Jobs That Don’t Require Background Checks

You may be just out of prison and looking for a job.

Of course, you know that won’t be easy.

One of the major challenges to getting work is to pass that dreaded background check.

You figure that anywhere you apply will run one, and that opportunity will be gone.

This would mean starting over in your search once again.

Have you thought about whether you might be able to find a job with an employer that won’t run a background check?

Is there such a thing as no background check?

Well, let’s consider the possibility.

Are there jobs that don’t require background checks?

In this blog post, we’ll cover the following:

• Background Check?
• No Background Check?
• Jobs That Often Don’t Run Background Checks
• Can You Run a Background Check on Yourself?
• Recommended Action

Background Check?

The information obtained in a background check allows employers to determine an applicant’s past mistakes, character, and moral fitness.

The main reason for running a background check is to ensure employers hire the best candidate for a job.  

Many employers won’t hire felons, believing they are dishonest and likely to commit a crime on the job.

Or employers fear the public finding out they hire felons, damaging the company’s reputation and losing business.

This leaves an employer in a difficult position for which the answer is to conduct a background check. 

For some types of work, a background check is required by federal, state, or industry regulations.

Typically, most employers develop their own background check process.

Many industries have no laws requiring background screenings.

However, most employers do not want to deal with liability risks and the threat of negligent hiring lawsuits.

Running employee background checks is a safeguard against legal danger.

No Background Check?

What would happen if an employer didn’t run a background check?

They may have to deal with applicants presenting false credentials, and making untrue claims about themselves, their accomplishments, and their job histories.

Also, not running a background check can create unsafe working conditions in the job place.

If they hire someone with a criminal record, they might be setting themselves up for unlawful and dangerous behavior to take place.

Jobs That Often Don’t Run Background Checks

Some employers don’t perform background checks unless the position specifically involves law enforcement, child or nursing care, school employment, or safety and security issues. 

While it is not possible to specify particular jobs that don’t run background checks, there are many areas of employment that actually don’t run a background check.

Let’s take a look at what some of these are.

Restaurants

Some restaurants hire employees for a number of job openings without conducting a background check.

These include positions such as servers, cooks, and dishwashers.

Restaurants are always looking for applicants for these hard-to-fill positions. 

There is a high turnover rate in the restaurant industry, and restaurant managers may choose to overlook the background check so that they can keep the restaurant staffed and running.

Delivery Service

Many shipping companies and businesses hire delivery drivers without running criminal background checks.

However, a clean driving record is necessary: DUIs, frequent accidents, and other driving violations will significantly reduce the chances that a company will hire you. 

Trucking

Trucking companies are always in need of truck drivers to transport goods from one location to another.

While these companies tend to look for drivers with a CDL, an applicant who presents with that type of license can land a driving opportunity. 

Maybe you had a CDL prior to your legal difficulties.

Looking for a trucking job can give you the chance to put that to use.

Or, you get your CDL after your release.

When you apply for a trucking position, the company may be in need of drivers and not run a background check.

Construction

This is another area that typically has a high demand for workers.

Construction companies have a constant flow of work due to ongoing construction contracts. 

They have to keep these positions filled to avoid falling behind and risk not completing the project.

This can be very costly to them in terms of finances and canceled contracts because they do not meet the deadlines that have been set. 

Therefore, when they hire construction workers, they may look past the background check and hire those who apply and are willing to work and even learn on the job.

Telephone Customer Service

Some companies hire felons, often without conducting background checks, to handle telephone customer service duties.

Some customer service companies are willing to take a risk on felons because all customer relations are handled over the phone. 

There’s often a high demand for telephone customer service agents because of high turnover rates. 

Independent Contractor

When some businesses are hiring for certain positions, they may not hire direct employees.

They may look at those who are independent and can perform a valuable service to the company. 

These individuals are considered to be independent contractors.

They typically perform a specific detailed service and have certain specialized knowledge. 

If the business is not offering benefits, they might consider hiring those persons who are willing to work without those benefits without doing a background check.

Government Jobs

Then, some government jobs that don’t require background checks can be found in a wide range of job title categories, such as clerical work, quality assurance, maintenance, construction, food service, food preparation, industrial equipment operation, packing, and processing. 

However, you must look at your state’s employment laws and discuss application requirements with individual employers.

There’s no official list of jobs that guarantees you won’t be required to comply with an employer’s background check request. 

In states that don’t have “ban the box” legislation, you must talk to the employer to find out whether a background check is required for the position.

“Ban the box” is the initiative to eliminate the box that applicants must check if they have been convicted of a felony.

Some Companies That Often Don’t Run Background Checks

We’ve compiled a list of a few companies that don’t run background checks, of course, this list continues to grow. Most of these jobs are also remote-friendly, which is great for working from home.

Scribie – Audio/Video transcription services that will pay as you work.

U-haul – Customer services gigs at U-Haul haven’t stated that they run background checks (other job fields within U-Haul might)

Askwonder – A personal research assistant job that can hire you to answer questions and conduct research.

Scripted – Freelance writing gigs with competitive pay and provide flexibility from working anywhere at anytime.

Upwork – Freelance work, in tech, legal, writing, and much more. Providing flexibility from working anywhere at anytime.

Fiverr – Freelance work, in tech, legal, writing, and much more. Providing flexibility from working anywhere at anytime.

Amazon Mechanical Turk – A crowdsourcing marketplace that makes it easier for individuals and businesses to outsource their processes and jobs.

Cruise.com – Connect travelers with the perfect cruise.

Pinecone Research – Get paid to conduct online studies and review products!

Swagbucks – Get paid for conducting online surveys, watching ads, and more!

Recommended Action

Regardless of any felony history, it is important for you to be honest in disclosing any conviction.

If you are not and a background check reveals a felony, your chances for employment are gone.

Remember that when you have had your records expunged or sealed at the time of a background check a felony conviction will not show up, and you can honestly state that you do not have a conviction.

Disclosing felony convictions provides you the opportunity to explain your situation and describe the circumstances of your crime, depending on the nature of the crime and length of time since the conviction.

When applying for a job in any of the areas outlined above, there may be a chance that the employer will not run a background check.

But even if they do, you will be prepared.

Remember to be smart about it and go into any situation prepared with the information that can make a critical difference in being successful.

It is not about the mistakes you make but in how you recover from them that makes all the difference.

So what do you think about this blog post about what jobs don’t require background checks?

Have you or someone you know gotten a job without a background check being run?

What was that like and how did that go?

Please tell us in the comments below.