Best Job Options for Felons: How to Bounce Back in Government Job Prep

So here’s the harsh reality: if you’ve got a felony on your record, most government jobs won’t be handing out offers anytime soon. But don’t write yourself off just yet. There are clear steps you can take to stack the odds in your favor, and some government jobs aren’t as far out of reach as everyone says.

You might be surprised that roles like maintenance worker, clerk, driver, or even certain postal jobs sometimes don’t slam the door right away on applicants with records. Sure, you won’t be running for mayor or handling confidential data tomorrow, but these gigs give you a real shot to show you can handle responsibility.

If you’re prepping for government job exams or planning to apply, you need to know which doors could open and exactly how to stand out. It’s less about fancy degrees and more about proving you’re serious, honest, and showing up ready to work. That’s what agencies usually care about, especially for those entry-level jobs nobody else wants.

• Why Government Jobs Attract Felons
• Jobs You Can Actually Get with a Felony
• Tips to Improve Your Chances
• Avoiding Common Traps in Applications
• Building Confidence and Moving Forward

Why Government Jobs Attract Felons

If you’ve ever tried looking for a job after a felony, you probably noticed “government jobs” get mentioned a lot. There’s a good reason: these positions come with steady pay, benefits like health insurance and retirement plans, and rarely disappear overnight. For folks starting over, that stability is gold.

Most private companies run strict background checks and lots just toss out applications from anyone with a record. But government jobs, especially at the local or state level, often have clearer rules. They don’t always scream “no felons ever” in their job listings. Plus, some government programs are actually built to help people with records get back on their feet rather than just block them. The Fair Chance Act, for example, keeps federal agencies from asking about criminal history on job applications right away. You get judged on your experience and skills first—not your past mistakes.

Check out this quick breakdown of the big reasons felons target government jobs:

• Stable pay and benefits—rare in entry-level work elsewhere.
• Clear hiring policies—not all private companies have these.
• Some roles don’t require background checks (maintenance, janitorial, laborer, some postal jobs).
• Agencies sometimes run second-chance hiring programs.

Here’s a simple table comparing government and private sector jobs for people with a record:

It’s not just about getting hired—the idea is to find a long-term spot where you can grow. For people with a record, government jobs can offer that launchpad, especially if you stick to roles where trust gets built over time rather than right away.

Jobs You Can Actually Get with a Felony

The first thing you need to know is that not all government jobs are totally off-limits if you have a felony on your record. It mainly depends on the type of crime, how much time has passed since your conviction, and sometimes just plain luck with the hiring manager. So, where should you actually look?

Here are some government jobs and programs that have a reputation for hiring people with records:

• Postal Service Mail Handlers: USPS is strict about certain crimes, but they don’t outright ban all felons. Non-violent offenses, older convictions, or those not related to trust may get a pass. People with theft or drug convictions sometimes get in after a long enough gap.
• City/Public Works Maintenance: Cities need folks for maintenance, road crews, landscaping, and sanitation work. These entry-level jobs often just require that you show up and work hard. A clean record is nice, but not always a must-have.
• Transit Authority Jobs: Many city bus and metro systems hire drivers, ticket agents, and cleaners. Depending on your felony, you can still get interviewed—especially if you haven’t had trouble for years.
• State Park Services: Jobs like groundskeepers, janitors, or kitchen workers at parks or recreation departments sometimes have fewer barriers for felons, as long as the job doesn’t involve money handling or sensitive info.
• Community Outreach or Peer Support Work: Ironically, some government programs want staff who bring real-life experience. If your record relates to addiction or recovery, you may have a shot in funded peer specialist roles or reentry programs.

For most higher-security government jobs, like police, corrections officer, and jobs in defense, a felony conviction is almost always a dealbreaker. But don’t let that kill your motivation. Some states even offer special jobs for felons under programs aimed to reduce recidivism and boost employment stats.

Here’s a quick look at what agencies look for:

One more tip: check for state-run felon jobs programs. A lot of states and even big cities have dedicated jobs portals or hiring fairs focused on second-chance hiring. Instead of guessing, go straight to those and save yourself a ton of time and frustration.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

Getting a job with a felony takes extra effort, but you can actually tip things in your favor if you know how the system works. Most government job applications feel intimidating, but the behind-the-scenes facts are pretty simple: it’s about honesty, hustle, and playing by their rules.

• Be brutally honest on your applications. Lying about your record will almost always come back to haunt you, especially with government jobs. Agencies run background checks at different levels, and some roles (like the U.S. Postal Service carrier) consider certain convictions but are more lenient if it’s been over five years since the offense.
• Get your paperwork lined up. Always have your records, references, and any official documents (like expungement papers) ready. If you’ve completed rehab, community service, or training programs, show it. Officials love when you make their job easy.
• Pursue certificates or short courses. Quick certifications in things like IT, heavy vehicle driving, or office skills help your resume jump out. Programs like the Second Chance Pell Grant can help pay for education even if you have a record.
• Apply where felons have been hired before. Maintenance, groundskeeping, sanitation, and public works departments often hire folks with records. Look up city or county job boards—there’s less competition and more open-minded managers.

Check out this table for real numbers on government jobs known for being more open to hiring people with felonies, based on public records and hiring audits:

*Felon-Friendly Rating is based on the number of known successful hires with felony records in the past three years, using city, county, and federal data.

One practical move: if you’re called for an interview, be ready to talk about what you’ve learned from your past. Most hiring folks don’t expect a sob story—they just want to see if you’re coachable and serious. Show them specific actions you’ve taken to get your life back on track.

Finally, if you’re prepping for those entry-level felon jobs, ask local libraries or workforce centers for help with practice interviews or resumes—it’s usually free! You’ll look more prepared and stand out from everyone who just hopes for a lucky break.

Avoiding Common Traps in Applications

Filling out job applications with a felony on your background can feel like walking on eggshells. Mess up one part, and it could cost you a chance at a solid job. Here’s how to make sure you don’t trip over the common traps that knock out so many candidates.

First rule: never leave out your conviction if a government form asks about it. Agencies run full background checks, so if you hide your past hoping nobody finds out, the application usually lands in the trash. Honesty matters more than you think. A lot of hiring managers say they’re less bothered by a past conviction than by seeing you tried to hide it. If the form lets you explain, keep it short but take responsibility—no excuses, no blaming others.

Don’t undersell yourself, either. On government job forms, people with records sometimes skip skills they picked up in prison or during reentry programs. If you learned carpentry, electrical work, or tech stuff while inside, list it! Experience is experience, and entry-level government jobs in things like maintenance or driving often need those skills.

Watch out for these classic mistakes:

• Skimming through instructions and missing required sections.
• Leaving jobs or gaps in your employment history unexplained. Briefly explain big gaps—maybe you were taking classes, volunteering, or caring for someone.
• Thinking you can use a generic resume for every application. Match your skills to the exact job description every single time.
• Forgetting to double-check your contact info. Seriously, this one trips up tons of people and ruins their shot.

Let’s talk about references for a second. If you can, build up a list of folks from your recent life—maybe a caseworker, reentry counselor, or someone you worked with at a previous job, not relatives. Agencies trust professional references a lot more.

If you get stuck, there are actually local organizations that help with felon jobs applications. Don’t sleep on those resources—they’ll know what hiring managers are looking for and help you avoid rookie mistakes.

Building Confidence and Moving Forward

Starting over after a felony feels like everyone’s judging you before you even say a word. But confidence isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you build, one useful step at a time. And confidence is exactly what employers look for, especially in felon jobs where they want to see grit and reliability over a spotless past.

The first thing to know is that you’re not alone. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, around 5 million people in the U.S. live with a felony conviction. Plenty of those folks have landed steady jobs, even government gigs, because they learned to own their story without letting it define them.

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s what actually helps:

• Practice your story. Be ready for interview questions about your record. Work out how to talk about it honestly, then quickly focus on the positive changes you’ve made. 
• Get support. Find job coaches, mentors, or reentry programs. Groups like Honest Jobs or local workforce centers help with resumes, practice interviews, and encouragement. Vihaan, my own kid, saw how joining even one support group made a difference for a neighbor coming out of jail.
• Keep skills fresh. Tons of community colleges give discounts or free career classes for people with legal records. Even a short online course or a safety training certificate puts you one step ahead of others applying for the same job.
• Network smartly. A lot of jobs aren’t listed online at all. Tell people you’re actively looking. Friends, family, even neighbors might know about city or county jobs that don’t even get advertised. Plus, word-of-mouth trusts you more than a résumé ever could.

If you’re worried about how your record stacks up, check out this recent data on employment for people with felonies:

That steady climb shows that almost three-quarters of people with felonies are working five years out. You just need a little grit and the right steps.

The main key: don’t wait for the perfect job to fall in your lap. Apply even for basic jobs—they open doors. With each win, no matter how small, your confidence grows, and your options get wider. Even one steady job can totally change your story moving forward.