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21 Valid Methods to Find Jobs for Felons in Saint Paul in 2023

By Last update July 24, 2022
Saint Paul Minnesota cityscape

Having a criminal record is tough, and it is even tougher to find a job if you have a record. We hope to assist you with this article by giving you some resources to help you find jobs for felons in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Saint Paul is the second-largest city in Minnesota, with a population of over 300,000 people. It is the state capital and is the heart of the dynamic Minneapolis/Saint Paul metropolitan region. 

Looking for work in Saint Paul? Our staff has contacted over 1,000 companies to get you the best information about hiring practices and attitudes towards former felons. This article specifically looks at some businesses in the Saint Paul area and lists some of the most likely companies that hire felons in Saint Paul. 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 Saint Paul

Saint Paul Minnesota downtown

Saint Paul was formerly called Pig’s Eye or Pig’s Eye Landing. It is culturally diverse and a thriving commercial center that is home to Fortune 500 company headquarters, large regional businesses, and a very large number of small businesses and professional firms. It’s understandable that you’d feel overwhelmed in the job search! 

Thankfully we have a great search tool on our website. Fill in the fields below (job type, industry, etc.) to focus your search for jobs that hire felons in Saint Paul. 

Top companies that hire felons in Saint Paul

You may struggle to get a higher level position in a company due to your legal background. If this happens to you, then try focusing on entry-level jobs. Entry-level positions always have the lowest requirements and are also more likely to hire someone with a criminal record. Temporary jobs with staffing agencies are also a great source because they often require little to no education or experience. Thankfully employment agency jobs for felons in Saint Paul are pretty common, so put them on the list if you’re looking for immediate work.

So how does someone with a criminal record find a job in Saint Paul? The following list of companies will save you a lot of effort by providing the largest, local companies that are most likely to hire felons in Saint Paul. Click on the company name to go directly to its section, or just continue to see all of them. 

Patagonia

Andersen

Taylor

Marsden

Xcel Energy

3M

General Mills

Ecolab

Gander RV and Outdoors

Mortenson Construction

A fresh and professionally-written resume is a key to success for any jobseeker. Make sure yours is up-to-date and accurate. Our website has a great, comprehensive guide to making a resume for people with a record.

Patagonia

Renouned for their outdoor attire and equipment, Patagonia might be the right fit for you if you’re passionate about the outdoors. Not only does the company prefer to hire “dirtbags” who live the outdoorsy life, they also recognize the importance of fit. Sure, you could work at another retailer, but you can build a career here.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Sales Associate
  • Team Lead
  • General Merchandise, Closing, Fulfillment
  • Customer Experience Guide

Andersen

Andersen Corporation is a multi-billion dollar window and door manufacturing company that employs approximately 10,000 people and has over 30 manufacturing facilities, logistics centers, and retail locations. Andersen is headquartered in Bayport, Minnesota, and they have a variety of entry-level type positions in the Saint Paul area.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Customer Care Representative
  • Warehouse Associate
  • Window Installer
  • Maintenance Technician
  • Production Assembly

Taylor

Taylor Corporation is a privately owned company that produces interactive print and marketing solutions. They are headquartered in North Mankato, Minnesota, have more than 80 subsidiaries, and employ over 12,000 people in 21 US states, Canada, Mexico, France, UK, China, the Philippines, and India. They have a good record for hiring felons and have a lot of different jobs available.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Customer Service Representative
  • Equipment Operator
  • Order Picker
  • Production Hand Packager
  • Accounts Receivable Representative

Marsden

Marsden Building Maintenance is a facility services provider, offering janitorial, security, building maintenance, and specialty property services. They clean, sanitize, and service large and small businesses across the Midwest and have a lot of part-time and full-time jobs for all shifts.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Day Cleaning Positions
  • Communication Center Specialist
  • Cleaning Paul Airport
  • Overnight Cleaner
  • Handyman

Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy Inc. is a major utility company that serves over 3.7 million electric customers and 2.1 million natural gas customers in Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico. They are headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and have four operating subsidiaries. They are a major employer in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area and have a number of good entry-level opportunities.

Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Warehouse Attendant
  • Warehouseman
  • Peaking Plant Attendant
  • General Cleaning
  • Customer Service Specialist

3M

3M is a huge multinational conglomerate that has businesses in industry, worker safety, health care, and consumer goods. They have over $30 billion in annual revenue, make over 60,000 products under several brands, and are based in Maplewood, a suburb of Saint Paul, Minnesota. They are a massive business and always have lots of job openings.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Manufacturing Production
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Production Operator
  • Field Sales Representative
  • Calibration Technician

General Mills

General Mills is a multinational manufacturer of food products. It is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known products, including some very popular cereals. They have a lot of positions for entry-level and general labor positions.

Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • General Laborer
  • Warehouse Forklift Operator
  • Brand Associate
  • Custodial Services Worker
  • Packaging Technician

Ecolab

Ecolab Inc. is a company that creates and offers services and technology for water treatment, purification, and cleaning. They are headquartered in St. Paul and employ over 38,000 people worldwide, as well as a lot of people in the Saint Paul area.

Some promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Territory Service & Sales Representative
  • Customer Service Agent
  • Production Associate
  • Maintenance Technician
  • Catering Service Worker

Gander RV and Outdoors

Gander RV & Outdoors (formerly Gander Mountain, Inc.) is a chain of retail stores that sell hunting, fishing, camping, and other outdoor recreation products. They are headquartered in St. Paul, and they have many job openings available, especially in their sales, retail, and shipping areas.

Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Retail Sales Associate
  • Product Specialist
  • Customer Service Associate
  • Shipping & Receiving Associate
  • Porter

Mortenson Construction

Mortenson Construction is a multi-billion dollar construction company with over 6,500 employees and 11 offices. From their job postings, “We are inspired by a compelling purpose to build structures and facilities for the advancement of modern society and a mission to create an extraordinary customer experience. Mortenson has built a reputation for being a leader in our industry and in the communities in which we live and work.”

Promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Receptionist
  • Product Specialist
  • Associate Supply Chain Equipment Specialist
  • Plant Operations

Trucking jobs for felons in Saint Paul

Truck driving is an in-demand job and the industry has a record for hiring former felons. Many companies even provide training for beginning a career as a trucker.

If you’re looking for trucking jobs for felons in Saint Paul, here are some of the top companies:

Warehouse jobs for felons in Saint Paul

Warehouses always provide a lot of job opportunities such as loaders, handlers, forklift operators, drivers, and even administrative roles. Below are some companies to look at for warehouse jobs. 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 Saint Paul:

Temp agency jobs for felons in Saint Paul

Staffing agencies can help you get hired fast. Take a look at temp agency jobs for felons in Saint Paul, because they are a great overall source of opportunities for a quick-hire position to solve your needs today.

Here are some of the best agencies in the area:

  • Midwest Staffing Group Inc.
  • Robert Half
  • Atlas Staffing
  • Twin Cities Staffing
  • Nexpro

Second chance and job training programs for felons in Saint Paul

Minnesota has had a Ban the Box law for private employers since 2013. Employers may conduct background checks under the law, but cannot ask about an applicant’s criminal history until later in the hiring process.

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

Resources for former felons in Saint Paul:

  • Dakota County Re-Entry Assistance Program (RAP)
    • Mission: Helps jail inmates with histories of multiple jail stays minimize the number of times they return to jail. The program provides transitional and supportive services that assist sentenced inmates exiting the Dakota County Jail with re-entry into the community.
    • Services offered: Employment, Family, Housing, Legal, Transportation.
  • RS EDEN
    • Mission: RS EDEN has evolved into a multi-faceted agency whose mission is to create thriving, just communities where healing occurs and new beginnings are possible. We envision a community built upon a shared commitment to wellbeing and equity, where individuals and families are free from injustice and anchored by generational resilience.
    • Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Housing, and Reentry
  • EMERGE
    • Mission: “To reveal the potential in people and communities through skill-building, employment, and economic opportunity. We envision a world where all people have the opportunity to emerge and thrive.
    • Services offered: Education, Employment, Family
  • Freedom Works
    • Mission: Helping Men Reconcile to God, Family and Community since 2004.
    • Services offered: Housing, Reentry, Spiritual Services
  • Better Futures Minnesota
    • Mission: We are more than a nonprofit providing a single service. We work to build healthy communities for more Minnesotans by operating at the intersection of racial, social, economic, and environmental justice.
    • Services offered: Employment, Family, Housing
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.