If you have experience in the retail field, you may have considered applying for a job with Amazon. But does Amazon hire felons? Well, lucky for you, we wanted to know the answer, too!
We reached out to Amazon to ask them directly about their hiring policy for former felons. We are sad to say that we were unable to make contact with Amazon. However, we will continue trying!
In the meantime, we’ve researched them to see what we could find. Why? Successful Release’s sole purpose is to help former felons get back on their feet. The majority of us also have criminal records, so we have a little experience in this area.
Here are some important questions we will answer to make the search easier for you:
We didn’t find a specific hiring policy for felons, but from the information we found on Amazon.com, it appears their policies differ on a case-by-case basis. We will cover this more in an upcoming section.
When researching to see if Amazon has previously hired people with felonies, there were a lot of conflicting answers. Some say yes while others say no.
We are going to continue digging to see how to get a job at Amazon with a felony, so read on!
Unfortunately, we were unable to find an easy yes or no to this question. We would recommend that you stay positive and apply with your best effort.
Amazon is not on the Ban the Box list.
Ban the Box was designed by civil rights groups and those who speak on behalf of former offenders. The goal is to convince employers to remove all questions on applications about criminal records to give people with records a fair chance at getting a job they’re qualified for.
The Fair Chance Business Pledge is an agreement made by companies that have volunteered to commit to fair hiring practices for everyone, including former felons.
Don’t forget: A company doesn’t have to support these initiatives in order to hire former offenders.
They don’t, but let’s keep reading to see how to get a job at Amazon with a felony.
The odds of getting hired at Amazon with a felony are uncertain. Our research provided conflicting answers about getting hired here with a felony conviction.
There are some positions at Amazon that don’t require an interview, though. So maybe those jobs will be easier to grab for people with records
Amazon has many entry-level jobs to choose from. Let’s take a look at a few:
Both of these positions require a high school diploma or a GED, so keep that in mind!
Some of the other jobs they consider entry-level require a bachelor’s degree. With locations throughout the world, you really have to look at each job individually to see the requirements. They do offer part-time and seasonal jobs, so this may be an excellent way to get your foot in the door and show them your abilities.
Amazon really helps you in knowing what to expect in their hiring process. They have an entire section that maps out their procedures step-by-step. Be sure you look this over! It’s very important that you know ahead of time what they will expect of you.
One of the best ways to stand out is with a great cover letter. Amazon requests a cover letter with your resume, although it’s not required — but we suggest having one! The secret to a great cover letter is selling your skills and showing your interest in the position you’re applying to.
Your next step is using our tips for sprucing up your resume. Be sure to include skills you learned or used while incarcerated. For example: The canteen job you had means you helped with inventory and unloading trucks. These skills are relevant to jobs in the free world as well!
Amazon states that their applications and interviews will differ from position-to-position. We know that there will be a few things that won’t change, however, such as how important their customers are and their hunt for leaders.
Assessments are also used to get a feel for your work style. They are meant to be taken without deep thought in order to give a natural answer.
Amazon uses behavioral interviewing in both the phone and in person interviews. This method of interviewing is basically a way for you to explain a past situation or challenge, and how you overcame it. A good example of behavioral interviewing would be your felony conviction. By explaining the situation and how you have overcome your past mistakes gives them insight to what kind of person you are, how you overcame it and also gives them knowledge of your felony conviction.
As a former felon, this is also a great way to break the ice about your conviction!
Yes, Amazon does background checks.
Something to keep in mind regarding background checks:
There are many states that now only look at an offense if it’s less than seven years old. Here is a list of those states:
The eight states listed below show only guilty convictions:
Unfortunately, there are some states that still look at everything. The following are those states:
Amazon’s reviews on glassdoor.com rated them with 3.8 out of 5 stars. Amazon was given their high ranking for being a fun place to work with great pay and benefits.
Remember we told you Amazon hires on a case by case basis? Well, Amazon provides insight into what convictions might have a hard time getting hired.They are as follows:
Yes. Not only does Amazon do a pre-employment drug screen, they also perform random drug screens as well.
What do you know about getting a job at Amazon with a felony? Please let us know.
Kristin is a Contributing Writer to Successful Release. After serving 12 1/2 years in prison Kristin enjoys helping others overcome some of the obstacles she also faced after her release. She is an avid supporter of AIM ( Aid to Inmate Mothers) and in her spare time she enjoys making crafts and spending time with her dog Tydus.
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Hi Kristin
Glad I found your site. One of the issues I have is trying to get a great job with a felon hanging over me. I am originally from NC but have moved often the last state being CA. Although it’s been more than 10 years since iv committed any crime Amazon is the place I’d like to work. I just returned from the field from missions in Fiji Island so it’s been awhile for a full time job. Please connect me with any resources if your willing, that you may have to offer.
I worked for Amazon one Christmas season and I had drug convictions, I was upfront from the beginning. I wrote a letter telling my story and was hired.