Attention-grabbing guests like Kim Kardashian West were the focus last week when President Trump announced his “second chance hiring” initiative for former prison inmates, but now government agencies are getting in on the action.
The government’s official federal hiring platform, USAJobs.gov, is preparing for its role in an initiative that is otherwise focused primarily on encouraging private sector companies to hire ex-offenders. Trump had said the Office of Personnel Management would work to make USAJobs.gov “available” to individuals in federal prison and those recently released.
OPM indeed is “taking steps to help make applying for federal jobs as simple as possible for individuals re-entering the workforce,” an spokesperson for the agency told FedScoop. “We’ve developed guidance that includes how to utilize USAJOBS and sample resumes, which we will make available on our website.” The site also plans to host webinars, the spokesperson said.
Per the FAQ on USAJobs.gov, ex-offenders are eligible for most jobs in federal service. “OPM or the hiring agency considers your criminal conduct in determining your suitability but there are no general prohibitions against hiring you,” the FAQ reads. “We consider a number of relevant factors such as the duties of the positions you have applied for, the nature and recency of the misconduct, and any evidence of rehabilitation.”
USAJobs has a number of specific “hiring paths” for certain groups of employees — veterans, Native Americans, individuals with a disability and more. The agency does not appear to be creating a similar hiring path for ex-offenders.
