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Working in a restaurant after a felony is a great way to get back on your feet, so we asked: Does Baja Fresh Mexican Grill hire felons?
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill has 162 locations throughout the United States, and each one of them is individually owned and operated. If you have a passion for fresh Mexican food, keep reading to find out how to get a job at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill with a felony. We’ll answer the following questions, and more:
- Does Baja Fresh Mexican Grill hire people with misdemeanors?
- How can I apply?
- Does Baja Fresh Mexican Grill do background checks?
- Will my felony disqualify me?
Finding work with a felony on your record can prove almost impossible, it seems. We’ve been there. Many on our team are also former felons! That’s why we are taking the guesswork out of job hunting for you. We directly contact companies and ask them if they hire former felons. We also do tons of background research so we can bring you resume and interviewing tips.
Relaunch Pad wants you to live your best life.
Let’s take a look at how to get hired at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill with a conviction.
Does Baja Fresh Mexican Grill hire felons?
Official company policy for hiring felons
We contacted Baja Fresh Mexican Grill to ask them about their policy on hiring felons. They told us that since each restaurant is individually owned and operated, the company policy will be up to the business owner at each location.
Has Baja Fresh Mexican Grill hired felons in the past?
Online sources don’t say either way, but this is probably because each location has its own hiring policies.
Does Baja Fresh Mexican Grill hire people with misdemeanors?
While we were unable to find anything that says Baja Fresh Mexican Grill won’t hire people with misdemeanors, we couldn’t find anything that said they will, either. The short answer is we just don’t know.
Is Baja Fresh Mexican Grill on the Ban the Box list?
The Ban the Box campaign began in 2004 as an initiative to rid applications of the box that asks if you’ve been convicted of any felonies or misdemeanors. The Fair Chance Business Pledge is also part of this. Created by the Obama Administration, it encourages companies to look at your qualifications and not judge you by your past.
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill isn’t on the Ban the Box list, probably because company policy is left up to the individual restaurant owner. However, we filled out our own application for the company and it doesn’t ask if you’ve had any type of conviction.
Does Baja Fresh Mexican Grill have special programs for hiring felons?
No, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill doesn’t offer special hiring programs for felons at this time.
What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?
After doing extensive research, we give your odds of being hired at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill as uncertain. This is because hiring practices are dependent upon the individual restaurant owner’s policies, but they don’t ask about convictions on their application. Our best advice would be to go into your local Baja Fresh Mexican Grill and fill out an application for an entry-level position.
What are some entry-level jobs?
Entry-level positions at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill consist of line cooks, dishwashers and cashiers. While line cooks prepare food and dishwashers take care of all the dirty dishes primarily in the back of the restaurant, cashiers work directly with the customers in the main dining area.
These are great positions to get your foot in the door. You’ll have a chance to learn your way around the restaurant and earn a promotion.
How to get hired at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill with a felony
You want an entry-level position at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, but you have a felony so you’re not sure where to begin. Your first step is to find the job you want and think about why you’re the most qualified.
Sound like building a resume? It is! Be sure to include your previous work history with job descriptions, company names and addresses, and any talents or skills you learned there that matter to the job you’re applying for. Some great examples for restaurant work are experience on a grill or food station and being a hostess or waitress.
Relaunch Pad has a resume guide tailored to former felons to give you even more help in this area!
Once your resume is to your liking, you have the option of visiting your local Baja Fresh Mexican Grill to apply in-person or filling out an online application. Either way, keep your resume close so you can easily refer to it if needed.
Now that you’ve completed your application, you’ll need to be prepared for the interview process. The following are our interviewing tips for Baja Fresh Mexican Grill:
- Dress to impress. This may sound cliche, but people remember their first impressions. You don’t need a fancy suit or dress, but jeans and a wrinkled t-shirt are going to be unacceptable. Find a happy medium and wear something nice.
- Stand up tall and sit straight. Good posture goes a long way to show that you’re paying attention and alert. Slouching will make you look uninterested in what the interviewer is saying.
- Ask questions. Most interviewers will ask if you have any questions at the end of the interview. Speak up! This is your chance to clear up any confusion about what is expected of you as an employee.
Most important, be truthful about your criminal record. If you try to lie or hide facts about your past, the company will find out and it may cost you your job.
Does Baja Fresh Mexican Grill do background checks?
Online sources don’t say whether or not Baja Fresh Mexican Grill will do background checks. Keep in mind, though, that most companies do some sort of check during the hiring process, even if it’s just to confirm your identity and that you’re legally able to work for their company.
Here’s what you need to know about background checks:
The amount of information a company can learn from running a background check depends on which state you live in. If you live in the following states, background checks only go back seven years:
- California
- Colorado*
- Kansas*
- Maryland*
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire*
- New York*
- Texas*
- Washington*
(* sometimes certain pay or salary bracket positions require one.)
If you were found not guilty, these states will never see it:
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana (limited check)
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
However, be aware if you live in one of these states. They will see everything on your record, including the not guilty verdicts:
- 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
We did some research on Baja Fresh Mexican Grill’s ratings. Glassdoor.com gives them 3.2 out of 5 stars. Out of the 33 reviews, most of the entry-level employees enjoy the work environment and teamwork. The only drawbacks are that they don’t get enough hours and say there’s a lack of benefits.
What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?
Does Baja Fresh Mexican Grill hire felons? Since it’s up to each store owner, we really can’t answer that. However, there are a few felonies that will make it more difficult to get hired at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill:
If you get a position as a cashier, waiter or waitress there’s a good chance you’ll be handling credit card information and cash. Theft and fraud charges might not be acceptable to that location’s owner. The company needs to know they can trust their employees.
Drug, alcohol or violent offenses could pose a problem with any position at the company. Since they’re a restaurant, you’re more than likely going to have encounters with the customers at some point. Baja Fresh Mexican Grill will want to ensure their customers have a safe dining experience.
Does Baja Fresh Mexican Grill drug test?
We can’t say either way if they’ll drug test.
Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!
Did this article help you get a job at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill with a felony? Tell us about it. It’s your opportunity to help others in the same situation.
