Walmart Hiring Overview For 2023

Founded 1962

Type Public

Headquarters Bentonville, AR

Size Large Corporation

Industry Retail

A large chain store that is constantly looking for new employees is an excellent place to start for someone who needs a job today. This article will help you figure out if Walmart hires felons and what they want to see from new employees.

We’ve taken the time to contact 1,000 companies across the US to ask them about their hiring policy for former offenders, and this includes Walmart. We not only asked the company direction questions, we also looked into their reputation online to see how their policies work in practice.

We’ll provide answers to each of the following:

  • How can I apply for a job at Walmart with a felony?
  • Does Walmart do background checks?
  • What can I do to get ready for an interview?
  • What are some good entry-level jobs?
  • Does Walmart hire people with misdemeanors?
  • What do staff have to say about what it’s like to work there?

Read on to learn everything about this company, from the type of charges that cause the most trouble to the types of jobs you should be applying to. What are you waiting for? We have all the information you need right here.

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Does Walmart hire felons?

Confirmed felon employer

Ban the Box supporter

Fair Chance Business Pledge signatory

Walmart storefront with flowers on sale

Official company policy for hiring felons

Relaunch Pad contacted Walmart to get this official response:

“We hire felons as long as their timeline of conviction has fallen off. There are no questions about convictions on the application but we ask about convictions on background checks. Background checks are done on new hires, right before the job offer. There are no special programs for hiring felons. Felons can work in departments that do not use firearms. As well, they can be hired for managerial posts as long as there is no use of firearms.”

Has Walmart hired felons in the past?

Yes. Walmart’s official response confirms that they have.

Does Walmart hire people with misdemeanors?

Yes. We believe they will hire people with misdemeanors. These are less serious offenses, and they already hire people with felonies.

Will Walmart hire you with pending charges?

They might, for certain charges, but we’ve read reports that Walmart won’t hire someone with pending drug charges. If you have pending charges, it’s still worth applying at Walmart. They are often open to hiring people with records, after all.

Current Job Openings At Walmart

Walmart
5.0

Union City, TN

332 days ago

Walmart – 1601 W Reelfoot Ave – [Customer Service / Retail Associate / Team Member / up to $21-hr] – As a Vision Associate at Walmart, you’ll: Provide great customer service; help customers see better by helping them choose the perfect set of…
What you’ll do… Communicate with (or to) individuals or groups verbally and/or in writing (e.g. customers, suppliers, associates). Implement the business plan for area of responsibility by communicating goals and managing staffing and scheduling, a…
Walmart
5.0

Cortez, CO

332 days ago

Do you enjoy helping customers figure out and find what they need? From every day needs to special occasions, customers need you to take them to that special product. As a sales associate in Apparel, Entertainment, Toys, Sporting Goods — or any one…

Reviews

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Interviews

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What are the chances of Walmart hiring a felon?

Is Walmart on the Ban the Box list?

Definitely! Walmart has gotten behind two critical national initiatives that support former felons in their job search.

To start with, they’re on the Ban the Box list. This program helps level the playing field for those with criminal records.

Ban the Box urges employers to consider job qualifications before they look at criminal history. Companies that sign take the criminal record check box off job applications to ensure this.

In addition, Walmart has made the Fair Chance Business Pledge. Employers take the Pledge to show they’ll take steps to remove any barriers to employment for job seekers with criminal records.

Consequently, you should feel confident that you can get a job at Walmart with a felony!

Does Walmart have special programs for hiring felons?

The official response we got from the company confirms that they do not. However, don’t let that discourage you from applying! Not very many companies actually have special programs.

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

High likelihood of hiring felons

We believe the odds you can get a job at Walmart with a felony are high. Here’s why:

  1. The company’s official statement says they hire felons.
  2. Walmart supports Ban the Box and has signed the Fair Chance Business Pledge.
  3. Online comments from employees confirm they’ve been hired or know of others hired with a felony.

How to get hired at Walmart with a felony

What are some entry-level jobs?

Here are the types of entry-level jobs you can expect to see:

Store Jobs:

  • Cashier and Front-End Associate — Scan and bag items, process payment, and answer customer product questions.
  • Cart Attendant and Janitorial Associate — Gather carts from parking lot, operate equipment to move carts, and clean restrooms, sales floor and parking lot.
  • Stocker, Backroom and Receiving Associate — Unload trucks, sort products, stock shelves, and ensure aisles are neat and work area is clean.
  • Sales Associate — Help customers find products, keep work area stocked, clean and safe, and assist other associates throughout store.
  • Fresh Food Associate — Keep shelves, freezers and food displays stocked, assist customers with deli and cake orders, and keep work area clean and sanitized.

Distribution Centre and Driving Jobs:

  • Freight Handler — Manage, process and move freight, and manually fill orders for stores.
  • Power Equipment Operator — Organize warehouse, take inventory, and operate motor vehicle or large power equipment.
  • Truck Driver — Drive merchandise from distribution centre to stores.

These jobs come with a health plan, vision and dental benefits, merchandise discounts, a 401(k) plan, and education assistance for employees and their dependents.

Shifts vary job-to-job, but most jobs require you to work weekends and holidays. If you’re a Truck Driver, you can expect to be home about once a week.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

Start by looking at the Walmart website for job openings. When you’re ready, here’s the link to apply online.

Be aware that you’ll need to have an email account to apply online. Of course, you can always bring your resume directly to a store and leave it with the hiring manager.

The company website has some great information about where the company wants to grow in the future, such as in eCommerce. So, this is good to know if you’re thinking of a long-term career, rather than to just get a job at Walmart with a felony.

What’s more, each job posting includes answers to frequently asked questions. These are mainly about the application process.

Additionally, all the job postings we looked at emphasize the importance of a good attitude. This goes for providing good customer service, and working well with co-workers. So, be friendly and positive during your interview.

Walmart’s website also has terrific information about how to prepare for your interview.

Here are some other ideas for how to get hired at Walmart:

  • Have someone you trust read over your resume. Ask them how you can improve it. Even if your friend isn’t a skilled resume writer, a second set of eyes helps.
  • If you know anyone who works for Walmart, ask them how they got hired. And, ask them for a referral! This is the best way to get a job anywhere.
  • References can make or break your chances. As a former felon, make sure you have some good character references. For example, ask your landlord, pastor or anyone else who can say that you’re dependable and trustworthy.
  • You know your criminal record may come up during the hiring process. So, get out ahead of any questions. Think about how you’ll explain your criminal history, and what you’ve done to move forward with your life.

Walmart has more than 2.2 million employees around the globe. Equally important, the company says 75% of store managers started as hourly associates. This is encouraging because it means there’s room to advance in the company.

Does Walmart do background checks?

Yes. Expect that you’ll have to pass a background check.

You can count on most employers doing a background check of some sort. For example, businesses are required, by law, to at least confirm the identity of the individuals they hire and that they’re eligible to work in the United States.

On indeed.com, employees had some helpful comments about what Walmart looks for. Basically, their background check may include your criminal record, work history, education and credit history.

For instance, they’ll look for offenses involving theft, drugs or violence. Walmart will also want to know about your work ethic and why you left your other employers.

However, don’t let this worry you. Remember they hire former felons and, above all, be honest on your application!

Here’s what you need to know about background checks:

In some states, background checks will only take into account the last seven years. Here’s a list of the states that follow this practice:

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

(* sometimes certain pay or salary bracket positions require one.)

In addition, the following states won’t look at any charges where you were found not guilty:

  • Alaska
  • California
  • Hawaii
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • New York

However, be advised that the states listed below will consider your whole record, including any not guilty verdicts:

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Connecticut
  • DC
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • 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

Walmart has some very good online ratings from employees.

Walmart has given a 4 out of 5 star rating on glassdoor.com by approximately 39,000 reviewers. Of these, 63% said they’d recommend Walmart to a friend.

For example, they have 3.6 out of 5 on indeed.com, based on over 160,000 reviews. Here, people like them most for culture and work-life balance and said they were paid well for their positions.

What felonies Walmart will not hire

The company hasn’t explicitly stated which felonies it will not hire. Read the next section to learn more about how your individual record might impact your chances.

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

A lot of Walmart merchandise is easily stolen. So, if you have theft or shoplifting offenses in your background, you may have a harder time getting hired.

Furthermore, convictions for violent offenses can be a problem. Obviously, the hiring manager will want to make sure you can work in a team environment. In addition, hiring people who will show respect to customers is critical for a retailer like Walmart.

Finally, if you want to drive a Walmart truck and have driving offenses, it could be a deal breaker. Basically, the company needs to make sure they can insure you and you’re able to perform the duties required.

Take some time to think about your criminal history and what jobs it makes harder for you to get here.

Does Walmart hire sex offenders?

There is no direct evidence of this, one way or the other, as we’ve seen conflicting reports online. As always, this suggests your specific record, qualiications, and demeanour will play a significant role in being hired.

Does Walmart drug test?

Yes. The online Walmart application confirms the company “. . . requires a drug screening test as part of its selection and hiring process for certain positions.”

Furthermore, employees “. . . may be required to submit to alcohol/drug-testing under certain circumstances during [employment].”

In other words, be prepared for a drug test.

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

Now you know. Does Walmart hire felons? Yep!

If you’ve ever worked for Walmart with a record, what tips and advice do you want to share?

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