Does Veteran Affairs Hire Felons?

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run organization aimed at improving the lives of Veterans of the United States. They do this through a number of different programs that cover areas such as healthcare, community groups, debt management, housing and other assistance programs.

Ex-convicts deserve a chance to become productive members in their community. By becoming employed they are able to gain a sense of stability and financial independence again, or for the first time. Employers who take a chance by hiring a felon are helping these individuals reclaim a part of their identity and are often rewarded by having a dedicated employee on their staff!

About Veterans Affairs

Veterans Affairs is focused on providing America’s veterans with benefits and services they deserve after dedicating part of their lives to serving their country. Key areas that Veteran Affairs focuses on include healthcare, prescriptions, housing, education and retraining initiatives, and mental health resources.

The Department of Veterans Affairs became an independent agency on July 21, 1930 under the Executive Order of President Herbert Hoover. However, Veterans Affairs as it is known today came about in 1989. Since then it has grown to become the largest assistance system for veterans throughout the world.

According to the most recent data, the Department of Veterans Affairs has 383,040 employees. There are 18.2 million veterans in the United States and each year, Veterans Affairs provides services to more than 9 million of them. A good amount of this care happens at one of Veterans Affair’s 1,074 outpatient sites or one of their 170 VA medical centers.

Veterans Affairs offers a generous benefits package. Full-time employees can enjoy 13 to 26 days of personal/vacation days each year, 13 sick days each year, and 10 paid Federal Holidays. They also allow employees leave for medical problems of their own or a family member, time off after the birth or adoption of a child, and military leave. Veterans Affairs also offers full coverage health insurance plans, life insurance, flexible savings accounts (FSAs), and retirement plans covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

Employees of Veterans Affairs often mention the shared commitment to improving the lives of America’s veterans as a major reason for why they love their job. Although many of the jobs at this organization can be demanding, employees state that good pay, ample benefits, and a friendly environment makes Veterans Affairs a great place to work.

Does Veterans Affairs Hire Felons?

Based on our research, Veterans Affairs does hire felons. The Department of Veterans Affairs is a Federal government agency, and therefore does hire qualified candidates who have a felony record.

Typically, the type of felony committed, and amount of time passed, is taken into consideration by the potential employer. They will also consider the nature of the criminal offense and if it could be related to the area of work for which you are applying.

Does Veterans Affairs run background checks?

Veterans Affairs does run background check on potential employees. As stated on their website, once a candidate receives a job offer, they will be asked to undergo a background check.

From researching multiple sites, we have found that their background check covers a candidate’s criminal history and sometimes their credit history. The number of years they will look back in their search is dependent on the position being applied for and its classification. Veterans Affairs will also look into employment history, educational credentials, and any references the candidate includes.

Careers At Veterans Affairs

To work for Veterans Affairs, an interest in helping to better the lives of America’s Veterans is a must. The work can be demanding, depending on the position, so a passion for what you do is a must. Veterans Affairs expects all employees to share their values of integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence (“I CARE” values). Below are five positions that a candidate will typically find when searching the Veterans Affairs career section.

Medical Support Assistant: responsible for administrative duties such as answering calls, notifying patients of lab results, verifying and updating insurance information, and making sure patients have a positive experience at the hospital/clinic.

Engineering Equipment Operator: responsible for landscaping gravesites and digging graves for National Cemeteries. The employee must hold a valid drivers license, as they will be operating heavy equipment with multiple hand and foot controls.

Food Service Worker: setting up food service counters, refilling hot and cold food stations, delivering meals to patients’ bed side, preparing fruits and vegetables for cooking or salads, unloading supply trucks, sanitizing pots and pans, and other food service related responsibilities.

Cemetery Caretaker: this job requires physical strength, as many of the tasks are physically demanding. Responsibilities include digging graves, pruning shrubs, maintaining the grass and trees of the cemetery up to acceptable standards, and some cleaning and administrative work.

Laundry Worker: responsibilities include working with a computerized scrub machine to load and clean clothes, sort soiled laundry, deliver clean linens to different wards within the medical center, maintain a daily record of linens processed, and other tasks related to the position.

Application Process At Veterans Affairs

Interested applicants can search for a job at Veterans Affairs by visiting va.gov/jobs and clicking on the VA Careers site link. From there, you can search available careers and choose a hiring path that is marked “open to the public.” You will then be asked to create an account in order to fill out an employment application. Received applications are sorted as “disqualified,” “qualified,” or “highly qualified” based on skills and knowledge. A select number of highly qualified candidates are then chosen for an in-person interview. Expect to wait a number of weeks for a response to your application, as their selection process is very thorough.

When applying to Veterans Affairs, pay close attention to application instructions and any forms requested. An error or missing document could automatically disqualify you from a position.

Be sure to put reliable references on your application, as they will be checked during the interview stage of your application. According to their website, it is also important to list the complete address of every reference you provide.

Dress appropriately and act professionally during the interview. Learn as much as you can about the part of the organization you are applying for and prepare questions that show your interest in the company. Being enthusiastic is a good thing!

Be upfront about your criminal history in the interview. Describe your conviction while also speaking about how you have grown as a person since the crime. Let your determination to commit to an honest living shine through. Keep in mind that your qualifications and ability to communicate effectively are more important now than the mistakes of your past.

Application Links

Company: https://www.va.gov/

Careers: https://www.va.gov/jobs/