At Level, we know that strong employment outcomes after incarceration begin with education and skill-building inside. And even with the right training, people often face major barriers when it’s time to reenter the workforce. That’s why we’re excited to share Honest Jobs, a partner whose mission directly aligns with ours: creating opportunities for justice-involved individuals to succeed.
Honest Jobs is the nation’s largest job board built specifically for people with past justice involvement. Thousands of employers across the country use Honest Jobs to hire formerly incarcerated talent, and the site is free for job seekers.
Why It Matters
When someone returns home from incarceration, securing employment can mean the difference between stability and ongoing struggle. Honest Jobs gives people a real opportunity to find work that matches their skills and helps them move forward.
How It Works
Anyone with internet access can create an account in just a few minutes. Once logged in, job seekers can:
- Search for jobs by location, industry, or company
- See how many people with records have been hired at each employer
- Apply directly to companies that are open to fair chance hiring
- Access resources on reentry, housing, transportation, healthcare, and more
The platform is designed to highlight opportunities that best fit a job seeker’s criminal history, saving time and reducing rejection during the search.
Testimonial
After serving 8 years in prison for a violent offense, Billey struggled to find work. Through Honest Jobs, he quickly landed a position with Target as a Security Specialist and is now pursuing a psychology degree.
A Story of Resilience
Honest Jobs was founded by Harley Blakeman, who knows these challenges firsthand. As a teenager, Harley was a homeless high school dropout struggling with substance use. Just weeks after his 18th birthday, he was sentenced to prison for trafficking prescription pills and marijuana. While incarcerated, he earned his GED and became an avid reader. After release, he graduated from The Ohio State University with honors.
Despite his achievements, Harley was rejected by dozens of companies once he disclosed his record. In 2018, he turned that experience into action by creating Honest Jobs, a national fair chance job board that has since helped more than 200,000 justice-involved job seekers connect with employers willing to give them a fair chance.
Taking the Next Step
If you or someone you care about is returning home after incarceration, visit www.honestjobs.com. Creating a free account takes just a few minutes, and from there job seekers can search, apply, and connect with employers ready to hire.
Employment is more than a paycheck. It represents stability, dignity, and the opportunity to build a new chapter. Honest Jobs is here to help make that possible.