If you’re a Mr. or Ms. Fixit by nature and love tinkering with repairs around the house, you might be curious about working at a hardware store. To that end, we’re going to answer the question: Does Home Depot hire felons? Successful Release asked them directly.
As you likely know, Home Depot is a big-box hardware store. They serve homeowners and contractors with everything from small repairs and new appliances to major renovations.
If working there sounds exciting, read on to find answers to:
Our research and knowledge are second to none. What’s more, we have personal experience with the criminal justice system — as either being former felons or from assisting them. This makes our expertise invaluable in your job hunt!
When we asked the company about their hiring policy, we didn’t get any real answers from them. Here’s the response they sent:
“Thank you for your interest in employment with The Home Depot. The Home Depot is an EEO Employer that encourages applicants to apply for posted positions by visiting the career site at careers.homedepot.com. The first step is to have your clients complete the online application. All applicants must meet the minimum requirements to be considered for open positions. If your clients’ applications are selected, they may be contacted by email and/or phone to participate in an interview. The application will remain active in our system for 60 days.”
Despite this, we still have important information for you about how does Home Depot hire felons.
Yes, we found confirmation online that they have.
We believe they do. Of course, it will depend on the offense and the circumstances.
Yes, Home Depot is on the Ban the Box list. What’s more, they’ve also signed the Fair Chance Business Pledge!
These two programs really help former felons when they apply for work.
Companies that support Ban the Box don’t have a check box for criminal records on their job application. This shows they’re committed to looking at your job qualifications before your criminal history.
The Fair Chance Business Pledge is signed by employers who promise they’ll give every applicant fair consideration. This includes anyone with a criminal record.
So this is more confirmation that you can get a job at Home Depot with a felony!
Our research showed no special programs for hiring felons.
It’s our opinion that the odds you can get hired at Home Depot with a felony are high.
We base this on the following information:
Home Depot has over 2,000 stores and 90 distribution centers across the United States — the distinctive orange and white signs are everywhere! So, they could be hiring right in your neighborhood.
Here are examples of some entry-level jobs:
Distribution Center:
Retail Store:
Home Depot takes pride in the fact that more than 80% of store managers started as hourly associates. For instance, on their website they say:
“You might start out in one of our stores as an associate, but with a demonstrated knowledge and interest in a specific area, plus our product knowledge training and individual development programs, you could rise to specialist, department supervisor and into store management. And that’s just one path your retail career at The Home Depot could take.”
Therefore, if you’re looking for long-term employment with career opportunities, this is a great place to start.
Begin by looking at the careers page on the company website. You can search for job openings by type and location.
Also, there are some very helpful videos. For example, one explains what customer service involves at Home Depot and another outlines the company’s mission statement and values.
You can also go to your local Home Depot store and ask to leave your resume. This can be a good idea even if you’re applying online. Here’s how this move can help improve your chances to get a job at Home Depot with a felony:
Hiring at Home Depot seems to happen pretty fast, judging from online staff comments. So, here are some ways to prepare for your interview before you get called for one:
Yes. Home Depot will do a pre-employment background check.
According to online comments from employees, they check criminal records, credit history, previous employment and driving records. So, basically, you can expect them to check any information you provide on your application.
If you’re concerned about this, you can always do your own background check. One advantage of this is that you can try to correct anything that may not be accurate. For example, checking your credit history will make sure your credit score is based on correct information.
We have important information about background checks:
In certain states, background checks only go back seven years. Here are those states:
(* sometimes certain pay or salary bracket positions require one.)
However, in a few states charges where you were found not guilty aren’t considered. These states are:
Be warned, in the vast majority of states your whole record will be reviewed in a background check. And, this includes any not guilty verdicts. Here are the states that do this:
The company has some very decent ratings online from current and former employees.
On indeed.com Home Depot is rated 3.8 out of 5 by 42,500 reviewers. Highest marks are for culture and work life balance, followed by compensation and benefits.
What’s more, there are over 19,000 reviews on glassdoor.com that rate the company 3.5 out of 5. Sixty-six percent said they’d recommend the company to friend and 76% approve of the CEO.
On glassdoor.com, here’s what a former store manager liked about working for the company: “Customer service, meeting new people, diverse environment, day-to-day challenges, entrepreneurship, working with and inspiring the team to be their best each and every day.”
You can expect that the Home Depot will pay special attention to offenses involving theft, fraud or violence. If you have felony convictions for these offenses, be prepared to explain the situation.
The company will want to make sure they can trust you not to steal merchandise or fraudulently use customer credit cards or company funds. Furthermore, they’re looking for responsible staff who can work well with co-workers and deal appropriately with difficult customers.
Maybe you have a history of drug offenses? In this case, the hiring manager will want to know that you’ve completed any addictions program or counselling needed. Home Depot wants reliable staff who’ll be at work on time and function well on the job.
Finally, if you apply for a driving job with the company they check for driving offenses. They want to make sure you can be insured to drive company vehicles.
Yes. Employees confirmed online that they had to pass drug pre-screening before starting the job.
Now it’s your turn! Do you know how to get hired at Home Depot with a felony?
Our readers really want to hear from you!
Sandy Bell-Murray worked for more than thirty years for the Ontario public service, mainly in adult and youth justice. She began as a Probation and Parole Officer, then became a policy analyst, program supervisor and manager. Currently, she delivers workshops focused on building personal resilience and managing stress. She is an active member of Toastmasters International.
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Thank you…I cannot get a job and its good to know someone cares.
I just went through the interview and drug test. I talked to my hiring manager about my felonies and was told that they really look down on theft charges. So when I get word back i will post again and let everyone know about felon jobs.
I dont have theft charges
Anthony- what was the outcome?
I applied online & was brought 8n for an interview with Home Depot within 2 weeks. I just got releases from prison after 22 years. I aced the interviews with both the HR rep & the Garden Center Mgr. Received a letter of intent to hire. Then was brought into their office for an on the spot drug test & a computer background check. I did not pass the background check. I was released from prison because my conviction was overturned, so the disposition of my crime was in Jan of 2020, even though my conviction dates to 1999. What really hurt about this is that you have no opportunity to explain your story to anyone because the background check s thru the Home Depot computer system. You have to check a yes or no box. What’s worse is that toy have to pass a background check for a manual labor job that no one wants to do, just those of us that are desperate.
I was convicted of Drug Distribution in Virginia. I applied to Home Depot a month after being released. After applying to home depot online I was contacted a week later. I was never asked about my criminal background on the application. I was never asked about my criminal background during the first interview. I was then asked to sign a paper so they can run a background check. Immediately after my first interview I had my second interview with the store’s general manager. He asked me about the gaps between employment and I told him the truth about me doing time. The interviews went great. The manager said he wasn’t worried about my criminal history but needed someone that’s a reliable hard worker that he can trust, be on time and work in a safe manner. He said the only thing I have to do is wait for the background check results. Around this time I am already use to being rejected because of my background check by Target and Amazon but to my surprise I made it to Orientation two days later. The day after orientation I worked a full day. I thought I wasn’t going to get the job but I did. It was worth the try.
I just went to a face to face interview at the Home Depot in Hillsboro, OR. Even though I have a certificate showing that I successfully completed an intensive 6 mo treatment program to show that I’ve worked through my substance abuse problem. Plus it’s been almost 2 1/2 yrs. since my conviction. That all didn’t matter as soon as the lady interviewing found out that my felony was only 2 1/2 yrs ago she said, “Home Depot’s policy is that we don’t hire people with felonies that are less than 7 yrs old.” That’s how the interview ended. So all this being an equal opportunity employer is a bunch of BS. I was under the impression that EOE are supposed to take into consideration the time that has passed, whether the charges were job related & the efforts taken toward rehabilitation. Well that did not happen. Not only do I have the experience, the education & the skills to do the jobs that I applied for but I also have the ability to do them. All I need is the chance to show that I am a good worker who is reliable, has integrity & takes her job very seriously. This lady said that Home Depot does NOT hire anyone who has a felony conviction less than 7 yrs. old (period). So much for second chances or being given the opportunity to have a job in order to make an honest living. Situations like this is why a lot of people go back to doing illegal things to make money to live & the recidivism rate (going back to prison) is so high . People do change. People do want to work. People should be given a chance to show that they have the ability to be a good employee. Especially if they have experience, the skills & are willing to do the job.
My dad worked at home depot for over a decade receiving numerous promotions and praise. At the time of hiring he was upfront about it and they had no concerns as it was greater than like 5 years ago or whatever. Later a change in policy he was not aware of meant they would no longer hire anyone with a felony. He was put up for promotion and then the company did a background check. They found the felony and immediately fired him. He had multiple levels of management including the state market manager, HR would not budge.
The Home Depot needs to be re-evaluated. My felony was committed in 1997 and I have been home for over 13 years. Since that time I have graduated from the university and worked overseas because I was tired of my background preventing me from employment opportunities.
Long story short. I worked for Home Depot from May to August. However, I when the background check come back was terminated immediately. The store manager wanted to keep but managers have no say.
Hence, The Home Depot is not willing to ex-felons a change.
I applied on line in 2017. Checked I was a felon ( child porn). Signed papers for a background check. About week later i was called to interview with strore manager. I was hired that day. The past three years i have been employed by Home Depot as a Flooring specialist. My performance is off the charts. I sell in 22 hours per week than full time employees. Probation called Home Depot to check if im employed there. Probation called three years ago. NO REASON TO CALL, again. I have been fired. I really enjoyed that part time job and Home Depot got a deal hiring me. Im 69 years old and hurting.
I was recently released from federal prison for a 2016 conviction. I applied for Home Depot, but before the interview even took place I talked to the manager. She checked with the “Main Office;” and she was told I could not be hired due to the felony. She didn’t clarify if it was the felony in general or the specific charge (receipt of child pornography).
i asked if this was a forever ban or just a temporary ban. She couldn’t provide an answer
Very interesting comments above that show a Home Depot trend. Same thing happened to a close friend recently, was honest about past conviction from 30 years ago, got hired, worked for almost 4 years, got put up for promotion, then immediately terminated by HR because of background check. Home Depot claim to support Ban the Box, adopted the Fair Chance Business pledge and claim to be an equal opportunity employment company. So how are they getting away with this, and how does one hold them accountable? Can they at least be publicly shamed if nothing else?