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15 Most Effective Ways to Find Jobs for Felons in Tampa in 2023

By Last update February 10, 2022
Tampa Florida city skyline

We’ve compiled this resource to help you find jobs for felons in Tampa, Florida, focused on the companies most likely to hire someone with a criminal record. Tampa is a thriving economy with almost 45,000 businesses in Hillsborough County and a local population of just under 1.5 million, so it’s no surprise looking for work here can be overwhelming. Many disenfranchised people have found jobs in Tampa, so why not you? 

If you’re looking to get hired quickly, you’re starting in the right place. We’ve reached out to over 1,000 companies directly about their hiring practices for former felons and compared the top businesses in town to find your best opportunities. Save yourself countless hours of job hunting and use our research and advice. Our staff, many of whom have been justice involved in the past, add their insights on how to get hired as well. We know the struggle of finding a job with a criminal record!

Jobs that hire felons in Tampa

Look below for jobs that hire felons in Tampa, Florida. Change the search range to your preferred distance and see the most recent local listings, or click on “see all jobs” at the bottom to see all results near you.

Top companies that hire felons in Tampa

How do you know which companies are most likely to hire someone with a criminal record in Tampa? You could focus your search by industry — tourism, retail and telecommunications are some of the strongest in Tampa — but you might miss positions you’re qualified for. You’ll find jobs of all types, including temporary placement from staffing agencies, requiring little to no education or experience. These entry-level jobs are often the easiest way for a former felon to get hired at a given company.

Whether they’ve made a public statement about their hiring practices or they are in an industry that is often in need of new employees, we’ve organized the top companies that hire felons in Tampa for you here. Click on the company name to jump to its section or continue reading to see what the city has to offer. 

BayCare Health System

Publix Super Market

Ulele

Frontier Communications

Refresco

CarMax

Ambs Call Center

Beacon Building Products

MacDill Air Force Base

Citigroup

When reentering the workforce, you need to make sure your resume is up-to-date and showing your best side.

Worried about how your resume looks? We’ve got you covered there too! Here’s a complete guide to making a resume with a record.

Let’s review where you’ll have the best chance at landing a job in Hillsborough County.

BayCare Health System

Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

Are you interested in working for a not-for-profit that connects people to the health care services they need? BayCare Health System might be for you. From their website: “Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness.”

  • Patient Transporter
  • Hospital Housekeeping
  • Environmental Services Technician
  • Floor Technician

Publix Super Market 

They are the largest employee-owned company in the United States and therefore have a ton of positions for former felons. Publix is actually known for being a great place to work, so check them out if you’re looking for immediate work!

Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Grocery Store Associate
  • Warehouse Forklift Operator
  • Warehouse Person
  • Stocking Clerk

Ulele 

A well-known local restaurant, Ulele is also known to be open to hiring former offenders. Depending on your current needs, stepping into this industry might help you get your feet under you again because of their flexible scheduling — they don’t serve breakfast!

Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Host
  • Wait Staff
  • Cook
  • Food Prep
  • Cleaner and Dishwasher

Frontier Communications

Focused on building better communication systems, Frontier Communications Corporation offers a good selection of IT-related jobs. From sales to installation, you can find a role you can grow with.

Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Customer Zone Technician
  • Outside Plant Supervisor
  • Customer Service Specialist
  • Network Technician

Refresco

Ever wonder where the bottle of your favorite beverage comes from? It might be from right here in Tampa. Refresco is a beverage bottling company that provides many local jobs.

Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Forklift Operator
  • Assembly Line Worker
  • Packer
  • Distributions
  • Inventory Control

CarMax

Another great option in Tampa is CarMax. They have quite a few locations throughout the city and are known to be open to hiring people with criminal records, depending on the specifics. 

Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Administration
  • Car Detailer
  • Sales Associate
  • Vehicle Condition Assessor

Ambs Call Center

You’ve probably thought of working for a call center before, but this one’s a little different. They’re a family-owned operation with a variety of interesting positions assisting other businesses. You’ll have a variety of work to do and can find something that matches your skills.

Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Telephone Service Representative
  • Trainer
  • Virtual Receptionist
  • Dispatcher

Beacon Building Products

The construction industry is almost always looking for workers. Sometimes it’s seasonal, though, so consider applying to places that supply the building products as well as the actual builders themselves. Beacon deals in lumber, roofing materials, plumbing, and all sorts of building supplies.

Some of the most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Cashier
  • Materials Handler
  • Delivery Helper
  • Warehouse Associate
  • Laborer

MacDill Air Force Base

Located only four miles south-southwest from downtown, MacDill Air Force Base is one of the companies that hire felons in Tampa. As part of the US Air Force, careers here will involve physical drills and potential deployment.

The most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Operations
  • Maintenance
  • Mission Support
  • Medical
  • Wing Staff

Citigroup

The financial industry can be trickier to break into than some others, but there are options for former felons. Citi, as an investment bank, might have what you need.

The most promising entry-level jobs for former felons:

  • Bank Teller
  • Customer Service
  • Maintenance
  • Ops Support Specialist

Trucking jobs for felons in Tampa

If you’re looking for trucking jobs for felons in Tampa, here are some of the top contenders:

Trucking is a major industry throughout the United States well-known for hiring people with criminal records. Some companies will even train you from the ground up to be a trucker. 

  • CCC Transportation
  • Penn Tank Lines
  • CTL Transportation
  • Cypress Truck Lines
  • National Carriers

Warehouse jobs for felons in Tampa

There are a number of roles at a warehouse. From lift operators to administrative roles, a variety of skill sets are needed to keep warehouses running smoothly. That said, you can find many of these jobs at other companies, as long as they have a warehouse or shipping department. 

Here are some of the top warehouse jobs for felons in Tampa:

Temp agency jobs for felons in Tampa

Considering a temporary position? Perhaps you just need something to tide you over? Staffing agencies are a great place for former felons to look for work. You’ll also be happy to know that there are quite a few employment agency jobs for felons in Tampa.

We’ve narrowed down the list, however. These are the top temp agency jobs for felons in Tampa:

Second chance and job training programs for felons in Tampa

In Florida, Ban the Box laws aren’t fixed in stone. However, most companies comply with the legislature anyway. This means that employers are expected to look at a candidate’s qualifications, rather than skipping straight to the criminal background section and dismissing the applicant unfairly.

There are some other second chance and job training programs for felons in Tampa that help former felons looking for work. These programs provide access to resources for housing, financial aid, education and more.

Resources for former felons in Tampa:

  • Abe Brown Ministries
    • Mission: The mission of Abe Brown Ministries is to compassionately demonstrate the Love of Jesus Christ by helping offenders, ex-offenders and their families achieve productive and fulfilling lives.
    • Services offered: Clothing and Household, Food, Spiritual Services
  • His Healing Hand
    • Mission: His Healing Hand Ministries is a purpose driven ministry working with those behind bars, those returning from a time away, those on probation or parole, or those who have a criminal past.
    • Services offered: Addiction and Recovery, Education, Employment
  • Project 180
    • Mission: Project 180 seeks to reintegrate formerly incarcerated citizens into community life.
    • Services offered: Education, Employment, Housing, Other
  • Remar USA
    • Mission: We have understood from the beginning of this ministry that Christ would have us help build His church by raising the building upon 4 principal pillars:
      • 1. Evangelism
      • 2. Discipleship
      • 3. Social Work
      • 4. Christian Business
    • Services offered: Employment, Housing, Mental Health, Spiritual Services

Adam Sanders has worked as a reentry advisor, program leader, and teacher at San Quentin State prison in San Quentin California for several years. He co-founded San Quentin's financial literacy program and is passionate about helping former offenders successfully re-enter society and find personal and financial success. Adam also has nearly a decade of experience working in Marketing and Finance for large software companies and an MBA from Northwestern University.