Red Lobster Hiring Overview For 2023

Is Red Lobster on the Ban the Box list?

Are you familiar with the Ban the Box campaign or the Fair Chance Business Pledge? These are two wonderful resources that were designed specifically for individuals with a criminal record.

See, the Ban the Box campaign was created to try and make job hunting a fair process for anyone with a criminal history. The idea is to convince employers to remove any questions concerning criminal backgrounds from their applications. By doing so, this will prevent the employer from being distracted by an individual’s record and allow them to focus strictly on the applicant’s experience and skills.

Those who sign the Fair Chance Business Pledge are committed to practicing fair hiring for everyone — including those with a criminal past.

Red Lobster doesn’t support either of these campaigns, though. Remember, they don’t have to in order to be able to hire you with a felony!

Does Red Lobster have special programs for hiring felons?

Unfortunately, they don’t. But there are other options to get a job at Red Lobster with a felony.

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

If you are applying at Red Lobster with a felony, the odds of you being hired are average because there are several online reports stating they’ll hire former offenders at least for entry-level roles. However, as with any job that is at a franchise, it may depend on the particular location as well as how recent the crime is.

What are some entry-level jobs?

As to be expected for any restaurant, you’ll see jobs such as:

Server — Take and deliver orders while offering personalized customer service. You’ll need to be able to multi-task and have great listening and communication skills.

Host — You will be the first face and therefore experience a customer has with Red Lobster. An outgoing personality, ability to multitask, and good communication skills will be needed.

Kitchen — This position will require working with and around food. Being able to follow directions and pay attention to detail will be important. Must be able to keep a neat and clean work area.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

In order to bring you the low down on Red Lobster, we went as far as filling out our own application. Everything you need to know to ace it is below:

Applying

Like most companies, you can fill out your application online at www.redlobster.com. You will need to set up an account. If you don’t have access to a computer or internet, don’t let that stop you! Head to your local library and use their computer service for free.

Their application only requires basic information, but they do ask for your days and times of availability. Let them know you will be available for as many shifts as possible.

Resume 

Their application was easy enough, and we noticed they don’t request a resume. However, we would still recommend that you provide one — even if it’s at the interview. It won’t hurt, and it can definitely work in your favor.

Wait, you don’t have a resume? That’s okay, because we have that area covered too! We have an entire guide to help you and other former felons with your resumes. Just remember, your resume is like a snapshot of all your skills and work experience. We even show you how to include the experience you gained from jobs held while incarcerated.

How do we do that? Take that kitchen job you had, for example. You learned customer service, inventory, cleaning and restaurant experience. This is exactly what restaurants look for!

Interview

An interview with any company can be a bit intimidating. Relax, you got this! Be yourself and allow them to see the person they are considering for the position. Your personality can be enough to land you a job in this industry. So make sure you are smiling and being friendly.

Take care to use your manners and allow yourself to stand out. This is a great time to present your resume and address any questions you may have about company rules and regulations.

This is also when you should make them aware of your background. Doing so gives you a chance to answer questions and explain any appointments you will have that might interrupt your schedule. These include parole officer appointments and any mandatory classes you are enrolled in.