Can I Work in Construction After Prison?
The Trades Hire Hands, Not Histories.
Construction doesn't care about your past the way corporate does. It cares about whether you can show up, stay safe, and do the work.
That's not a free pass—some sites run background checks, and certain tickets (like working around schools) might be off the table. But compared to an office job where HR runs your name through six databases before you get a callback? The trades are a different world.
The Bottom Line: The barrier to entry is lower. The path to good money is faster. And the culture respects a man who owns his story more than one who hides it.
The Play: Get certified. Get on a site. Let your work ethic speak louder than your record.
THE STORY: THE 44,000-VOLT MASK
There's a joke in the trade: "Even firefighters need heroes." They say it because they wouldn't dare run into a burning building until we showed up to cut the power first.
For years, that was my armor. Putting on the Hydro One gear—the flame-retardant orange and blue, the hard hat, the heavy boots—didn't just protect me from the arc flash. It protected me from myself.
When I strapped that gear on, I wasn't Cole Smith, the kid from a broken home. I was a Lineman. I was one of the "Gods of the Grid." The public hated us because of the rates, but they feared us because of the power. But it was all a costume.
When I lost that career—arrested at the job site, fired, grievance denied—seeing a Hydro One truck on the highway felt like a punch to the gut. Not because I missed the work. Because I missed the mask. Without the orange stripes, who was I?
The Lesson: Your job title is not your identity. The trades gave me a mask to hide behind. Recovery gave me a foundation to stand on. Now I help other Returnees build that foundation—not with a costume, but with real skills.
THE STRATEGY: HOW TO GET BACK ON THE TOOLS
The Old Rule: "My record disqualifies me from the trades." This is the Disqualification Myth. You assume every employer runs a criminal record check. It's not true.
The New Rule: "Construction hires hands, not histories. My job is to show up certified and ready."
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Before you walk onto any site in Ontario, you need tickets. These are your entry pass. Mandatory for Most Sites:
Working at Heights (Ontario Law - CPO Approved)
WHMIS 2015
First Aid/CPR
High-Value Add-Ons:
Forklift / Skid Steer / Telehandler
Traffic Control (TCP)
The Play: Stack 3–5 certs before you apply. When a foreman asks what you bring, hand him a folder, not an excuse.
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Not all construction jobs are equal.
Best Bets: Residential framing, Demolition/Abatement, Concrete, Landscaping, Roofing. (These often have lower barriers to entry).
Harder to Crack: Institutional sites (Schools, Hospitals) or High-Security Utilities (Nuclear, Hydro). These often require Vulnerable Sector Checks.
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Skip Indeed. Skip the online portals. Go to where the work is. The Tactic: Do NOT just wander onto a live work site (you will get kicked off for safety). Instead, go to the Site Trailer, the Gatehouse, or the company Shop/Yard at 7:00 AM.
Find the Foreman or Superintendent. Shake his hand. Say:
"I'm looking for work. I've got my Working at Heights, WHMIS, and First Aid. I show up early, I don't complain, and I'm not afraid of hard work. Do you need hands?"
That's it. No resume algorithm filtering you out. Construction respects initiative.
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If they ask about your record—and many won't—use The Disclosure Pivot & How Do I Explain My Criminal Record in a Job Interview?
"Yes, I have a record from a few years ago. I served my time, I got sober, and I've been rebuilding ever since. I'm here to work."
“⚠️ COLE’S RED FLAGS
🚩 The “I’m Disqualified” Myth Most construction jobs don’t require a background check. Don’t disqualify yourself before you even try.
🚩 The Online Application Trap Submitting applications through job boards puts you at the mercy of algorithms. Walk to the shop. Talk to a human.
🚩 Walking onto a Live Site Never walk past the safety hoarding without permission. Go to the office trailer. If you walk into a lift zone without PPE, you look like a liability, not a worker.”
THE TOOLKIT
Ready to get back on a job site?