The food service industry can be a great starting point in your search for felon friendly jobs. It’s no secret that right now even non-offenders are finding it hard to get a job which means that it can be really difficult for ex-felons. It’s not all bad news though since there are certain industries that offer felon friendly jobs such as the food service industry.

The turnover rate for staff in the food and restaurant industry is very high, around 113 percent which means that they are constantly hiring new staff. Certain times of the year such as August (when college-age employees turn in their aprons and go back to their studies) are peak times for job applicants.

So what jobs are available?

Servers – food and beverage servers like waiters/waitresses, bartenders and baristas. You don’t need a degree to get a job as wait staff but you need good customer service skills. Servers work long hours and spend most of it on their feet. Tips can make up a good part of the servers’ income.

Managers – food service industry managers typically handle the day-to-day operations of the establishment and supervise the servers. Experience in the food service industry is the primary requirement to get a job as a manager.

Kitchen staff – chefs, cooks and other food preparation staff. Culinary degrees or training from a culinary school, college or community college are very helpful although not strictly necessary to get a job as in food preparation.

These are the main types of food and restaurant industry jobs that are typically available for felons. However, if you have a real passion for food then you aren’t limited to these jobs. You can start your own food business such as a restaurant, bar, weight loss food shop, catering business, etc.

For example, if you can bake the most delicious apple pies imaginable then that skill has a lot of potential for earning money. Start off small by selling pies to friends and relatives. Then if you want to pursue this further, check out places where you can sell pies such as your local food market or farmer’s market.

The food service industry has endless possibilities for felon friendly jobs so don’t feel depressed about not being able to get a job. The statistics show that the food service industry is one of the leading industries that offer jobs for felons. Employment in the food service industry may not be your top choice but it is a great place to start when looking for jobs for felons.