Second Chance Hiring: Jobs for People Who Got Left Behind

When you’ve been out of work for years, served time, or just got stuck in a bad spot, the job market often shuts the door before you even knock. That’s where second chance hiring, a practice where employers actively recruit people with criminal records, employment gaps, or other barriers to work. Also known as fair chance hiring, it’s not charity—it’s smart business. Companies that do this aren’t just being nice. They’re finding loyal workers who stay longer, cost less to train, and often outperform others on the job.

It’s not just about former inmates. Second chance hiring includes people who took time off to care for family, recovered from addiction, left toxic workplaces, or were laid off during economic crashes. These aren’t edge cases—they’re millions of people with skills, drive, and stories that don’t fit the perfect resume template. Employers who ignore them miss out. And the good news? More are waking up to this. From Amazon and Walmart to local restaurants and tech startups, companies are removing the checkbox that asks about criminal history on job apps. Some even partner with reentry programs to train and hire directly.

What kinds of jobs? Think warehouse roles, customer service, IT support, delivery drivers, and even entry-level coding bootcamp grads. You don’t need a degree. You don’t need a spotless past. You just need to show up, learn, and do the work. And that’s exactly what these employers are looking for. There’s data behind this too: a 2023 study by the Society for Human Resource Management found that workers hired through second chance programs had 15% lower turnover than average hires. They’re not a risk—they’re a reward.

If you’ve been told you’re not hireable, this is your sign to keep going. The system isn’t perfect, but it’s changing. The posts below show real examples of people who landed jobs after prison, after burnout, after years of being overlooked. You’ll see which companies are doing this right, what to say in interviews when they ask about your gap, and how to turn your past into proof of resilience—not a reason to quit. This isn’t about hope. It’s about opportunity. And it’s happening right now.