Jacobs Hiring Overview For 2023

Is Jacobs on the Ban the Box list?

Ban the Box is an initiative started by civil rights groups that convinces companies to remove questions relating to a criminal record from the initial job application.

The Fair Chance Business Pledge is a similar effort: Companies take the Pledge to help remove barriers in the way of former felons to give them a well-deserved second chance. Jacobs is not on the Ban the Box list as of yet and has not signed the Fair Chance Business Pledge.

Does Jacobs have special programs for felons?

No. But they do have a charity, the Jacobs Family Foundation, involved in helping strengthen underprivileged neighborhoods. While this is not directly relevant, it does show that Jacobs aims to make a difference in people’s lives.

If you’d like to find out more about programs helping former felons get to work, specifically, check out the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program. It encourages employers to hire former felons, among others, by offering a tax credit.

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

Since Jacobs is a massive company with pretty reasonable hiring policies, we’d say the odds are average. They may not be on the Ban the Box list, but they will at least look at you as a person and weigh your case individually.

They’ve also got a large number of entry-level jobs, many of them accessible for people with no relevant criminal conviction. Read on to find out what jobs are available to you.

What are some entry-level jobs?

Jacobs has branches in almost all US states, so you can find entry-level positions in various areas from Virginia to Oregon. Your options are many: Refining the search on their careers site to include the term “entry-level” will help you find the best fit.

You can for instance apply to be trained as an operator, mechanic or a carpenter. To find out more about jobs like these, simply type the word ‘training’ in the search bar.

Alternative entry-level positions include pipe fitter, operations assistant, packaging and shipping clerk, or customer service assistant. With such a wide range of jobs, there is bound to be something that’s just right for you.

Some of these positions do, however, require that you have no criminal record. They may be connected indirectly to the US government, for instance, depending on the type of work and the location.

You can find out more about Jacobs from their fact sheet.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

Well, you’ve got to apply. The CH2M careers site now redirects you to the Jacobs platform as well.

When you apply for the job you want, do everything you can to set yourself apart from the competition. This starts with a great resume. Tailor it to fit the job you’re applying for. Show it to someone you trust or take it to a career counseling center and let them look it over.

For more help on how to make your resume stand out, see our guide.

At Jacobs, you’ll be working on a team, no matter what your job is. If you want to be part of this team, behave as if you already are, and they will have an easier time imagining what that would look like if they hired you.

While it’s easy to pretend that everyone works at their dream job and life is one big party, this is often not the case. Maybe you’re just trying to work where you can, and that’s okay, too.

But when you go in for your interview, it’s important to behave like the job you’re trying to get is the dream. Be enthusiastic and think of the security a steady gig will give you. Think of where you may be in five years if this interview goes well.

Most importantly, be honest. You have a criminal record. Sure, that’s not ideal, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of. The person interviewing you may have one, for all you know. Bill Gates has one, as does Martha Stewart. The person writing this has one.

Having a criminal record doesn’t make you different. The thing that sets you apart is being prepared. Putting your best foot forward, not only in the way you look but also in the way you sound. Be respectful, approachable and professional, and don’t be afraid to be yourself.

They do. Online statements differ on when in the hiring process the background check is done, but there is certainly one in your future if you apply for a job at Jacobs.

Here’s some more information on background checks:

In certain US states, nothing older than seven years is 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 following states, your whole record will be looked at. No matter the verdict or the time passed, these states will see 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

Jacobs rates very highly on glassdoor.com, with 67% of reviewers saying they would recommend working there to a friend. Work-life balance and career opportunities scored the highest.

What felonies Jacobs will not hire

Jacobs didn’t give us a list of charges that would be an automatic disqualification. Read below for more on the charges they’ll frown upon.

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

With such a large company, there will be many areas where a felony conviction is grounds for barring. Especially since Jacobs does a lot of work for the US government. On the other hand, there are likely just as many jobs where this is not so.

You should be able to find a large number of jobs to which your conviction is not related. Plus, with HR reports saying that the vast majority of ex-offender hires have been just as successful as hires with no criminal record, you’ve got stats on your side, too.

That being said, you will still find that certain convictions may bar you from a job. Warehouse jobs, for instance, won’t be given to people with theft convictions. Driving delivery vehicles will not be available to those with a car-related offense, and people who have been convicted of financial crimes won’t be given a job on the administrative side of the business. But don’t let that discourage you. As we said, there are plenty of options left.

Does Jacobs hire sex offenders?

Great question. We’re not sure, even after checking online. The company didn’t tell us directly, so unless you have firsthand information to share, we can’t say.

Does Jacobs drug test?

Reviewers on job search sites have stated that drug tests are both part of getting hired and of working at Jacobs.

Have you applied for a job here? Do you work at Jacobs? Share your experiences!

If you know how to get hired at Jacobs with a felony, now is the time to help others! Let other ex-felons know how you did it in the comments below.