If you’ve had a problem finding a decent job due to your criminal record, it could be your lucky day.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is telling ex-criminal offenders “We’re Hiring” as part of a pilot initiative in Chicago, Illinois. They have partnered with several Chicago non-profit organizations to mentor, train, and recruit applicants for jobs in the banking sector.
Giving Ex-Offenders a Second Chance
Many people with past criminal offenses may not have considered a job in the banking industry as an option, but it typically doesn’t preclude you from working at financial institutions.
The pilot program was launched about a month ago and the company has made nine employment offers to ex-offenders as a result of the program. It is aimed at reducing the number of unemployed people with criminal records.
So far, the mega-bank as offered career opportunities to personal bankers, associate bankers, and remittance processors. Of the offenders that were made offers from the program, their records ranged from driving under the influence to drug possession. The company has stated that it will expand the program to other cities.
Ban-the-Box
Chase launched the initiative just 18 months after instituting a company-wide policy to “ban-the-box.” The company no longer asks job applicants if they have been convicted of any crimes, and they only run background checks once a conditional offer has been made to a prospective employee.
Even if your background check reveals criminal charges, it won’t necessarily result in a withdrawal of their initial offer. In fact, since banning the box, the company has hired approximately 2,100 people with criminal backgrounds.
That number equates to about 10% off all new hires made since the ban-the-box policy went into effect. With the success of the JPMorgan Chase & Co. pilot program in Chicago, you may soon see similar hiring initiatives in other cities.
