- Niche Companies
Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone deserves a chance to improve. Getting a job is a great way to start a second chance and make your life what you want it to be. Regardless of any past record, starting to job search can be hard, but it’s ultimately a rewarding experience.
While it’s well-known that most companies don’t like to hire felons, more and more employers are dropping that requirement and are being open-minded. It’s possible to find a job and start your life, no matter what happened in your past.
This guide is a great starting point for your job search, so keep reading if you’re in the market for a new job.
Key Takeaways:
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The top three jobs for previously incarcerated individuals are construction worker, truck driver, and electrician.
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When looking for a job as a felon, its best to start with entry-level jobs and work your way up from there.
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It may take some time to find a job but don’t give up on your search.
14 Jobs That Hire Felons
If you’re looking for work as a felon, a good place to start is with entry-level jobs. These can give you the opportunity to get your foot in the door at a company, then gain skills and training that can help you rise through the ranks.
These aren’t the only jobs out there for felons, but they’re commonly-held jobs that are popular with people who have a criminal record:
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Average Annual Salary: $86,000
Tired of running into roadblocks because of your record? Passionate about a product or service? You can work for yourself and build your dream company as an entrepreneur.
You’ll need to do a lot of preparation and research on your own before you launch a company, but it will be rewarding to see your efforts come to fruition with your very own business.
Skills needed:
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Business management
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Communication
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Active listening
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Critical thinking
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Analytical thinking
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Problem solving skills
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Average Annual Salary: $23,000
Construction is a great field to get involved with for anyone who wants an active job where you can use your hands. There’s plenty of opportunities across the country for construction workers, and you’ll get to work on some pretty cool projects.
Once you have a good understanding of how construction works and companies function, you can pick a skill or a few to specialize in.
Skills needed:
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Physical strength and stamina
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Great hand-eye coordination
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A good memory
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Building and engineering knowledge
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willingness to learn
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Average Annual Salary: $38,000
Learning a trade skill like welding is a good way to jump into an industry. You can start off as a generalist and eventually specialize in a particular skill or type of welding that you’re interested in.
Skills needed:
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Attention to detail
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Steady hands
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Good hand-eye coordination
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physical strength and stamina
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Great communication skills
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Average Annual Salary: $59,000
Driving a truck is a good option for anyone, including people who are still on parole. If you’re on probation or parole, there are opportunities for short-haul driving that allows you to stay within your state. Otherwise, you get to drive across the country and see new places.
If you like driving, want to see more of the country, or just like spending time on your own, trucking can be a great career.
Skills needed:
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Excellent Communication
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The ability to navigate
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Proper driving skills
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Organization skills
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Basic mechanical knowledge
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Patience
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Average Annual Salary: $43,000
People lock themselves out of their cars and their houses all of the time, so there’s always a need for a locksmith. You can earn a vocational certificate in the field and work for yourself or find a job at a locksmith, alarm company, or other places.
Just be wary before choosing this career since sometimes it’s impossible to become a locksmith depending on your criminal charge.
Skills needed:
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Patience
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Problem solving skills
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Critical thinking
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Flexibility
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The ability to think on your feet
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Average Annual Salary: $49,000
Almost every building has an HVAC system, so many people need help maintaining and fixing them. You’ll have lots of work opportunities; you just need to learn the trade and sharpen your skills.
If you want to join the industry, you can either enroll in a trade school or find a company that will train you on the job.
Skills needed:
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Problem solving skills
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Communication
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Time management
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Physical strength and stamina
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Customer service
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Critical thinking
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Average Annual Salary: $26,000
Another popular industry with convicted felons is the restaurant business. There are lots of opportunities, from the back of house cooks to the front of house bartenders. No matter what your skillset or interests are, there’s a job that can fit you in the industry.
You can think outside of the box here and apply to companies that host banquets and events (like a hotel) or go the usual route of looking for restaurants that are hiring. Many restaurants, including national chains, have lenient hiring policies, so you have a pretty good chance of landing a job in the industry if you have an impressive application.
There are also many opportunities to grow and get promoted, which is good to keep in mind.
Skills needed:
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Customer service skills
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Time management
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A good memory
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Organization skills
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Communication
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Attention to detail
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Average Annual Salary: $53,000
Electricians are in huge demand, so if you go into the business, you’ll have lots of potential for employment. Many companies will teach you the skills you need and train you to be a good electrician, so there isn’t much you need to do besides apply and land the job.
Skills needed:
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Communication
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Problem solving skills
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Standard technical electrician skills
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The ability to work with a team
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Physical strength and stamina
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Basic math skills
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Average Annual Salary: $42,000
Many people work from home as freelancers these days, and if you have an area you’re particularly good at (like design, writing, or customer service), you can work for yourself and sell your services.
If you’re just starting, freelance customer service, telemarketer, or sales associate jobs are a great way for you to get your feet wet and figure out what you like best.
Consider whether you have some skills, or you’re passionate about fields like coding, website design, marketing, writing, consulting, and project management. If you are, you can pitch your services to clients and begin to build your portfolio.
Skills needed:
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Communication
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Marketing
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Negotiation
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Creativity
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Writing and research
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Average Annual Salary: $45,000
Do you love cars? Are you good at fixing things? Mechanics can make a lot of money and help people out with their useful knowledge.
Consider looking for a mechanic job that comes with training on the job, or head to a trade school to become a competitive applicant at an auto repair shop.
Skills needed:
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Problem solving
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Communication
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Attention to detail
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Time management
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Physical strength and stamina
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Average Annual Salary: $42,000
Sometimes people who have gone through the criminal system are best equipped to help others navigate it too. If you want to use your experience to help improve others’ lives, think about going into counseling.
It might take awhile for you to get the education, experience, and certifications or licenses required to become a counselor, but it’s an extremely rewarding field.
Skills needed:
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Communication skills
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Active listening
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Patience
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Confidence
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Average Annual Salary: $56,000
Do you have good people skills? Are you a convincing speaker? You should try your hand at sales and find an entry-level sales job.You can work for all kinds of companies and sell all kinds of products, plus you get to travel around and meet new people. It’s a great job with lots of potential to get promoted, no matter what your interests and skills are.
Skills needed:
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Customer service skills
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Communication
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Active listening
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Storytelling
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Time management
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Average Annual Salary: $40,000
Carpenters have a wide range of specializations available to them, so take a look at what carpenter jobs you could do and decide if the area is right for you.
Some states require carpenters to have licenses, and some companies want you to have training from a trade school, so do some research on carpenters hiring in your area so you can make sure you have the right qualifications before applying.
Skills needed:
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Math skills
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Physical strength and stamina
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Attention to detail
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Problem solving
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Communication
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Temporary work
Average Annual Salary: N/A
Temporary jobs are a great way for anyone to get professional experience in a wide range of roles and industries.Consider working with a staffing agency or a temporary agency to find some temporary work and build up your resume as you figure out your career path.
Skills needed:
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Flexibility
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Good social skills
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Communication
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Companies That Hire Felons
If you’re looking for work but unsure what role you want, you should take a look at these companies. They hire felons, and you might find a role that’s interesting to you by looking at their website.
These are by no means the only companies that hire felons and have lenient hiring policies. Still, these are some large national corporations that have locations across the US and have many jobs available.
It’s always a good idea to check in on local businesses run by families to see if they welcome felons.
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1-800-Flowers.com
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Ace Hardware
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Adecco Staffing
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Aetna
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Alamo Rent a Car
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Alaska Airlines
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Amazon
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American Airlines
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American Express
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Apple Inc.
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Applebee’s
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Aramark Food Services
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ATT
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Bahama Breeze
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Bally’s Hotel Casino
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Baskin-Robbins
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Baxter International
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Bed, Bath Beyond
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Best Buy
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Best Western
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The Body Shop
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Boeing
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Bonefish Grill
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Bridgestone
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British Airways
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Buffalo Wild Wings
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Calvin Klein
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Carl’s Jr.
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Carrabba’s Italian Grill
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Chase Bank
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Cheesecake Factory
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Chick-fil-a
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Chili’s
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Chipotle Mexican Grill
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The Coca-Cola Company
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Coldwell Banker
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Comcast
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Comfort Inn Suites
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CVS Health
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Dairy Queen
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Dell Corporation
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Delta Air Lines
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Denny’s
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Dollar General
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Dollar Tree
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Domino’s Pizza
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Dropbox
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Dunkin Donuts
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Exxon Mobil
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Facebook
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Fairfield Inn
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Family Dollar
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Five Guys Burgers and Fries
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Food Giant
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Freymiller Trucking
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Frito-Lay
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Golden Corral
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Goodwill Industries
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Goodyear Dunlop Tires
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Google
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Great Clips
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Greyhound
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Hampton Inn
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The Hershey Company
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Hilton Hotels
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Home Depot
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IHOP
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IKEA
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JiffyLube
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The Johnson Group
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Kellogg’s
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KFC
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Kohl’s
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LG Electronics
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Lyft
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Lowes
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Macy’s
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Marriott Hotels
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Maverick Transportation
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McDonald’s
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Melton Truck Lines
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Men’s Warehouse
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Microsoft
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Nordstrom
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Olive Garden
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Outback Steakhouse
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Panera Bread
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Papa John’s
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Pepsi-Co
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Perdue Farms
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PetSmart
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Prudential
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Publix
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Red Lobster
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Red Robin
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Residence Inn
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Ross
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Sam’s Club
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Sara Lee Corporation – Bimbo Bakeries USA
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Showtime Networks
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Shoprite
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Sonic Drive-In
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Sony
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Springhill Suites
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Sprint
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Staples
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Starbucks
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Starwood Hotels
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Subway
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Sysco
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Target Stores
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Tesla
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TGI Fridays
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Trader Joe’s
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Tyson Foods
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Uber
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U-Haul
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Unilever
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United Airlines
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United Parcel Service (UPS)
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Verizon
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Walgreens
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Wal-Mart
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Wendy’s
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Wyndham Hotels
- Niche Companies
Author
Amanda is a writer with experience in various industries, including travel, real estate, and career advice. After taking on internships and entry-level jobs, she is familiar with the job search process and landing that crucial first job. Included in her experience is work at an employer/intern matching startup where she marketed an intern database to employers and supported college interns looking for work experience.
