Hershey's Hiring Overview For 2023

Official company policy for hiring felons

We failed to make contact with Hershey’s. However, we did our own research to bring you the answers we promised. And — don’t worry — we’re going to keep trying to make contact with them.

We found nothing when looking for their hiring policy online. However, we did notice that Hershey’s is an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) supporter and this is always a plus.

Has Hershey’s hired felons in the past?

We struck out when looking for an answer to this question. Our online sources didn’t have enough information for us to figure out an answer to this.

We are determined to bring you as much insight as possible, though. After reading our article, you’ll know the best course of action in how to get a job at Hershey’s with a felony. So let’s dig in!

Does Hershey’s hire people with misdemeanors?

We’re not sure. Sadly, our sources didn’t say.

Is Hershey’s on the Ban the Box list?

Two initiatives that have been set in place to assist individuals with a criminal history return to the workforce are: The Ban the Box campaign and The Fair Chance Business Pledge.

The way Ban the Box works is they fight for former offenders by asking companies to remove any questions about criminal records from their applications. By doing so, employers make hiring decisions from what they see — the applicant’s experience and skills, and not their criminal past.

The Fair Chance Business Pledge is what companies sign to agree and commit to fair hiring practices for all, including former felons.

Unfortunately, Hershey’s doesn’t support either of these wonderful initiatives. We’ve still got some tips on how to get hired at Hershey’s with a felony, though, don’t worry!

Does Hershey’s have special programs for hiring felons?

No, these programs aren’t something Hershey’s offers.

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

Without speaking to Hershey’s directly, we have to tell you the odds of being hired here are uncertain. Turning to the internet, we discovered nothing indicating if Hershey’s is felony friendly or not.

Our best advice will be to put your best foot forward and apply anyway. Let’s move on to see what some of their entry-level jobs are and some pointers we have set out to strengthen your odds.

What are some entry-level jobs?

You don’t live in Hershey’s, Pennsylvania? That’s okay. They still provide jobs in other states! Here are a few jobs we ran across that are entry-level:

• Retail Sales Representative — If you have a sales personality, this will be a great job for you. These positions may require relocating in order to be able to cover the territory you will be in charge of. You will be expected to improve the sales and effectiveness of your assigned territory. Three or more years of recent sales or customer service experience is required.
• Part-Time Retail Sales Merchandiser — This position is only available for 20-25 hours per week. Reliable transportation with valid insurance will be needed for this job since traveling will be necessary. As a representative of Hershey’s, you will be required to travel to surrounding areas to build displays and restock existing ones. A GED or high school diploma is required.

If you happen to live in Hershey, Pennsylvania, make sure you look over their job postings. There are a lot of job possibilities in the city with chocolate in the air.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

You may be a little rusty on what is needed or expected when applying for a job. That’s why we’ve put together a few tips to make your hiring process as easy as possible for you!

You can expect a resume to be requested. Don’t panic, we have an entire guide just for the resume. Some of the tips we give show how to present any past jobs you’ve worked that include sales or customer service. These include: Previous jobs at a grocery store, a clothing store, or even a gas station. We’ll help you spruce your resume up or get started from scratch, so make sure you look over our guide.

When filling out the application, don’t leave anything blank. If something doesn’t apply to you, simply mark it N/A for not applicable.

The main entry-level positions are in sales, which means it’s very important that you’re neat and put together when interviewing. Make eye contact and sit up straight to show confidence. Another thing to remember is to use proper language. Practicing with a mentor, church member or parole officer is a good idea to get the feel of an interview.

Peeking at the Hershey’s application, we did find that they will require a background check after a job offer is made. That being said, this will be your chance to discuss your background. A benefit to being upfront is it will give the interviewer the opportunity to ask any questions that may help your odds at being hired anyway.

Yes, they make it clear there will be a background check done after an offer is made.

Here are some things to keep in mind regarding background checks: 

Changes are constantly being made to background check laws. Luckily, we now have states that will see an offense only if it’s less than seven years old. Here are those states:

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

(*certain pay or salary bracket positions require a screening.)

We also have states that will see only guilty convictions. They are as follows:

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

Unfortunately, a good number of the states will still look at everything. Such as:

• 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 wanted to know what working at Hershey’s was like, so we looked at the reviews on glassdoor.com. Hershey’s is ranked with 3.7 out of 5 stars.

There’s a great working atmosphere here with good benefits and people. The hours can be very long and the work-life balance is hard to maintain during peak seasons, however.

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

This could vary depending on the position you are applying for and what merchandise and materials you would have access to. Since we are unsure if they will hire former felons, any felony may make it difficult to get a job here. But here are a few we think may have a harder time:

• Violent crimes will get in your way since the majority of jobs include working with the public.
• Theft will also cause you some major headaches. You’ll have access to tons of products and some money, too, so you may have to work extra hard to show them you’re trustworthy.

Does Hershey’s drug test?

Yes, Hershey’s will perform a drug screen upon job offer.

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

Have you or someone you know worked for Hershey’s? What can you tell us about how to get a job at Hershey’s with a felony? We look forward to any feedback you provide!