Felony Friendly Jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach is part of the Hampton Roads metro, home to the world's largest naval base (Naval Station Norfolk) and a massive military presence. Tourism and hospitality are major industries, especially in the summer months. The port at Norfolk creates logistics and shipping jobs. Dollar Tree is headquartered in nearby Chesapeake. While Virginia's ban-the-box law only covers public employment, the military-driven economy creates steady demand for construction and support workers.
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Top Employers in Virginia Beach That Hire People With Records
These companies have locations in or near Virginia Beach, VA and are known to consider applicants with criminal records.
Amazon hires people with felony records for most warehouse and delivery roles. Background checks are individualized.
Walmart considers applicants with records on a case-by-case basis. Violent and theft-related felonies may disqualify.
Target uses individualized assessment for applicants with records. Ban the Box compliant nationwide.
FedEx Ground contractors frequently hire people with records. FedEx Express has stricter requirements.
Dollar Tree conducts background checks but hires many people with records. Also owns Family Dollar.
Lowe's uses individualized assessment. Some positions involving driving or equipment have stricter checks.
Home Depot considers applicants with records individually. Theft and violent felonies may be disqualifying.
Best Industries in Virginia Beach for People With Records
- ✓Military & defense
- ✓Tourism & hospitality
- ✓Healthcare
- ✓Logistics & shipping
- ✓Construction
Staffing Agencies in Virginia Beach That Work With People With Records
Temp and staffing agencies are often the fastest way to get working. These agencies serve the Virginia Beach metro area and are known to place people with criminal records.
- Manpower
- Express Employment Professionals
- Kelly Services
- Adecco
- Randstad
Virginia Employment Laws for People With Records
Ban the Box Status
Virginia passed a statewide ban-the-box law in 2020 that applies to state agencies and political subdivisions. Private employers are not covered by the state law. Virginia Beach does not have a local ban-the-box ordinance for private employers.
Fair Chance Hiring Law
Virginia's ban-the-box law covers only public employment. Private employers in Virginia Beach can still ask about criminal history on applications. Federal EEOC guidelines apply.
Minimum Wage
$12.41/hr (Virginia state minimum)
Tips for Job Searching With a Record in Virginia Beach
- 1.Start with staffing agencies. Temp agencies are often the fastest way to get working. They have relationships with employers who are willing to hire people with records, and a temp-to-hire position can become a permanent job.
- 2.Apply to multiple places at once. Do not wait for one application to come back before applying to the next. Apply to 5-10 places in the same week. The more applications you send, the better your chances.
- 3.Be honest about your record. If asked, be upfront. Lying about your criminal history is grounds for immediate termination if discovered later. Briefly acknowledge what happened, explain what you have learned, and focus on what you bring to the job.
- 4.Focus on industries with high demand. Warehouse, logistics, construction, and food service jobs tend to be the most accessible for people with records because these industries have chronic worker shortages.
- 5.Use local reentry programs. Organizations like Goodwill, workforce development centers, and reentry coalitions can connect you with employers who actively hire people with records. They often know about job openings before they are publicly posted.
- 6.Know your rights. Under the EEOC guidelines, employers must use individualized assessment — they cannot have a blanket ban on hiring people with records. Under the FCRA, you have the right to see and dispute your background check. If you are in a ban-the-box state or city, employers cannot ask about your record until later in the hiring process.
Reentry Employment Programs in Virginia Beach
- Virginia Employment Commission — Hampton Roads
- Goodwill of Southeastern Virginia
- The Up Center
- ForKids (Hampton Roads)
- Virginia Beach Community Development Corporation
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best felony friendly jobs in Virginia Beach?
- Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads offer opportunities in construction (military base projects), hospitality and tourism (hotels, restaurants), logistics and shipping (Port of Virginia), retail (Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree), and food service. The military presence drives civilian employment.
- Does Virginia Beach have ban-the-box laws?
- Virginia has a statewide ban-the-box law, but it only applies to state agencies and political subdivisions, not private employers. Virginia Beach does not have a local ordinance covering private employers. Federal EEOC guidelines still apply.
- What staffing agencies in Virginia Beach hire felons?
- Staffing agencies in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads include Manpower, Express Employment Professionals, Kelly Services, Adecco, and Randstad. They place workers in warehouse, construction, hospitality, and general labor roles.
- What is the minimum wage in Virginia Beach?
- Virginia's state minimum wage is $12.41 per hour. Many construction and logistics jobs in the Hampton Roads area start well above minimum wage.
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