Back to list

19 Sure Methods for Finding Jobs for Felons in Lincoln in 2023

By Last update August 11, 2022
Lincoln Nebraska downtown

Finding employment can be difficult for just about anyone, but it’s especially challenging for former offenders with a past. If this is you, use this resource to boost your chances (and confidence) when searching jobs for felons in Lincoln, Nebraska. The city’s population is just under 300,000 with more than 20,000 businesses. With these odds, you’ll get a second chance at becoming a productive member of society.

Our staff reached out to a thousand companies to find out if they’ll hire former offenders. Most here at Relaunch Pad have either sat in front of a judge or have experience with the court system and we’re eager to share our experiences and advice with those willing to listen. We’re familiar with the struggles that come with integrating back into the community. Continue reading to find out what our research turned up for companies that hire felons in Lincoln.

Jobs that hire felons in Lincoln

Lincoln Nebraska cityscape

To get you started on your hunt for jobs that hire felons in Lincoln, we’ve created a search feature for you. Simply fill in the fields below with a desired job type or an industry that interests you to find matching listings. 

Top companies that hire felons in Lincoln

When looking for employment with a criminal record, it’s easy to focus on the obvious industries. For Lincoln, this is automotive manufacturing and repair, milling and storing grain, flour, and feed, and other varied manufacturing commerce. Consider expanding your search. This could be a chance to get in on the ground floor of that company you’ve been eyeing but were afraid you weren’t qualified for. One way to do this is to look at staffing agencies. Don’t discount local temp agency jobs for felons. Often little or no experience or education is needed and it’s a great way to get hired quickly. 

Below are our top picks of employers in Lincoln, Nebraska. Here, you can choose to click on a company’s name to jump to its section for more details or keep reading to explore all the job possibilities in Lincoln.

Lincoln Industries

Goodwill

Great Clips

B and R Stores

MacPractice

JCI Industries, Inc.

LeadBelly

Greyhound Bus Lines

Total Tool Supply, Inc.

CleanLinc Cleaning Services, Inc

But first, review your resume. Is it current? Does it highlight your skills and talents? What about your experience? If you’re not sure, we’ve got your back. Check out the resume guide we’ve designed specifically for people with criminal backgrounds.

Lincoln Industries

Locally owned Lincoln Industries is North America’s largest, privately-held metal finishing company and a top 25 Best Medium-Sized Companies to Work For in America. According to our research, they also hire previous offenders.

Here are some of their best entry-level jobs:

  • Maintenance Technician
  • Shipping & Receiving Clerk
  • Material Handler
  • Coater
  • Pipe Fabricator

Goodwill

If you’re searching for jobs for felons in Lincoln that will let you help other former offenders, consider a job at Goodwill. They’re known for offering previously incarcerated individuals employment opportunities and access to job training.

Some entry-level jobs associated with Goodwill are:

  • Donated Goods Processor
  • Retail Sales Associate
  • General Laborer
  • Cashier
  • Stock Associate

Great Clips

With more than 40,000 employees working at one of their 4,000+ locations across the United States and Canada, Great Clips easily qualifies as the largest hair salon in the industry. However, each of these locations are independently owned and operated, giving them complete control over their own hiring policy. If you hold a cosmetology license but have a less-than-perfect background, Great Clips might offer you the second chance you’re looking for.

A few entry-level jobs found at Great Clips include:

  • Hair Stylist
  • Receptionist
  • Janitor
  • Accounting
  • Scheduler

B and R Stores, Inc.

Locally headquartered B and R Stores, Inc. operates 22 grocery stores across Nebraska and Western Iowa. They’re also an employee-owned company; of their more than 2,000 employees, nearly half of them are also owners. Job-seekers comfortable with customer service positions and dealing with the public should keep this one in mind. 

Here are some typical entry-level jobs available at B and R Stores, Inc.:

  • Loss Prevention
  • Overnight Manager
  • General Labor
  • Customer Service
  • Department Support

MacPractice

If you’re a techie with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Sciences or a related field, MacPractice is an industry-leading medical and dental software developer that also provides support to clients using the Macintosh platform. They offer their employees a great benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, short and long term disability, and more. There’s also a game room and 24-hour fitness center available to employees.

Consider these entry-level positions when applying at MacPractice:

  • Customer Service Representative
  • Software Developer
  • Technical Support
  • Quality Assurance Tester
  • Systems Analyst

JCI Industries, Inc.

JCI Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of Ohio Transmission Corporation, rents and services process equipment to water and wastewater treatment plants across the Midwest. For those with a criminal history, JCI could be your ticket back into the working community. They offer a range of positions from warehousing to sales.

Here are a few of their entry-level positions:

  • Receptionist
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Maintenance
  • Technician
  • Assembler

LeadBelly

LeadBelly is a premier restaurant and bar located inside the 130-year old downtown building at Lincoln’s Haymarket. If you’re searching for a position within the foodservice industry that offers insurance and benefits, LeadBelly and their comprehensive benefits package may be exactly what you’re looking for.

You can find the following entry-level jobs at LeadBelly:

  • Server
  • Host
  • Line Cook
  • Dishwasher
  • Shift Leader

Greyhound Bus Lines

Greyhound Bus Lines has 2,400 locations throughout North America and serves the transportation needs of more than 15 million travelers a year. Because of this, there is often a need for new employees. Combine that with reports that Greyhound will hire people with a complicated past after a successful background check (by being honest and truthful during the interview process) and drug test and you have a company with entry-level jobs for felons in Lincoln. 

Below are some Greyhound Bus Lines entry-level jobs:

  • Ticket Agent
  • Bus Driver
  • Mechanic/Maintenance
  • Janitorial
  • Freight Handler

Total Tool Supply, Inc.

Total Tool Supply, Inc.has been providing North American construction and industrial companies with budget-friendly and safe equipment solutions for more than 40 years. There are quite a few entry-level positions in different departments for those looking for a fresh start. While we can’t say for sure whether Total Tool hires former offenders, it can’t hurt to stop by with your resume and complete their employment application.

Entry-level jobs at Total Tool, Inc. include:

  • Customer Service Representative
  • General Laborer
  • Tool and Equipment Mechanic
  • Delivery Driver
  • Field Service Technician

CleanLinc Cleaning Services, Inc.

Janitorial services is another way to get back into the workforce after a conviction. Locally-owned CleanLinc Cleaning Services, Inc. provides janitorial and cleaning services for commercial, industrial, retail, and other businesses throughout Lincoln. Some of these services include deep carpet cleaning, hard floor stripping and waxing, disinfection, post construction cleanup, and move-in/move-outs.

A few entry-level positions associated with janitorial companies like CleanLinc are:

  • Housekeeper
  • General Laborer
  • Custodian
  • Cleaning Crew
  • Construction Painter

Trucking jobs for felons in Lincoln

Can you imagine a job discovering Nebraska’s hidden gems, exploring different parts of the United States, or driving coast-to-coast with no boss breathing down your neck the entire work day? If you answered yes, consider looking into trucking jobs for felons in Lincoln. The trucking industry is notorious for hiring former offenders looking for a fresh start. Even better, many companies will train you and offer you a flexible driving schedule so you can meet any post-incarceration appointments like parole or probation. 

Here are our top picks for trucking companies in Lincoln:

Warehouse jobs for felons in Lincoln

Searching for warehouse jobs for felons in Lincoln is a good way to get hired quickly. Many warehouses operate on shifts. If you’re not a morning person and don’t want to have to wake up before the sun does, this could be your opportunity to work a second or third shift. While hours will vary from business-to-business, typically second shift employees work 2 pm to 10pm and third is 10 pm to 6 am. 

Below are the top warehouses likely to have jobs for people with a complicated background:

Temp agency jobs for felons in Lincoln

Do you need some quick cash? Maybe you’d just rather work a seasonal job? Or perhaps you’ve been considering a career change? If any of these questions have caught your attention, you’re in the right place. Seeking out staffing agencies and temp agency jobs for felons in Lincoln might help you to reinvent yourself and start life again, being extra careful to not make any of the previous detrimental mistakes that led to jail or prison time to begin with.

For those interested in a temp job for felons in Lincoln, here’s our shortlist:

Second chance and job training programs for felons in Lincoln

Nebraska was the fourth U.S. state to sign and implement Ban the Box laws for public employers. This means publicly owned companies must consider the candidates employment history and experience before performing a criminal background check. 

The state also offers a number of resources for second chance and job training programs for felons in Lincoln. Below is a list of sources that provide additional needs such as education, medical services, food and housing, and more after release from jail or prison:

  • Bridges to Hope
    • Mission: To act as a bridge to serve and encourage men and women transitioning back into the community after incarceration, as they become successful contributors to society.
    • Services offered: Clothing and Household, Housing
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Followers of Christ Prison Ministry
    • Mission: Through the Nebraska Synod’s Followers of Christ Prison Ministry, we reach out to help prisoners in the Nebraska State Penitentiary system to know the transformational love of Jesus Christ. Followers of Christ has touched countless lives and helped provide much needed spiritual support to those who have participated, particularly those who transition back from prison life to society at large. Followers of Christ connects with various other ministries and programs to provide incarcerated individuals with educational opportunities and family support to help them prepare for reentry, as well as programs that will assist them in post-prison life.
    • Services offered: Spirtual Services
  • MHA Reentry Programs
    • Mission: We assist individuals living with mental health and/or substance use issues to gain and maintain their recovery by:
      • Intentional Peer Support
      • Offering Informed Choice
      • Advocating
      • Promoting Wellness
      • Encourage hope throughout all MHA services and activities (Peer Specialists use their own life experience to support and walk along with participants through life’s challenges. We offer a variety of services in an effort to assist individuals in finding wellness and hope. All of our services are voluntary and all participants can expect to be treated with dignity and respect.)
    • Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Employment, Mental Health
  • Released and Restored
    • Mission: Released & Restored provides inmates and ex-offenders in Nebraska with the tools and support systems needed to learn how to live productive, moral, ethical, and legal lives in our communities after their release from prison or jail.
    • Services offered: Education
Relaunch Pad Logo
Leah Smith
Reentry Educator

Leah is a Reentry Educator with The Relaunch Pad. A recovering addict and mother of three, her two oldest adult children are dealing with their own addictions and problems, one being recently released from prison and the other is currently incarcerated. Her goal is to give hope to not only her own children, but to others in similar situations.