Tim Hortons Hiring Overview For 2023

Is Tim Hortons on the Ban the Box list?

There are two very important initiatives that make it easier for former felons to find work. The first is the Ban the Box movement. It started back in the 1990s to support the civil rights of job seekers with criminal records. Employers who support Ban the Box agree to remove the box asking about past criminal history from applications. This allows them to look at an applicant’s qualifications for a position before they ask about a criminal record.

The second is the Fair Chance Business Pledge. The pledge is taken by companies committed to fair hiring practices like Ban the Box.

Tim Hortons isn’t on the Ban the Box list. Neither could we confirm that the company has signed the Fair Chance Business Pledge. However, their official statement and the employee comments we found online do suggest they focus on your qualifications when you apply.

Does Tim Hortons have special programs for hiring felons?

Tim Hortons doesn’t seem to have any special programs for hiring felons. Even so, as mentioned above, they do have staff with criminal records.

So, while they don’t go out of their way to hire felons, they also don’t discriminate against former felons when they hire.

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

The odds of getting a job with a felony are average. This is based on the fact that individual restaurant owners set their own hiring policies and practices, so they’re not reliably consistent, and because we’ve seen online comments from staff confirming people with a felony record have been hired. However, your individual record may set you back. Read on for more.

What are some entry-level jobs?

Following are some entry-level jobs we found at Tim Hortons.

• Restaurant Crew Member or Team Member — taking and preparing customer food and beverage orders
• Baker — making various baked goods, including breads and donuts
• Delivery Driver — delivering products to restaurants
• Sales Associate — assisting the manager with smooth running of the work shift

Tim Hortons restaurants are typically open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, although some stores change their hours on national holidays. This means you’ll be working shift work, so try to work your schedule around that.

Customer satisfaction is a top priority for the restaurant chain. This means a fast-paced environment where teamwork is critical. If you’re serving customers, over time you’ll get to know their usual order and will contribute to a sense of community in your workplace.

While customer service experience is a bonus, it’s not necessary for these positions. Just the ability to work cooperatively with others will serve you well. While most of the entry-level positions do not require a high school or equivalent education, it’s best to check the job posting to be sure.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

You can apply for a position at Tim Hortons online. As mentioned in the company’s official statement, this is where you can also set up a job alert to find out quickly about openings. The other advice on how to get hired at Tim Hortons, according to the company’s website, is to go into a restaurant and ask to speak to the manager.

There are comments online from employees who say if you apply directly at a restaurant and they’re hiring, you might actually have an interview on the spot. So, make sure you’re ready for this by bringing along a resume and practicing what you’ll say when you meet the manager.

Use your resume to:

• Present your work history as it relates to the position you’re applying for.
• List the main responsibilities you’ve had in previous jobs.
• Highlight the skills you have that they are looking for in an employee.
• Note any relevant courses you’ve taken (i.e., food handling)

Here is a little more advice:

• Take a look at the frequently asked questions on the Tim Hortons site to help you prepare for an interview and know what to expect.
• The company looks for reliability and integrity in its staff. Think about how you can demonstrate these qualities. For example, if you can explain how you’ve learned from your past mistakes as a former felon, this can go a long way to show integrity.
• You can score points right away by letting the manager know you’re flexible and available for different shifts.
• Above all, be pleasant, respectful and confident. Demonstrate you’ll be a good hire!

Tim Hortons staff who commented about the interview process on glassdoor.com say the interview was easy. They even rated it 1.9 out of 5 in terms of difficulty!

The extent to which Tim Hortons does background checks is unclear. From the official statement, we understand background checks are up to the local franchise owner. However, all employers must at least verify your identity and that you can legally work in the United States before they hire you.

Judging from online feedback offered by employees, a criminal record check is sometimes done for entry-level jobs.

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

Not all states handle background checks the same way. For example, employers in some states will only look back seven years. Below are the states that check back this far:

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

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

Interestingly, some states won’t consider charges that you were found not guilty of. Here’s a list of the states where this applies:

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

Finally, there are the states that want to know about your entire record. This includes any not guilty verdicts. They are:

• 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

Overall, Tim Hortons has a very good rating as a company. This is based on over 13,000 reviews on indeed.com (3.7 out of 5) and another 2,000 on glassdoor.com (3.2 out of 5).

Fifty percent of reviewers on glassdoor.com say they would recommend Tim Hortons to a friend and 64% approved of the CEO.

As a former felon, all this positive feedback should encourage you to apply. While you know you can make the best of a bad situation, it’s also nice to know you don’t have to.

What felonies Tim Hortons will not hire

There are likely charges that would stop your application in its tracks, but we don’t know what they are. There are some charges, discussed below, that might impact your chances though.

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

If you have a criminal record for theft or fraud, Tim Horton’s may understandably take this into account when you apply. This makes sense as you may be handling cash. The company will want to make sure you are a good risk and can be trusted.

Does Tim Hortons hire sex offenders?

Tim Hortons hasn’t taken a stance about this, one way or the other. If you have firsthand experience with this, please let us know!

Does Tim Hortons drug test?

While we could find no formal comment from the company itself on this question, many employees have commented online. The majority say they were not given a drug test when hired. However, a few say they did require a drug test. This seems consistent with the official statement we received from Tim Hortons that each franchise is responsible for their own hiring policies.

Some employees say online that if you have an accident at work you may be asked to have a drug test. With these comments in mind, you should be prepared to pass a drug test if you have to.

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

What did you think of the information in this article? We hope it was helpful and will give you the confidence boost you need when you apply.

Do you know personally, does Tim Hortons hire felons? By sharing what you know, you can help others find success in the working world after serving their sentence.

We welcome any tips you have about how to get a job at Tim Hortons with a felony!