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Searching for a new job is always difficult, but it’s even tougher if you are justice-involved. The objective of this article is to give you some information to help you with finding jobs for felons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is the sixth-largest city in the US and the most populous city in the state of Pennsylvania, with over 1.6 million people. It is one of the oldest municipalities in the US and is the economic and cultural center of the greater Delaware Valley, with an estimated population of 7.21 million. No doubt, you could use a little help with the job search!
Our team of researchers has contacted over 1,000 companies to find out what their attitudes are towards former offenders and hiring them, so we can help you find the right job. We know what you are going through because our team includes people who have been incarcerated and have experienced the employment struggle. The rest of this article will look at the specific businesses we think are the most likely companies that hire felons in Philadelphia.
Jobs that hire felons in Philadelphia
Philadelphia is a huge metropolitan area and there are a lot of job opportunities out there. The city is known for its arts, culture, cuisine, and colonial history, attracting tens of millions of tourists each year that spend billions of dollars. Philadelphia has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other US city, and the Fairmount Park and adjacent Wissahickon Valley Park are one of the largest contiguous urban park areas in the country.
Get a feel for the types of jobs in the area by using our search feature here, or read to the end for the 10 best local options for jobs that hire felons in Philadelphia.
Top companies that hire felons in Philadelphia
You will have a lot of challenges to overcome when looking for a job. If you start out looking for jobs that match your significant experience, training, and education, you will more than likely be disappointed with the results. As a justice-involved person, your legal record will trump whatever else you have on your resume in most cases. A more successful strategy for getting back into the workforce is to focus on entry-level positions. They have the least requirements and highest number of positions, so are more likely to accept people with criminal records.
You might be surprised how staffing agencies can help you find this break-in position, but they’re in the job networking business and know which companies are generally more open to hiring someone with a record. They can place you, if you look for work through employment agency jobs for felons in Philadelphia. We’ll share some top agencies in the area below as well.
The Fresh Grocer of Progress Plaza
Anyone looking for a job needs to be prepared to apply, and the first thing you need to have is a good resume. Make sure it is well written and completely up-to-date. For a great resume, look at our website’s excellent and comprehensive guide to making a resume for people with a record.
Toll Brothers
Toll Brothers is a Fortune 500 company that builds luxury homes and communities in over 50 markets across over 20 states. Their construction business includes traditional single-family homes, active adult, high-rise condos, apartment rentals, urban redevelopment, and student housing. The company is the 5th largest home builder in the United States (2020), based on revenue.
A few good jobs for former felons:
- Customer Experience
- Landscape Supervisor
- Customer Care Coordinator
- Purchasing Business Analyst
Aramark
Aramark is a food, facilities, and uniform services provider to industries such as education, healthcare, business, prisons, and leisure. They operate in the US, Canada, and 20 other countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Philippines, South Korea, Chile, Ireland, and Spain.
Some promising jobs for former felons:
- Custodial Services
- Food Service
- Cashier
- Warehouse Worker
- Customer Service Agent
Carpenter Technology
Carpenter Technology Corporation manufactures and distributes stainless steels and corrosion-resistant alloys for the aerospace, defense, industrial consumer, medical, transportation, energy, and distribution industries. Their products are used in landing gear, shaft collars, safety wires, electricity generation products, intervertebral disc arthroplasty, engine valves, and welding. They employ many people in the Philadelphia area.
Some promising good jobs for former felons:
- Sales Specialist
- Utility Worker
- Procurement
- Carpenter’s Helper
Five Below
Five Below Inc. is a chain of specialty discount stores that sells products that cost up to $5, as well as an assortment of products from $6 to $25. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, and has over 1,100 stores located across the United States. They are always looking for good employees.
Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Sales Associate
- Store Manager
- Assistant Buyer
- Merchandise Operations
- Social Media Manager
Gopuff
Gopuff is a multi-billion dollar consumer goods and food delivery company headquartered in Philadelphia. They operate in over 650 US cities (and the UK) leveraging approximately 500 micro fulfillment centers. If you are looking for a delivery gig or related job, then check them out.
Some promising jobs for former felons:
- Driver
- Site Leader
- Store Manager
- Shift Lead
- Restaurant Manager
Pep Boys
Pep Boys (formerly Pep Auto Supply) is an automotive aftermarket service chain. The company was founded in Philadelphia in 1921. They provide automotive name-brand tires, maintenance, repairs, and fleet maintenance to customers across the US and operate over 9,000 service bays in 35 states and Puerto Rico. The Pep Boys Mobile Crew service trailer offers automotive maintenance on location. If you are looking for something in the auto repair and service industry, then they have many opportunities for you.
Some promising jobs for former felons:
- Customer Service Advisor
- Warehouse Associate
- Delivery Driver
- Assistant Service Manager
- Tire Warehouse Team Member
Wawa
Wawa, Inc. is a convenience store and gas station chain located along the East Coast, operating in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Florida. Their corporate headquarters is located in the Wawa area of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania (Greater Philadelphia). Wawa is the largest convenience store chain and the third-largest retailer of food in Greater Philadelphia, and they hire regularly.
Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Customer Service Associate
- Assistant General Manager
- Fuel Associate
- Night Supervisor
- Food & Beverage Manager
Andersen
Andersen Corporation is the largest window and door manufacturing company in North America, with over $2.5 billion in sales. They employ approximately 10,000 people at over thirty manufacturing facilities, logistics centers, and company owned retail locations. Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries manufacture and market products under the names Andersen, Renewal by Andersen, MQ, and Heritage.
Some promising positions for former felons:
- Field Service Technician
- Window Installer
- Carpenters Helper
- Warehouse Associate
- Customer Care Lead
Dart Container
Dart Container Corporation is the world’s largest manufacturer of foam cups and containers. They produce nearly as many as all their competitors combined, have around 15,000 employees, and over 45 production, distribution center, and office locations in eight countries.
Some entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Warehouse Associate
- Production
- Maintenance
- Customer Service Associate
The Fresh Grocer of Progress Plaza
A good grocery store to get your career re-started is The Fresh Grocer. They’re focused on fresh produce and servicing their community. If you’ve got the right work ethic, you should look at their available positions.
Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:
- Cashier
- Stocker
- Grocery Attendant
- Delivery Fulfillment
Trucking jobs for felons in Philadelphia
The trucking industry is a great place for former felons to look for jobs. They are always looking for new drivers, and they have a solid history of hiring former felons. Many trucking and delivery companies will provide training for starting a career as a trucker.
If you’re looking for trucking jobs for felons in Philadelphia, here are some companies to check out:
- BDP International
- American Expediting
- XTL, Inc.
- Champion Services LLC
- Galasso Trucking
Warehouse jobs for felons in Philadelphia
Another good source of opportunities is with warehouses. They provide a lot of jobs for laborers and other roles. Warehouse jobs are also available with any company that has a warehouse or shipping department.
Here are some good warehouse jobs for felons in Philadelphia:
- Philadelphia Warehousing | Warehouse America
- Penn Warehousing & Distribution, Inc.
- L & M Distribution and Logistics
- Marshalls Distribution Center
- Scotts Lane Warehouse
Temp agency jobs for felons in Philadelphia
Staffing agencies are a great place to look for jobs. They always have opportunities available and are a good way to get hired fast.
Here are a few places to look for temp agency jobs for felons in Philadelphia:
- Contemporary Staffing Solutions
- Eagle Staffing Company
- PeopleShare
- ACCU Staffing Services
- Randstad
Second chance and job training programs for felons in Philadelphia
Good news for felons in Philadelphia! A Ban the Box law went into effect in Pennsylvania in 2017. Philadelphia has an even more stringent rule. Employers may not ask about criminal history on an application or during an interview. They may run a criminal background check, but only after they make you a conditional offer of employment.
Former offenders have other options for additional help and assistance. Second chance and job training programs for felons in Philadelphia can provide a variety of resources to help manage and improve your everyday life.
Resources for former felons in Philadelphia:
- U-Belong Inc.
- Mission: To provide participants with the skills and resources necessary to prevent them from reverting back to the same negative, and self-destructive behavior that led to their adjudicated status. To guarantee that upon exiting the program each participant has a fair and realistic opportunity for caring for themselves as well as their families. The mission is to not just make them productive members of society but successful individuals positively impacting our community.
- Services offered: Education, Family, Financial, Mental Health
- Goldring Reentry Initiative (GRI)
- Mission: The Goldring Reentry Initiative (GRI) aims to address the epidemic of mass incarceration and empower returning citizens in their transition back into society. Through equipping Master of Social Work students with the knowledge and skills to make meaningful contributions in the criminal justice field, the GRI uniquely advocates for incarcerated individuals and addresses barriers to successful reentry.
- Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Education, Family, Housing, Mental Health
- Philadelphia Network of Care for Prisoner Reentry
- Mission: Reentry Services’ goal is to help men and women released from prison lead productive lives in the community. We also offer other reentry services to those who need help finding work. Regardless of where you begin your search for assistance, the Network of Care helps you find what you need. It helps ensure that there is “No Wrong Door” for those who need services.
- Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Education, Family, Legal, Medical
- iMPACT Services
- Mission: Each “i” represents what individuals can bring to the collective work of making a stronger Kensington. Each person offers a unique set of skills that contribute to the whole. Together we can make an impact.
- Services offered: Food, Housing, Legal
- Ready, Willing and Able
- Mission: Ready, Willing & Able (RWA-P) Philadelphia is an official member of the Ready Willing & Able America affiliate network. RWA-P breaks the cycles of homelessness, addiction, and criminal recidivism by providing work-life experiences through occupational training, housing acquisition, and comprehensive support services to homeless individuals.
- Services offered: Housing
