Find real openings, and avoid ghost jobs and scams.
Start with openings you can verify. Job search sites collect postings from many employers, so confirm each one on the employer's own careers page before you apply. Apply where your experience matches what the posting asks for, and keep a record of every application and its date.
A ghost job is a posting for a role the employer is not actively filling. A job scam is a fake posting or a fake recruiter: it asks for money, bank details, or identity documents before any real interview. Legitimate employers do not ask you to pay to get a job. When a recruiter contacts you first, check that the email address matches the employer's website.
If you have a conviction record, look for second-chance employers, also called fair-chance employers. They consider applicants with records and say so in their postings. Some states and cities also limit when an employer can ask about criminal history.
Find employers that hire people with conviction records through reentry programs and job centers. Your federal rights, bonding, and a paused tax credit.
Care, trades, hospitality, healthcare, and more. Tell Bob what you want and meet employers who are hiring now.
