We’re not sure. Online reports were mixed, and seemed to depend on location.
This is why we recommend that you make them aware of your background during the interview process. Not only are you not hiding it, but it allows them to see that you are upfront and honest.
Something to keep in mind regarding background checks:
There are many states that now only look at an offense if it is less than seven years old. The following are those states:
- California
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Texas
- Washington
The eight states below do not look at anything you were not convicted of (they only see guilty verdicts):
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana (limited check)
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
Unfortunately, there are some states that still 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
Reviews on glassdoor.com give them a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars. Even indeed.com has them rated fairly high with 4.2 out of 5 stars!
Costco is considered a great place to work. They provide affordable health insurance for even the part-time employees!
What felonies Costco will not hire
Costco hasn’t told us about any straight-up nos, but they do have some felony convictions they view more harshly than others. See below.
What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?
Since Costco is in the retail field and deals with a lot of customers, there are some felonies that may have a hard time getting a foot in the door. Since there are a lot of different career paths, your particular record may impact one job and not another.
Some of the felonies that might get in your way are:
- Theft — Shoplifting would be an example due to the merchandise.
- Drug charges — Costco is a drug free company, so they may give a drug conviction a hard time.
- Violent offenses — All of the jobs include dealing with the public, so a violent conviction is something they may frown upon.
Does Costco hire sex offenders?
Once again, the company hasn’t come right out to say. If you can explain the circumstances, they might be willing to give you a shot.
Does Costco drug test?
Yes, there will be a drug test given. Costco makes it clear that they are a drug free company.
Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!
Please let us know what you know about working at Costco with a felony. We appreciate the feedback!