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Oakland is a stable and long-standing city with many career opportunities. You may be struggling to find work after your release, but there are plenty of jobs for felons in Oakland. All you need are the right resources! With almost 45,000 firms locally and a population of 433,000, Oakland is a large city with a variety of industries and job opportunities. If you are looking for a diverse city with work from entry-level to advanced, keep reading to learn about where to apply!
If you are looking for work after being released, we’ve collected all the most valuable information for you right here. We have contacted over 1,000 companies directly to get the details on their hiring practices for former offenders. We’ve looked into their hiring process, what entry-level positions they have open, and what benefits or opportunities for advancement they might have for their employees. Our knowledge goes further than that, though — we also hire individuals with a record in our own company, so we know exactly what you are going through. Yes, we truly practice what we preach!
Jobs that hire felons in Oakland
Oakland has an abundance of job opportunities to offer, but for individuals with a record, there are certain job characteristics you want to look for. To help you find jobs that hire felons in Oakland, you can use this tool to search job openings by industry, job title, company and other filters.
Top companies that hire felons in Oakland
If you’re looking for the best companies to apply to in Oakland, look no further. We took into account the size of the company, quick-hire roles, and the company’s hiring policy when making this list, so it’s a great place to start looking.
You may also want to consider trying entry-level jobs. These are quick-hire positions or roles that have a lot of turnover, so the companies tend to be more flexible in their hiring demands. These positions require little skill and are relatively easy to get — they often don’t even ask for a background check. They also give you the opportunity to show how you can be reliable and responsible at a job (important qualities to hiring companies).
Click on one of the companies below to jump to its section, or read on for some more tips on landing a job with a criminal record!
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District
West Coast Premier Construction
Even if you have found a few companies that hire felons in Oakland, you will need to submit a quality resume to be considered for a role.
If you’re looking for help on building your resume, take a look at our resume guide.
Let’s take a look at some of the companies where you have a good chance of being hired so you can start building up your resume today!
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is a large care institution with hospitals and clinics all over the country. Based in Oakland, Kaiser has many locations and hiring opportunities in Northern California.
Kaiser’s goal is to maintain industry-leading levels of diversity in their workforce. Although a drug test and background check are required for hire, Kaiser states that qualified applicants with arrest/conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with state and federal laws.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Cashier Receptionist
- Patient Care Technician
- Storekeeper
- Housekeeping Aide
City of Oakland
The city Oakland has a thriving economy with many job opportunities. From public transportation to health/safety, the city of Oakland has a need for entry-level workers.
Oakland follows Equal Employment Opportunities policies, ensuring that the work environment and hiring efforts are free of harassment and discrimination.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Firefighter)
- Pool Lifeguard
- Admission Attendant
- Librarian
- Bricklayer
- Clerk
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District
BART is one of the Bay Area’s main public transportation companies. BART is a subway train that connects much of the Bay Area. Public transit has many opportunities for entry-level workers. See below for some ideas!
BART follows Equal Employment Opportunities policies, stating that applicants will not be discriminated against because of any protected category like race, color or religion.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Transit Vehicle Driver
- Mechanic
- Customer Service
- Supervisor
IHOP
A more social or customer-facing position could be working in the restaurant industry. IHOP chain restaurants are very active on the West Coast, so there are many locations in the Bay Area where you could apply! Luckily, restaurants have many entry-level positions. At IHOP these could include cooking, serving customers, cleaning up, or organizing your team.
IHOP’s parent company states that they are an equal opportunity employer and they provide equal opportunity in all aspects of employment.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Cook
- Host
- Server
- Dishwasher
- Crew Chief
- Busser
United Parcel Service (UPS)
Having operations in every state and around the world, UPS is also one of the largest employers in Oakland. UPS has employment opportunities in both their warehouses and customer centers.
UPS promotes Equal Employment Opportunities and does not discriminate based on any characteristic protected by law.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Package Handlers
- Drivers
- Seasonal Positions
- Supply Chain Positions
- Technicians
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines is a major US airline that flies all over the world. Such a large operation calls for many employees with varying skills! Working with customers in the airport, handling the baggage or as a ramp agent could all be options for your next career.
Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunities Employer and uses reasonable accommodation in it’s application process.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Ramp Agent
- Baggage Handler
- Customer Service Agent
- Operations Agent
- Supervisor
Sutter Health
Sutter Health is a group of doctors and hospitals serving Northern California. Hospitals are big operations requiring various skills. You could work in the food court, cleaning, or even transporting patients.
Sutter Health promotes Equal Employment Opportunities with a program they have in each department that continuously works to better their diversity and equality within the department.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Food Service Aide
- Sanitation Crew
- Patient Access Representative
- Patient Transporter
Grocery Outlet
With more than 400 locations nationally, your local Grocery Outlet is an excellent place to look for quick-hire work. Not only do they have a reputation for hiring former offenders, they also have a lot of seasonal and shift work they need filled. Keep an eye out for openings here if you’re in need of employment.
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Delivery Driver
- Warehouse Worker
- Stocker
- Buyer’s Assistant
- Cashier and Bagger
West Coast Premier Construction
Servicing the Bay Area, West Coast Premier Construction provides construction and technical services to a wide variety of building types. You’ll gain experience in everything from seismic retrofitting to more common construction services and building projects. They’re a busy operator, so they’re often looking for workers!
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- General Labor
- Heavy Machine Operator
- Framer
- Electrician
- Installer
Crossroads Trading Co
You likely recognize this retailer, especially if you’ve taken the BART to Rockridge. Crossroads Trading Co offers new and gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories. They are also a Ban the Box supporter and are open to hiring former offenders! They’re all about sustainability, second chances, and their community. Sound like a good spot for you?
Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Buyer
- Floor Supervisor
- Fashion Keyholder
- Communications Manager
- Assistant Manager
Trucking jobs for felons in Oakland
Trucking is a great career option for those with a record. It is a major industry throughout the country that is well-established and stable. It is also a known career path for people with criminal records. Often, the company is willing to train you on the job even if you have no experience. This career path has many benefits such as travel, independence, and self-reliance.
Looking for trucking jobs for felons in Oakland? Here are some of the top trucking companies in the area:
- Lange Trucking Inc
- Lengner & Sons Express
- Iraheta Bros 2 Inc
- Mutual Express Co
- Shippers Transport Express
Warehouse jobs for felons in Oakland
Warehouse work has a lot of different options. If you are looking for a career where you have room to advance or try different positions, this could be a good place to start. Many times warehouses will promote their star employees from entry-level positions to higher up positions. Roles like lift operators, skilled trades, and administrative positions are all options down the line if you start in a warehouse.
Here are some top warehouse jobs for felons in Oakland:
- Bay Area Warehouse Co
- Shotput
- TriMark USA
- Frito-Lay North America
- Bridgeport Transportation and Warehousing
Temp agency jobs for felons in Oakland
If you’re looking for something short-term or haven’t had luck with more permanent positions, a temporary position may be a good place to start. There are plenty of employment agency jobs for felons in Oakland and numerous staffing agencies willing to work with former offenders in finding their next position. When successfully completed, these can be a great foundation to landing a more permanent position.
There are quite a few to choose from, but here are some top temp agency jobs for felons in Oakland:
- Robert Half
- Ryals & Associates
- Certified Employment Group
- Premier Talent Partners
- Town + Country Resources
Second chance and job training programs for felons in Oakland
California joined the Ban the Box states in 2018. This means that employers and business owners cannot ask about an applicant’s criminal conviction history before offering them the job. They also cannot dismiss an applicant unfairly because of a criminal background check.
Ban the Box laws have made the playing field more fair, but there are also second chance and job training programs for felons in Oakland that help former felons looking for work. These programs offer resources to help individuals with a criminal record get back on their feet with housing, financial aid, education and more.
Here are some resources for former felons in Oakland:
- Tay Men’s Reentry and Women Rising
- Mission: Community Works, the organization behind Tay Men’s Reentry & Women’s Rising, seeks to catalyze our collective power to transform justice through programs and policy rooted in humanity and healing. The organization’s long-term goal is to radically reduce the number of individuals entering and re-entering the juvenile and criminal justice systems and to lessen the impact of incarceration on communities, particularly communities of color that have been disproportionately devastated by mass incarceration.
- Services offered: Education, Employment, Housing, Medical, Mental Health, Youth
- Oakland Community Corrections
- Mission: The mission of Oakland County Community Corrections is to reduce recidivism by providing a continuum of services that adhere to evidence base principles.
- Services offered: Legal
- Centerforce
- Mission: To support, educate, and advocate for individuals, families and communities impacted by incarceration.
- Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Education, Family
- Root and Rebound
- Mission: Root & Rebound’s mission is to restore power and resources to the families and communities most harmed by mass incarceration through legal advocacy, public education, policy reform and litigation — a model rooted in the needs and expertise of people who are directly impacted.
- Services offered: Legal, Referrals
- Delancey Street Foundation
- Mission: We have successfully graduated over 18,000 people from America’s underclass into society as successful taxpaying citizens leading decent, legitimate and productive lives. We have opened new doors in fields of homelessness, education, vocational training, social entrepreneurship, substance abuse and pathways out of poverty, crime and violence.
- Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Clothing and Household, Education, Employment, Food, Housing
