we have faced some of the same challenges you do now.
Read on for a list of good places to look for companies that hire felons in Durham.
Jobs that hire felons in Durham
Durham is in the heart of North Carolina, has a major economic center, and is known for its technology and education sectors. It’s also home to Research Triangle Park, Duke, and North Carolina Central Universities, and the City of Medicine health centers.
You definitely need to leverage our excellent search tool to find the best fit for you. It will allow you to narrow your search by filling in the fields (job type, industry, etc.) and will show you the best openings for jobs that hire felons in Durham.
Top companies that hire felons in Durham
We know you are anxious to jump in and start making money. Everyone has bills to pay, however immediately going for positions based on your experience, training, and education does not always work well. Entry-level jobs may be the best way for you to get a new start when you have a record if you’re looking for work now. The supply of entry-level jobs is always larger, and they have fewer requirements. Another great way to find a new job fast is to check out a staffing agency. There are many agencies in the area, and there are always a number of good employment agency jobs for felons in Durham.
Now we will give you some specific local companies to look at. Click on the company name to go directly to its section, or read on to see them all.
Another very important tip is anyone seeking a new job needs to have a well-written and up-to-date resume. Take a look at our excellent and comprehensive guide to making a resume for people with a record.
Burt’s Bees
Burt’s Bees is a multinational, personal care product company headquartered in Durham. They are a subsidiary of Clorox and are known as an “Earth-friendly, Natural Personal Care Company” that produces and distributes worldwide products for personal care, health, beauty and personal hygiene.
Some promising jobs for former felons:
- Administrative Assistant
- Customer Team
- Packaging Co-op
- Research & Development Co-op
- Group Manager (People & Products)
Hendrick Automotive Group
Hendrick Automotive Group is the nation’s largest privately-held automotive dealership group and the sixth-largest automotive dealership group overall. They have over 8,000 employees, an annual revenue of $1.7 billion, are headquartered in nearby Charlotte, and they have a variety of entry-level type positions in the Durham area.
Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Service Advisor
- Detailer
- Client Advisor
- Shuttle Driver
- Paint Prepper
Wolfspeed, Inc.
Wolfspeed (formerly known as Cree) is a developer of semiconductors used in devices for power and radio frequency applications such as transportation, power supplies, power inverters, and wireless systems. Founded in Durham, they also produce LED bulbs and have locations in several eastern US states.
Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Materials Handler
- Process Technician
- Machinist
- Shipping Coordinator
- Metrology Technician
Parata Systems
Parata Systems is a manufacturing company that provides pharmacy automation, pouch packaging, and inspection technologies for pharmacies. They are a big company headquartered in Durham and have lots of job openings.
Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Assembly Technician
- Production Test Technician
- Engineering Technician
- Logistics Analyst
- Delivery Lead
Coca-Cola
Everyone knows Coke (Coca-Cola, that is). They have major bottling, distribution, and operating facilities in the Durham area. They are a huge company, and they have a lot of warehousing and driving opportunities.
Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Sales Merchandiser
- Warehouse Associate
- CDL Driver
- Sales Representative
- General laborer
- Route Sales Merchandiser
Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter is a large grocery store chain that has over 250 stores in the South Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. They employ over 30,000 people, are headquartered locally in Matthews, a suburb of Charlotte, and they employ a lot of people in the Durham area.
Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Bagger
- Cashier
- Personal Shopper
- Deli Bakery Clerk
- Grocery Stock Clerk
Duke Energy Corporation
Duke Energy Corp. is one of the largest electrical power holding companies in the U.S. and employs nearly 8,000 people in the Durham metro area. If you are into power and looking for an opportunity, then this may be the place for you.
Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Service Apprentice
- Associate Customer Care Specialist
- Utility Meter Technician
- Revenue Services Specialist
- Controls Technician
Belk
Belk is a major retail company based in North Carolina that sells clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. They have over 25,000 employees and have a lot of opportunities in the Durham area.
Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Sales Associate
- Fulfillment Associate
- Customer Service
- User Support Associate
- Merchandiser
Home Outlet Durham
Why not work at a home renovation and construction materials store? You don’t need to have crafting experience yourself, since you could do the retail side of the job, but if you have any handy know-how, you’ll have a leg up on your competition! Check out Home Outlet Durham if you’re looking for immediate work.
Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Retail Associate
- Cashier
- Receiver Stocker
- Lumber Specialist
Jason’s Deli
Jason’s Deli is a fast casual delicatessen restaurant chain with 6,000 employees and an annual revenue of over $500 million. There are a lot of Jason’s Deli locations in the area, and they are a solid growing company with a lot of accessible jobs available.
Some entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Delivery Driver
- Cashier
- Busser
- Baker
- Cook
Trucking jobs for felons in Durham
Like driving? Then you should look into driving trucks for a living. It is a very in-demand job, and their record for hiring former felons is very good. Many companies provide training for new drivers starting out as a trucker.
If you’re looking for trucking jobs for felons in Durham, here are some companies to check out:
- PGT Trucking
- National Carriers
- Riverside Transportation Inc.
- CDN Logistics
- Boyle Transportation
Warehouse jobs for felons in Durham
Warehouses are always looking for good, hard workers that don’t mind doing some physical labor. They have many opportunities for entry-level positions as well. You can also find similar jobs with any company that has a warehouse or shipping department, even one of your local big box stores.
Here are some warehouse jobs for felons in Durham:
- ProLogistix
- Bryant Durham Electric
- Sysco Corp.
- United Parcel Service (UPS)
- 84 Lumber
Temp agency jobs for felons in Durham
Staffing agencies are always a good place to look if you need to find a job fast. They’re always looking for workers, which is a big plus, and will know where best to place you to accommodate your record. Below are some places to check out for temp agency jobs for felons in Durham.
Here are some of the best agencies in the area:
- Duke Careers
- PeopleReady
- TalentBurst
- Adecco
- Hire Dynamics
Second chance and job training programs for felons in Durham
Unfortunately, North Carolina is not a Ban the Box state. This means employers can still ask prospective employees about their criminal history on job applications, versus just looking at a candidate’s qualifications.
For those that need some additional help, beyond job hunting, then you should take a look at second chance organizations. There are some great second chance and job training programs for felons in Durham and North Carolina. These programs provide a variety of resources for legal aid, medical, financial, education and more.
Resources for former felons in Durham:
- Exodus Foundation
- Mission: Our mission is to meet the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the children of inmates, the inmates themselves, ex-inmates and inmates’ families, with the result of healing wounds inflicted by crime, redirecting lives, and restoring these individuals into the community as productive citizens, parents and family members.
- Services offered: Education, Mental Health, Spiritual Services
- Durham Local Reentry Council
- Mission: The Durham Local Reentry Council’s mission is to demonstrate a holistic and systematic approach that seeks to reduce the likelihood of additional criminal behavior by providing unwavering community support for justice involved citizens.
- Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Education, Housing, Legal, Medical, Mental Health
- Community Success Initiative (CSI)
- Mission: Helping individuals and communities move from where they are to where they want to be.
- Services offered: Education, Family, Spiritual Services
- Campaign4Change
- Mission: Our mission is to equip economically disadvantage people in the community to dream big, strive for excellence in school and life, demonstrate strong character, and exemplify their highest potential.
- Services offered: Education, Mental Health
- Benevolence Farm
- Mission: Benevolence Farm seeks to cultivate leadership, promote sustainable livelihoods, and reap structural change with individuals impacted by the criminal justice system in North Carolina.
- Services offered: Clothing and Household, Education, Food, Housing, Medical
