Staples Hiring Overview For 2023

Official company policy for hiring felons

We attempted to make contact with Staples, but unfortunately we were unsuccessful. We didn’t let this stop us, though! We’re determined to bring you answers, so we researched them thoroughly to bring you all the information available to tell you how to get a job at Staples with a felony.

When we looked over staples.com there wasn’t anything that discussed this, so we’re going to have to do our homework.

Has Staples hired felons in the past?

To be perfectly honest, we’re not sure. We saw several reviews that said yes, but there were also some that said no.

Does Staples hire people with misdemeanors?

We haven’t been able to put our hands on anything about Staples’ hiring policy for misdemeanors, so we would say go for it.

Will Staples hire you with pending charges?

Staples did not provide an answer for this. We did find some online postings that indicated they may hire former felons, which would indicate that pending charges are okay. However, we can’t say for sure.

Is Staples on the Ban the Box list?

No, Staples doesn’t support Ban the Box.

What is Ban the Box? It is a group that is supportive of anyone with a criminal record having a fair chance at being hired. The main goal is to have companies remove questions regarding criminal backgrounds from their applications. By doing so, employers have no choice but to look at the applicant’s skills and abilities — not their criminal past.

Another group that also supports former felons is the Fair Chance Business Pledge. This is the agreement companies make when they’re determined to practice these fair hiring policies for all.

Staples doesn’t support either of these groups, but that’s okay because we found out they don’t ask about previous convictions on their application.

So, let’s move ahead to see what we found on how to get hired at Staples with a felony.

Does Staples have special programs for hiring felons?

While these opportunities are great, most companies don’t offer them — including Staples.

What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?

Does Staples hire felons? We’re still figuring that out. This means we think the odds of you being hired here are uncertain. We weren’t able to find anything concrete that says yes or no. We’ll have a stronger answer when we hear directly from Staples!

But keep reading for all our pointers to improve your odds that you’ll get a job at Staples with a felony.

What are some entry-level jobs?

Staples is a retail office supply store and most of their jobs require interacting with customers and making sales. Here are a few examples of what their entry-level positions look like:

• Retail Sales Associate — These are the people who are eager to help you as soon as you walk in the door. Interacting with customers and helping them find exactly what they need comes naturally. They are knowledgeable of merchandise and point you in the direction of the sticky notes or toner for your printer. Sales associates make your shopping trip a bit easier.
• Inventory Specialist — An Inventory Specialist makes sure the stock of your favorite pens never runs out and returns damaged items to the warehouse, just to name a few of their responsibilities. Since they’re so knowledgeable of all the items sold, they also assist with sales.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

Since we have covered the areas that lead up to applying for the job, let’s take a look at what will be necessary in order to apply and hopefully make it to the interview stage.

As one would expect, their application will require you to set up a profile. That being said, there are computers available in all Staples stores! They also provide printing services if you need your resume printed. Since they request that your resume be uploaded with your application, we suggest having a few hard copies to bring to the interview.

A great way to be acknowledged is with a remarkable resume. How do you make it remarkable? We would suggest you look over our resume guide. We outlined some great tips to help former offenders highlight your skills — even the ones you gained while incarcerated.

Remember the laundry position? That position gave you customer service, inventory and stocking skills. As luck would have it, that experience can be used at Staples. So make sure you are including these types of jobs on your resume!

As with any interview, first impressions are always the most important. You don’t want to be remembered as the applicant who showed up for the interview late. Arriving 10 to 15 minutes early is always a good idea. It’s also a good idea to remove piercings and cover tattoos until you know their policy.

Since an outgoing personality will be something that is highly looked upon, for any retail position, take care to allow your personality to shine through. Be prepared to answer their questions as well as ask a few of your own. As always, this is your opportunity to make them aware of your background. This will give you the chance to control the conversation about your record. It also shows integrity!

There is no clear answer to this question. Staples’ website didn’t say and our online sources gave mixed responses. Most companies will perform a background search, so be prepared.

Here are some things to keep in mind regarding background checks:

If the offense is less than seven years old, these states will see it:

• California
• Colorado*
• Kansas*
• Maryland*
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire*
• New York*
• Texas*
• Washington*

(*certain pay or salary bracket positions require a screening.)

While there aren’t many, but there are some states that will see only guilty convictions. They are as follows:

• Alaska
• California
• Hawaii
• Indiana (limited check)
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New York

Some states are behind the times and will still look at everything. Here are those states:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• DC
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• Indiana (extensive check)
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Company ratings

Glassdoor ranked Staples with 3.1 out of 5 stars. People recommended working there because the benefits are good, there’s flexibility in scheduling and lots to learn. However, with the good always comes the bad. Apparently, depending on the location, the management can be an issue and so can the hours.

What felonies Staples will not hire

Don’t know. Unfortunately, Staples did not answer this question. Neither the Staples jobs website nor any online postings provided any clear guidance on this question, either.

What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?

There could possibly be a few offenses that may have a difficult time being hired here. The ones we think may stand out are as follows:

• Any offense dealing with identity or credit card theft — The majority of the positions here will involve having access to customers’ store accounts and handling credit cards.
• Theft crimes — This is a retail store and some of the merchandise can be pretty pricey, so these types of crimes may be looked at closer than others.
• Any violent or sexual offense — Since most positions will require interacting with the public every day, these may be other offenses that draw their attention.

Does Staples hire sex offenders?

Sex offenses are always a tough topic. Staples didn’t provide any formal response, and their career website doesn’t mention it. Online postings were also inconclusive.

Does Staples drug test?

This question is still up in the air. Our best advice is to apply, but be prepared for a drug screen.

Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!

Were we able to answer your questions? Have you known someone that worked at Staples with a felony? Please let us know. We appreciate your insight!