I Have a Record. What Jobs Can I Get in Texas?

One mistake should not decide the rest of your life.

Many people call us with the same question:

“I have a felony on my record. Is it still worth getting certified?”

The honest answer is yes.

A certification cannot erase your record. It cannot guarantee that a company will hire you. But it can give an employer a reason to look at the skills you have today—not only the mistakes you made in the past.

There are refinery contractors, construction companies and industrial employers that consider applicants with criminal records. The final decision may depend on the type of offense, how long ago it happened, the job, the company and the rules of the worksite.

What Jobs Can I Apply for With a Record?

Do not count yourself out before you apply.

Depending on your experience and qualifications, you may be able to apply for jobs such as:

• Fire watch or hole watch
• Industrial helper
• Turnaround or shutdown laborer
• Rigger helper
• Basic Rigger
• Advanced Rigger
• Signal person
• Safety attendant
• Entry-level safety support
• Construction laborer

Job titles and requirements are different at every company. Some positions are entry-level. Others require experience, certifications, a drug test, a background check or access credentials.

Your goal is to make yourself more qualified for the jobs that are available to you.

Why Certifications Matter When You Have a Record

When you apply without training, an employer may only see your work history and background.

When you apply with certifications, you can also show:

• You completed training
• You are serious about working
• You understand jobsite safety
• You invested in improving yourself
• You have skills the employer can use
• You are ready to take the next step

NCCER credentials are nationally recognized, portable and verifiable online. Employers can confirm the credentials that a worker has earned instead of relying only on what is written on a résumé.

Your certification does not promise you a job. It helps you walk into the application process with more to offer.

Do Refineries Hire People With Felony Records?

Some refineries and industrial employers consider applicants with records. Some companies also participate in fair-chance or second-chance employment programs.

However, there is no honest list that can promise every refinery will hire every person with a felony.

Hiring decisions can depend on:

• The type of conviction
• How much time has passed
• Whether the job is related to the offense
• Your work history since the conviction
• Site access requirements
• Drug-screening requirements
• The refinery’s rules
• The contractor’s rules

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recommends that employers consider factors such as the seriousness of an offense, the time that has passed and the type of job being requested.

That does not mean every employer will make the same decision. It means you should not assume that one rejection means every door is closed.

A Local Second-Chance Employer to Research

One company worth researching is Flint Hills Resources in Corpus Christi.

Flint Hills Resources is one of the companies under Koch Industries. Koch Industries is publicly listed as a member of the Second Chance Business Coalition. The coalition works to expand employment and advancement opportunities for people with criminal records. Koch also has Flint Hills Resources operations in Corpus Christi.

This does not mean that Flint Hills Resources will approve every applicant or every type of conviction.

It means the parent company has publicly supported second-chance employment, making its current career opportunities worth researching.

When searching, also look at the contractors performing work inside refineries. Jobs involving rigging, fire watch, maintenance, shutdowns and safety may be filled by contractors instead of the refinery itself.

Useful searches include:

• Second-chance industrial jobs in Texas
• Refinery jobs with a felony in Corpus Christi
• Background-friendly refinery contractors
• Felony-friendly turnaround jobs
• NCCER Rigger jobs in Texas
• Fair-chance construction employers

Always read the job requirements and be truthful when the application asks about your background.

Can I Get a TWIC Card With a Record?

Many refinery, port and maritime jobs require a Transportation Worker Identification Credential, commonly called a TWIC card.

TSA completes a security threat assessment before issuing a TWIC card. Certain offenses and other factors can cause an applicant to be found ineligible.

Having a record does not automatically mean that every applicant will be denied. The answer depends on the offense and your individual circumstances.

Applicants who receive a preliminary determination of ineligibility may be able to request an appeal, a waiver or both.

Because a TWIC card may be needed for refinery access, check your eligibility early. Do not rely only on what a friend or social-media post tells you. Get the answer directly from TSA.

Which Rig Right Texas Class Should I Take?

The right starting point depends on your experience and the job you want.

New to Industrial Work

Start by building basic safety knowledge. Fire Watch training or an entry-level safety path may help you prepare for support positions.

Some Rigging or Construction Experience

The NCCER Basic Rigger class provides hands-on instruction and preparation for the Basic Rigger assessment.

Experienced Rigger

The NCCER Advanced Rigger class is designed for experienced workers preparing for advanced rigging assessments and hands-on verification.

Interested in a Safety Career

The Rig Right Texas Safety Program includes training such as OSHA 10, OSHA 30, CPR, First Aid, CSSO, CSST and CSSS. Rig Right Texas offers these programs along with Basic Rigger, Advanced Rigger, Fire Watch, assessments and focused prescription training.

You do not need to collect every certification at once. Start with the training that matches the work you are ready to do.

How to Make Yourself a Stronger Applicant

A record may be one part of your application, but it does not have to be the only part.

Give employers more reasons to consider you:

1. Earn certifications related to the job.
2. Keep your résumé simple and honest.
3. Apply to both employers and refinery contractors.
4. Be ready to pass a drug test.
5. Show up on time for interviews.
6. Bring copies of your credentials.
7. Explain what has changed since your conviction.
8. Keep applying after a rejection.

A company may say no. Another company may say yes.

Do not reject yourself before an employer has even reviewed your application.

Your Record Is Not the End of Your Story

At Rig Right Texas, we believe people can learn, grow and build a better future.

We cannot guarantee that a certification will get you hired. We cannot control a refinery’s background policy. What we can do is help you build real knowledge, prepare for your assessments and earn credentials that show what you can do now.

You have already paid for your past. You do not have to live there forever.

Take the next step. Learn the skill. Earn the certification. Put yourself in a better position when the right opportunity comes.

We will help you choose the class that fits your experience, goals and schedule.

Rig Right Texas does not guarantee employment, wages, TWIC approval, refinery access or background-check approval. Hiring and site-acc