Following incarceration, the biggest challenge felons have is finding a job.
Even companies known to hire felons typically do a background check.
This blog post will cover whether Walmart runs background checks.
- What is Included in a Background Check?
- Walmart Application
- An Opportunity for Felons?
- How to Run a Background Check on Yourself
- Supporting a Felon in Applying at Walmart
Contents
What is Included in a Background Check?
Employers who look into an applicant’s background are trying to avoid a “bad hire.”
A “bad hire” happens for different reasons:
- Not producing quality work
- Having a negative attitude
- Not working well with other employees
- Not having the skills they claimed to have
- Attendance problems
- Not dealing well with customers
- Being dishonest on the job
The last category is potentially the most troublesome for felons.
It doesn’t mean they are still dishonest, but their history of criminal offenses raises significant questions.
An employer will look at credit reports, driving records, and educational records in addition to criminal records.
Background information assists employers determine a candidate’s past mistakes, character, moral and financial fitness, and to determine hiring risks for security and safety issues.
The criminal investigation part of the background check involves a search of criminal history files for any criminal activity.
A criminal background check will show all convictions and non-convictions, including cases dismissed or not prosecuted.
Convictions can be reported with no time limit while a non-conviction shows up for seven years.
Having their record expunged, will prevent a crime from showing up on a background check.
Employers are encouraged to consider the following factors related to an offense:
- Nature and seriousness of a crime
- Time that has passed since the offense and the end of the sentence
- Nature of the job
Walmart Application
Walmart is usually hiring for a variety of positions, including stocker, backroom help, and cashier along with management jobs.
Walmart wants individuals who are hardworking, honest, and dependable.
Walmart has a policy of wanting to improve the lives of everyday citizens.
Studies have shown that felons make good employees.
The application is in two parts, the first of which is for personal background information.
After an application has been submitted online, an assessment is administered.
This assessment consists of questions about everyday situations for which there is a practical response.
The hiring team looks for individuals who demonstrate decisiveness by strongly agreeing or disagreeing with an item.
Based on the responses, applicants are divided into two groups, one to be considered further and those not believed to fit their criteria.
Those they are interested in will be contacted for an interview.
Walmart interviews three applicants for each position they are hiring for.
In the interview, an applicant will be asked questions like why they want to work for Walmart, how they would handle a difficult customer, how to deal with a supervisor who wants things done differently, and why rules are important.
An Opportunity for Felons?
Walmart is a good company for hiring a felon
There are about 5,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across the U.S., which employ 2.2 million people, making them the largest employer in the U.S.
Walmart often promotes from within the company.
The question regarding a conviction was removed from their application in 2014.
An applicant must be considered qualified for a position before Walmart does a background check.
While Walmart does hire felons, they do not hire anyone with a violent or sexual offense.
They typically don’t employ individuals with a conviction of theft or forgery.
For other crimes, Walmart 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 Walmart to protect itself, its employees, and its customers.
In evaluating the results, they look for discrepancies between the report and their responses on the application.
They also evaluate the nature of any criminal offenses discovered by the report.
`A felon would have the best chance at getting a job at Walmart by having their record expunged.
How to Run a Background Check on Yourself
Doing a background check on themselves before applying for a job with Walmart will allow a felon to know exactly what will be discovered when Walmart does their review.
Don’t wait and take a chance on the results.
If there are any questions, they can contact an attorney.
Different kinds of personal background checks that can be done are:
- Through the court in which they were charged to provide records
- 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
- Social media accounts
For someone wanting to do a background check on themselves, there are places that can help.
Tips for Getting a Job at Walmart
As the largest employer in the U.S., Walmart is accustomed to the hiring process and has procedures in place to find the best employee for any position.
Tips for a felon to increase their chances to be hired are:
- Be willing to apply at different store locations
- Be flexible in work availability, willing to work different hours
- Have reliable references
- Be ready to provide a job history and skills used in those jobs
- Be honest about all personal information and history
- Get there early for an interview
- Dress appropriately
- Be polite and respectful
- Speak up clearly and show enthusiasm
Be honest and answer any questions about their history when applying for a job at Walmart.
Doing their own background check allows a felon to know what an employer will see on their record.
A felon needs to remember that they are not defined by their crime.
They must be willing to seeing themselves in a different light, ready to establish an honest life.
Give themselves the best opportunity for success in their new life.
Having support from their family and friends will make a huge difference also.
So what do you think about this blog post about whether Walmart does background checks?
Have you or someone you know had Walmart do a background check?
What was that like and were they successful in being hired at Walmart?
Please tell us in the comments below.
