After their incarceration, the biggest challenge felons face is finding a job.
Even companies known to hire felons typically do a background check.
This blog post will cover whether or not Subway runs background checks:
- What is Included in a Background Check?
- Subway Application
- An Opportunity for Felons?
- Can You Run a Background Check on Yourself?
- Recommended Action
Contents
What is Included in a Subway Background Check?
Employers who review an applicant’s background don’t want a “bad hire,” which is an individual hired who simply doesn’t work out.
A “bad hire” includes:
- Not producing quality work
- Having a negative attitude
- Not working well with other employees
- Not dealing well with customers
- Not having the skills they stated
- Attendance problems
- Being dishonest on the job
The last category is the most challenging for felons.
It doesn’t mean they are still dishonest, but their criminal history can be a problem.
In addition to criminal records, an employer will look at credit reports, driving records, and educational records.
Background information helps an employer determine a candidate’s past mistakes, character, moral and financial fitness, and hiring risks for security and safety issues.
The criminal investigation section of a background check includes examining criminal history files for any criminal activity, which will reveal all convictions and non-convictions, including cases dismissed or not prosecuted.
Convictions can be reported with no time limit while a non-conviction will show up for seven years.
A crime will not show up on a background check if a felon has their record expunged.
Subway Application
Subway is usually hiring for positions called Sandwich Artist.
This is the job of waiting on customers, taking orders, and making the sandwich or other items requested by the customer.
They also hire managers and assistant managers.
Subway is looking to hire individuals that are friendly, dependable, honest, and hardworking with strong customer service skills since all employees interact with the public.
The usual process for a job at Subway is straightforward.
A hiring form must be submitted to the location at which an applicant wants to work.
Alternatively, someone could fill out an online application for multiple locations.
The application includes questions about type of job sought, hours and shifts available, education and work history, and references (not family).
After reviewing the application, which doesn’t ask about criminal history, those applicants considered will be asked to come in for an interview.
Typically, an interview consists of a 30- to 60-minute meeting with the store manager.
Questions are related to reasons for wanting to work at Subway, ability to work varied schedules, duties, and common work situations.
They usually ask:
- Where an applicant sees themselves in five years
- Three words to describe themselves
- Experience working with food
- Favorite Subway sandwich to check on familiarity with their products
An Opportunity for Felons?
Subway is a good company for hiring a felon.
As of 2016, there were 26,744 Subway restaurants across the United States, making it the largest restaurant chain in the world.
While Subway does hire felons, they usually don’t hire anyone with a violent or sexual offense.
They also typically don’t employ individuals with a conviction of theft or forgery.
For other crimes, Subway will consider an applicant based on:
- The nature of the offense and the circumstances
- Length of time since the conviction
- Work experience
- An applicant’s skills related to the job for which they are applying
The background check is run for Subway to protect itself, its employees, and its customers.
All Subway restaurants are franchises.
This means that they are owned and operated by an individual. Because of this, hiring policies differ between Subway locations.
Hiring policies differ between Subway locations because they all have different small business owners.
It depends on whether an individual hiring manager is willing to hire a felon. So, the criteria for hiring are set by the owner of each location.
Many small business owners, including franchises like Subway, don’t always run background checks because of the time and expense involved.
When applying at Subway, the interview is often with the owner of that location.
This will give a felon a chance to explain their history and how they can benefit that Subway location.
To give a felon the best chance at being hired, some suggestions when interviewing at Subway are:
- Apply at a location that is franchised by an individual the felon may be familiar with
- Disclose any felony on an application or in an interview
- Be honest about all information given
- Be flexible for scheduling an interview and for times they can work
- Tell the interviewer what they can do for Subway
Of course, a felon would have their best chance at getting a job at Subway by having their record expunged.
Can You Run a Background Check on Yourself?
Doing a background check on themselves before applying at Subway will permit a felon to know exactly what will be discovered if Subway does a review.
If there are any questions, they can contact an attorney.
Don’t wait and take a chance on the results.
There are different kinds of personal background checks that can be done:
- Through the court in which they were charged
- A credit report will help determine how financially responsible an individual is
- Driving records for any job involving driving, such as a truck driver
- An educational report through the National Student Clearing House
For someone wanting to do a background check on themselves, there are places that they can turn to.
Tips for Getting a Job at Subway
As the largest restaurant chain in the U.S., Subway has procedures in place to find the best employee for any position.
Tips for a felon to increase their chances to be hired at Subway include:
- Be willing to apply at different store locations
- Be flexible in work availability, willing to work different hours
- Be ready to provide a job history and skills used in those jobs
- Be honest about all personal information and history
- Provide references
- Get there early for an interview
- Dress appropriately
- Be polite and respectful
- Speak up during the interview and be enthusiastic
Be honest and answer any questions about their history when applying for a job at Subway.
Doing their own background check allows a felon to know what an employer will see on their record.
Felons are not defined by their crime.
They must be willing to seeing themselves in a different light, ready to establish an honest life with the best opportunity for success.
Having support from their family and friends will make a huge difference also.
So what do you think about this blog post about whether Subway runs background checks?
Have you or someone you know had Subway do a background check?
What was that like and were they successful in being hired?
Please tell us in the comments below.
