Chuck E Cheese

Official company policy for hiring felons

We contacted Chuck E Cheese and here is what they told us:

“Any candidate is more than welcome to apply to any positions we have open either directly at the store for cast member or submit an inquiry on our website.”

— Nicole Florio of CEC Careers

But does Chuck E Cheese’s hire felons? Their response wasn’t as direct as we would’ve hoped, so let’s keep reading to see what we were able to find through our own research.

Has Chuck E Cheese hired felons in the past?

This wasn’t answered by Chuck E Cheese, so we did some digging to try and find the answer for you. However, there was nothing we found that provided us with a concrete answer to this question.

Does Chuck E Cheese hire people with misdemeanors?

Individuals with misdemeanor convictions often get overlooked. We acknowledge that they also have a difficult time finding jobs! That is why we looked specifically for anything we could find that touched on this topic.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything that spoke on Chuck E Cheese hiring individuals with misdemeanors.

Is Chuck E Cheese on the Ban the Box List?

Ban the Box was created to assist people with criminal records at having a fair opportunity in finding a job, despite their criminal history. Employers on this list commit to removing all questions on their applications about criminal records.

The Fair Chance Business Pledge is a voluntary agreement made by companies that chose to commit to fair hiring practices for all, including those who have criminal convictions.

Chuck E Cheese doesn’t support either of these initiatives, but that’s okay, they are not required in order to hire a felon.

Does Chuck E Cheese’s have special programs for hiring felons?

No, they told us they don’t.

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

Will my felony prevent me from getting hired here? Well, honestly, the chances of getting a job at Chuck E Cheese with a felony are uncertain. While their policy does let us know they will accept your application, but will be evaluating your background individually.

Let’s keep looking to see what was found about how to get hired at Chuck E Cheese, and the types of backgrounds that can keep you from a job here.

What are some entry-level jobs?

Chuck E Cheese’s is in the family entertainment and restaurant industry, so there will be several jobs to choose from. Most of their positions require interacting with the public or food service. Here are a few we chose to take a closer look at:

• Entry-Level Supervisor — This job requires organizational skills and making sure the store is ready to go. Responsibilities include: Ensuring store is clean, scheduling enough staff and coordinating parties.
• Cast Member — This position will require cross-training for several other positions. Providing a fun, safe, and clean environment will be the main requirement for this job, as well as making sure who came together leaves together.

If you’re ever curious about these positions, it doesn’t hurt to go into your local restaurant and take a look!

Tips to get hired here with a felony

Chuck E Cheese may not sound like a job you’d need advice on how to get hired. While that may be true, there are two key areas you need to prepare for when applying. They are as follows:

1. Chuck E Cheese has a standard application, but they do give you the option of attaching a resume and a cover letter. The more you can sell yourself, the better! So, make sure to put a good resume and cover letter together.
   • A cover letter is to-the-point. It briefly outlines all of your abilities, and shows an interest in the position. That’s it! See, easy!
   • Your resume needs to be put together highlighting all the skills pertaining to the job you’re applying for. Make sure you look over our resume guide for pointers on sprucing up your resume. We provide tips on how to include skills you learned while you were incarcerated. For example: The kitchen job you had behind bars means you now have experience in a restaurant setting, including cleaning, inventory and customer service. These particular skills are needed for the majority of the jobs at Chuck E Cheese!
2. The final step will be the interview. There are a number of things you can do beforehand to get ready for it!
   • Be yourself and relax.
   • Take care to arrive early — being ready when they are shows them you’re prompt and interested.
   • Discuss your background. You can bet they’ll do a background check, so be honest and use this time to your advantage. This provides you the chance to explain your record before they have time to pass judgement. It’ll also open the door for them to ask any questions they have concerning your record and also allow them to see your character.
   • The interview is also a great opportunity for you to provide any references you have. Chuck E Cheese doesn’t require them, but this is something that can always work in your favor — especially when you have a criminal record. These references will stand up for you! Keep in mind, though, that they’re work or character references. These will be people who can speak on your work ethic, skills and character. Some great examples are: Previous employers or supervisors, co-workers, your parole officer, or a mentor.

Yes. Here is what they told us:

“If any candidate is over the age of 18, they will require a background check. For management positions in our restaurants, our pre-employment process includes a background investigation for candidates over 18, plus a drug screen. We do not run credit on these positions. When adjudicating a reported background, we follow company policies and applicable Federal, State and Local regulations. Any candidate with a background record is given an individualized assessment when making the hiring determination.”

Something to keep in mind regarding background checks:

There are now several states that will only look at an offense if it’s less than seven years old. Those states are as follows:

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

In addition to those states, we also have eight states that’ll only see only guilty convictions. Here are those states:

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

It is unfortunate that while changes are being made, we do still have some states that will look at everything. The following 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

Looking over the reviews on glassdoor.com, Chuck E Cheese was rated with 3.3 out of 5 stars. Reviewers say it’s a fun environment and food’s free when working. The downside is the salary positions often miss out on breaks and the stores are not staffed with enough managers.

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

Chuck E Cheese told us they will perform a background check on anyone over the age of 18. Since we know this, we are sure there will be some convictions that will have a difficult time getting hired here. Those charges include:

• Theft or fraudulent credit card use — Most of their positions will have access to cash and credit cards, and supervisor positions will have access to the safe. So these types of crimes will probably have a hard time getting hired.
• Any violent or sexual charges will probably be looked at closely for all positions, since this company is designed for entertainment for children.
• For that matter, crimes involving children will likely bar you from working here.

Does Chuck E Cheese drug test?

Chuck E Cheese did tell us that management positions would require a drug screen. Nothing was mentioned regarding an entry-level position requiring a drug test. However, it would be best to be prepared . . . just in case.

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

What can you tell us about how to get a job at Chuck E Cheese with a felony? We welcome your feedback!