Does Caterpillar Hire Felons? We Asked, They Answered

Caterpillar is a well-known company in the business of manufacturing construction equipment. They are a big company with lots of employment opportunities, which begs the question: Does Caterpillar hire felons?

At Successful Release, we answer that question by going directly to the source. We asked Caterpillar what their hiring policies are for former felons, and we did a little research to see what the company was about

We also answer other questions former felons have as they look for work:

• How to get a job at Caterpillar with a felony?
• Does Caterpillar hire people with misdemeanors?
• What should someone with a record know before they apply?
• Does Caterpillar do background checks?

We’ll also give you some tips on how to get hired at Caterpillar, based on our own experience of applying for jobs with a record. As former offenders ourselves, or those who worked closely with them, we know what it takes.

So, let’s help you get a job at Caterpillar with a felony.

Does Caterpillar hire felons?

Official company policy for hiring felons

In order to find out what Caterpillar’s official hiring policy for felons is, we asked them directly.

Here’s what they said:

“As long as the applicant with prior convictions is fit for the job and can pass qualifications.”

Great news for former felons that want to apply at Caterpillar! If you’re qualified, your chances of getting hired are just as good as anyone else’s. Caterpillar is an equal opportunity employer.

Has Caterpillar hired felons in the past?

We also asked the Caterpillar HR rep that we spoke with if they have hired former felons in the past. That question produced a single word response: Yes.

Does Caterpillar hire felons? We’re happy to say they do.

Does Caterpillar hire people with misdemeanors?

We don’t have any information directly from the mouths of the HR reps for this one. However, they probably do. If they’re willing to hire former felons, lesser offenses like misdemeanors won’t stop them.

Is Caterpillar on the Ban the Box list?

The Ban the Box campaign is an effort to help former felons enjoy equal opportunities during the hiring process. Those who sign Ban the Box remove questions that pertain to criminal history from job applications.

There is also the Fair Chance Business Pledge. Businesses willingly decide to give former felons an equal chance of getting hired by considering their qualifications rather than their criminal history.

Caterpillar has not signed the Pledge. Despite this, they demonstrate a commitment to fairness. After all, the statement that we received from their HR rep is very promising.

Does Caterpillar have special programs for hiring felons?

Unfortunately, Caterpillar isn’t currently running any of these programs.

What are the odds someone with a felony getting hired?

Let’s review what we know. Caterpillar will hire former felons. So, we’d say the chances you’ll get hired at Caterpillar with a felony are high. Their HR rep that we spoke to said that a qualified candidate with a record has the same chances of getting hired as anyone else.

What are some entry-level jobs?

There are both office jobs and factory opportunities at Caterpillar. If you want to work in the office, you will have the chance to apply for some customer relations roles.

These jobs are great for people with solid communication skills.

There are also lots of manufacturing jobs that seem to run around the clock. They have first, second and third shifts for machine operators, which means that there are shifts available at all hours of the day.

How to get hired at Caterpillar with a felony?

Even with companies that are open and progressive, former felons may still find it worthwhile to go into the process with a strategy. That in mind, here are a few tips for how to get hired at Caterpillar with a felony.

The company suggested that former felons take the same approach as anyone else: Search their websites for listings, find one you qualify for and apply.

Getting hired starts with a good application. We filled one out to see what was on it, and found that it was pretty standard. They do ask screening questions about your qualifications. The questions seek to identify if you are eligible to work in the United States.

They also ask about your experience in the field that you are applying for.

Make sure that you fill out your application carefully. You will also want to submit a good resume that explains your skills and qualifications.

Writing a resume is tricky for everyone, so be sure to put it in front of a second pair of eyes. If you have a friend or family member with a knack for resume writing, ask them to look at it. Otherwise, there are also career centers that are happy to lend a helping hand.

If you submit a good application, you are going to be asked to an interview. Interviewing is its own art. This is your chance to show your personality, and make a good first impression. This is always important but will be particularly meaningful for people applying for customer service positions.

People applying for social jobs will want to demonstrate their communication chops. You may find it worthwhile to do a practice interview with a friend or family member. While the real thing probably won’t go the exact same way as the practice run, you’ll at least be better prepared.

Does Caterpillar do background checks?

Yes, they do. However, you know they’ve hired felons in the past, so it’s not likely going to be a deal breaker.

Here is some information you might find helpful about background checks:

For one thing, there are a number of states that will only check back up to seven years. This means if you have something on your record from eight years ago, Caterpillar won’t learn anything about it at all.

• California
• Colorado*
• Kansas*
• Maryland*
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire*
• New York*
• Texas*
• Washington*

There are also a number of states that don’t mention cases in which you were found not guilty.

• Alaska
• California
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New York

Unfortunately, there is also a healthy chunk of states that look at your whole record, including not guilty verdicts.

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• DC
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Company ratings

We also researched how people who work at Caterpillar feel about the company. To do this we took to the internet and looked at what Glassdoor.com had to say.

The ratings we found were pretty positive. The company had an overall rating of 3.6 out of a possible 5 stars. The lowest rating was a 2.9 out of 5 for feelings towards upper management.

However, for the most part, people are pretty satisfied with their Caterpillar work experience.

What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?

Generally speaking, some felony convictions are considered more harshly than others during the hiring process. From what Caterpillar’s HR rep said to us, your skills will ultimately matter more than your record. That said, there are some offenses that may keep you from getting hired.

It is good to keep in mind general hiring trends. People with substance abuse related offenses may have trouble getting hired for the factory positions. This is because a lot of heavy machinery is used.

People applying for customer service jobs might have a problem getting hired if they have a record of violent or sexual offenses.

Does Caterpillar drug test?

Caterpillar does drug test. As one would imagine, sobriety is very important for positions that involve machinery.

Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!

If you have experience with Caterpillar we would love to hear about it. What was your time with the company like? Let us know so that we can improve our information.