Sometimes getting restarted on your career takes nontraditional methods. Meal delivery programs might be just the thing for you, but does Instacart hire felons or should you try another company?
Questions like this are why Successful Release contacts companies directly to ask them about their hiring policies for former felons. We do this in hopes of making the job search easier for you and other ex-offenders.
And we’re not just saying that. Everyone knows ex-felons have a hard time finding a job, but we understand exactly what you’re up against. How’s that? Well, most of us at Successful Release have a criminal record too. Since we’ve been in your shoes, who better to help?
In this article, we’ll be answering some important questions that will help you know how to get a job at Instacart with a felony. A few examples include:
We reached out to Instacart as promised, but unfortunately we were unable to make contact. Since we have to wait for a response, we did some research of our own.
Instacart doesn’t have anything on their website about their hiring policies for felons. But we did see that they are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and this is always great to hear.
We aren’t sure. However, there’s a possibility they’ve hired felons in the past. Our online sources showed us that Instacart promises to consider anyone with a criminal history, depending on the type of job. Individuals applying in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Philadelphia will be considered with the requirements of applicable Fair Chance ordinances since the company adheres to them.
Let’s continue reading to see what we ran across on how to get hired at Instacart with a felony.
This is a question that is still up in the air. Until we hear from Instacart, we can’t say one way or the other. However, we do recommend staying positive and applying anyway.
Let’s face it . . . having a criminal record is more common nowadays than it used to be. That means more people are also learning about the difficulties of reintegration — such as getting a job.
The Ban the Box campaign recognized this hardship and set out to assist those with a record. Ban the Box tries to convince employers to remove questions about criminal histories from their applications. This makes the employer blind to the criminal record so they can focus on the applicant’s experience and skills.
The Fair Chance Business Pledge is another way for employers to agree and commit to fair hiring practices for everyone, including former felons.
It’s unfortunate that Instacart doesn’t support either of these initiatives. However, supporting these campaigns isn’t required to hire a former felon.
Instacart doesn’t have any special programs for hiring former offenders.
Does Instacart hire felons? We’re not sure, so the odds of being hired here are uncertain until we hear back from Instacart. Sources say it’ll depend on your criminal record, so you will have a better shot if you match your record to the job requirements and show them why you’re the best fit.
Leaving no stone uncovered, we looked through their entry-level positions for you. Check them out here:
Give their career page a glance for other jobs available!
In order to put you on the right track, we have included a few tips that will make applying here a bit easier.
Filling out the application can be a breeze, but make sure you’re taking time to include any previous jobs you held that provided you with experience for the job you’re applying for. Here’s what we mean by that: Remember the elderly lady down the street you used to run errands for? That’s experience that will be useful for the majority of the positions at Instacart.
It’s always in your best interest to include a resume when applying for a job — even if one isn’t requested. Since we know most people tend to overthink it, we put together a guide to help you with polishing your resume. Be sure to give it a look! You may find something to help make your resume stand out.
It’s very important that your appearance is neat and put together. They’ll be looking for someone who will represent their company in a positive way. We suggest covering your tattoos and removing any piercings until you know their policy on these things.
This is also the ideal time to provide any work related references. These are very useful to an employer. You could ask the same elderly neighbor you used to run errands for, or even your PO if that is appropriate. They vouch for your dependability, promptness and manners.
Yes, it was mentioned that Instacart will do a background check.
Here are some things to keep in mind regarding background checks:
Did you know that some states that will see an offense only if it’s less than seven years old? Here are those states:
(*certain pay or salary bracket positions require a screening.)
There are also states that will see only guilty convictions. Here are those states:
Unfortunately, most states will still look at everything. Such as:
In order to bring you all the information on Instacart, we have to include what employees say about working here. Turning our attention to glassdoor.com, we saw Instacart was rated with 3.2 out of 5 stars. Here are a few things that caught our attention:
You have the freedom to set your own schedule, working as little or much as you like. However, the downside is not all customers tip and gas isn’t included in your pay.
Here are a few offenses we feel may be looked at with a fine tooth comb and create more barriers for you:
We didn’t uncover anything on this subject. Our recommendation . . . be prepared anyway.
What you can tell us about how to get a job at Instacart with a felony? Have you or someone you know worked here? We appreciate any insight you may be able to provide!
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.
