Does Edward Jones Hire Felons? Everything You Need to Know

Edward Jones is a financial services firm focused on individual investors and small businesses. If you’re a former felon looking for a new job, you might be wondering: Does Edward Jones hire felons? We thought you should know, so we asked them directly. We got information on things like:

• How will your record impact your chances?
• Does Edward Jones do background checks?
• Skills and experience they require for entry-level jobs
• Does Edward Jones hire people with misdemeanors?

We’ll also give you our best tips for your resume and the interview. Successful Release hires former felons or those who’ve worked closely with them to give you information that matters from people who know what they’re talking about.

Edward Jones is headquartered in Missouri and mainly deals with US and Canadian clients. The company, founded by an Edward D. Jones in 1922, is fully owned by its retired and current employees. Is this something that interests you? We’ve got you covered.

Here’s everything you need to know when applying at Edward Jones.

Does Edward Jones hire felons?

Official Company policy for hiring felons

We contacted Edward Jones directly. Here’s what they said:

“Industry regulations do not allow us to hire past felons.”

We’ll be honest, that’s not great. But know that this isn’t universal: The FDIC has recently eased up on a number regulations barring felons from working in the financial sector — the law in place was found to be too discriminating.

This means that while a record related to dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering can still bar you from working in a finance field, other offenses may not. For more information, read the full statement here.

Has Edward Jones hired felons in the past?

Considering the above, it is unlikely that Edward Jones has hired people with criminal records in the past. Not only that, but we don’t have any firsthand accounts of them hiring former felons, either.

Does Edward Jones hire people with misdemeanors?

With a strict hiring policy such as they have, it is likely that people with misdemeanors are going to have a tougher time getting hired at Edward Jones.

Is Edward Jones on the Ban the Box list?

Ban the Box is a campaign started to help felons find work. The aim is to remove questions about an applicant’s criminal record from the initial job application. Eleven states have adopted this as a law already, so you can’t be asked about your record on the initial job application in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont or Washington. More states will surely follow.

The Fair Chance Business Pledge is a similar idea: Businesses are encouraged to take the Pledge to help remove barriers former felons face in their search for a new job.

It may not be surprising that Edward Jones is not on the Ban the Box list and has not signed the Pledge. In a world where more and more people have criminal records, this may soon change — so if working for them is your dream, you can always do something else for a while and check back later.

Does Edward Jones have special programs for hiring felons?

No. There are many companies that do, but Edward Jones isn’t one of them.

Remember to stay positive — you’ve got every reason to. Whether it’s government resources or NGO initiatives like The Sentencing Project or Inmates to Entrepreneurs, there is plenty of help out there.

What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?

Low, we’ve got to tell you. They have shown no effort in making it easier on felons to work there. Their policies are very strict, so it may not be possible to get a job at Edward jones with a felony on your record.

What are some entry-level jobs?

Edward Jones doesn’t have many entry-level positions, so when does Edward Jones hire felons? Aside from working in their office, you’re going to need to be specially skilled to work in the financial industry.

If you are looking for a job in the financial industry, you know you’ll need to have good math skills. It may surprise you to know that many positions involve working with the public, sometimes in private or semi-private settings. Therefore, you’ll also need good communication skills.

Look through their careers site and see what you’re qualified for.

Rules change, so you never know. Besides, if you’ve only got a misdemeanor on your record, you might still be considered.

How to get hired at Edward Jones with a felony

Honestly, we may not be able to tell you how to get hired at Edward Jones. But we will say this: Just because a company states they won’t hire felons does not mean you aren’t allowed to apply.

If you do, make sure you mention your record as early as you can. You will avoid disappointment later in the process.

Write a great resume with our help, and maybe give them a call before sending it off.

Head out to a careers center nearby if you’re feeling a little rusty on your interview skills. They’ll look over your resume and ask you smart questions like, “Why is there a gap in your resume from this year to this year?” Practicing your answer to this can really help your chances in an interview.

You also need to practice answering questions about your record so you can control the conversation about it.

But in case things don’t work out, don’t worry: There are a large number of options left for you. You can apply at one of the other places we list on our site.

Does Edward Jones do background checks?

They most certainly do. Being honest about your past is crucial. Having a criminal record is nothing to be ashamed of, and you’ve done more difficult things in life than telling someone you are a former felon. If they have a problem with that, their loss.

Here’s some more information on background checks:

In certain US states, nothing older than seven years will be considered part of your record, so it may be worth waiting if your record is close to that limit. The states that don’t look at felonies more than seven years old are:

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

(* there are certain pay or salary bracket positions where other conditions do apply)

What’s more, there are eight states that don’t consider cases where you were found not guilty. These are:

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

However, if you live in one of the states we mention below, your whole record will be looked at. No matter the verdict or the time passed, these states will see all of it:

• 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

Edward Jones rates pretty highly in all categories. They have a rating of 4.1 in total, with 79% of reviewers saying they would recommend working there to a friend. Almost all people who work there — 94% — approve of the CEO, Jim Weddle.

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

Judging by their official statement, all of them. Particularly, however, you should think about your record in terms of the industry you apply to. For example, since Edward Jones is in the financial sector, you can imagine that crimes relating to theft of any kind, breach of trust, misuse of proprietary information, etc. will really work against you.

Violent crimes and sex offenses will also have a negative impact on your ability to work with segments of the public.

Does Edward Jones drug test?

Yes, they do. Both applicants and employees have to go through various kinds of drug testing.

Have you applied for a job or worked here? Do you work at Edward Jones? Share your experiences!

Were you able to get a job at Edward Jones with a felony? If you’ve managed to get a job or interview with them despite having a criminal record, tell us how you did it. Help us help others!