Star Market Hiring Overview For 2023

Is Star Market on the Ban the Box list?

Ban the Box is an initiative started by civil rights groups to convince private companies to remove any questions relating to a criminal record from the initial job application.

The Fair Chance Business Pledge is a similar initiative: Companies take this pledge to show their commitment towards removing obstacles in the way of former felons to give them a well-deserved second chance.

Massachusetts is one of the 11 states that have made it illegal for employers to ask about your criminal record in the first round of the application process.

And this isn’t optional. These laws were put in place to help remove the barriers in hiring people with a criminal record.

While Star Market only operates stores in Massachusetts, it is worth checking these two initiatives out in case you are looking for a similar job in another state.

Does Star Market have special programs for hiring felons?

There is no information available to us that supports this, so the answer is likely no. This should not discourage you, as this does not mean you are disadvantaged. All signs point to Star Market giving everyone an equal chance of working at one of their stores.

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

As we said above, all Star Market locations are in a state that does not allow questions about a criminal record at the primary hiring stage. That gets you one step further in the process already.

Since they have plenty of entry-level positions in their 20 locations, you’ve got a lot to choose from, too.

We’d say the odds are average. There are no special programs in place, but there isn’t much to stand in your way in getting a job, either.

What are some entry-level jobs?

You can choose between supply chain and retail positions at Star Market. You would, of course, have to filter these according to your criminal record, as we explain below. Star Market is a chain with a large variety of positions, from warehouse distribution jobs to retail, so you have plenty of options.

You can be:

• A delivery driverThis job gives you a little more autonomy than being part of a team, so it is ideal for people who enjoy working alone. It can also be great for those who don’t mind working early or late shifts. If you have no vehicle-related offense on your record, this is a great option for you.
• A warehouse clerkThe warehouse positions might also be a good fit for people willing to work late or early shifts and those who enjoy and are able to do manual labor, or people who have are very neat and organized.
• A front-of-store clerkThe front-of-store positions require good social skills, so they can be great for men and women with a friendly and helpful disposition who like working with customers.
• A clerk for specific sections of the storeThis includes things like manning the bakery or working at the salad bar. These jobs are also ideal for friendly, personable people. An interest in the given area is a plus, and can help you build strong interpersonal relationships with the customers.

All of the jobs mentioned above come with opportunities of growth and offer options for career advancement. Please note that this is not a complete list. Specific Star Market locations may have other entry-level positions not listed here.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

Not everyone will hire someone who has served time in prison. This is true — but finding a job is tough for everyone. Thankfully, Star Market doesn’t ask about criminal history on the application, so you’re no further behind than the next person.

If you’re looking to get a job at Star Market with a felony, the three most important things are to be honest, prepared and to know your rights. If you have these three fronts covered, you’re further ahead than most people, with or without felonies.

Remember that your application and resume form part of an employer’s first impression of you. You may even want to ask someone to look over your paperwork before submitting it — often, typos and grammatical errors can slip past you if you’ve read your own writing over too many times.

The first impression can make or break your success, and a good one will get you much further than your criminal record can possibly set you back.

Once that’s done, you’ve got to work on your confidence. It can be hard to believe that no one is looking at you ‘like that’, but they aren’t.

• Go into the job interview knowing that you have a fair chance of getting hired.
• Be mindful of things like your personal hygiene, your posture and the way you speak.
• Practice interview questions. Ask a friend to tell you in what areas you could do better. Remember that this is for your own good, and tell your friend to be honest.

Nobody is perfect, and there are things each and every person can do to improve.

This is of course especially important when you’re looking for a job. But remember that while putting your best foot forward is crucial, you shouldn’t force yourself too much. You’re not trying to be someone else, just the best version of yourself.

Yes, but laws in Massachusetts state that all background checks must be job-related. That means employers must weigh the gravity of a given offense, the time passed since the offense and how it would affect the position you’re trying to fill.

Employers also cannot ask you to provide information about your criminal record on your application. In rare cases, there may be exceptions to this — such as if you are applying for a position with the U.S. government — but that is not what we are doing here today.

Additionally, it is illegal to deny a job opportunity to someone with a criminal record just because that person has a record.

No matter where you apply for a job, a background check is likely going to be part of the hiring process. It might only be to make sure you are legally allowed to work here. However, certain positions require stricter procedures, such as ones where you will be working with children or entrusted with money, for instance.

Here’s what you need to know about background checks:

In some states, a criminal offense that is more than seven years old won’t even be considered.  So if you’ve got an offense on your record that was six years ago, it might be worth waiting a year to apply if you live in one of the following states:

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

(* in select cases, different conditions apply)

In more good news,  eight states don’t consider court cases were you were found not guilty:

• Alaska
• California
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• New York

There are states where none of the above applies. What that means is that employers will be able to see all criminal offenses unless the record is sealed. Here’s a list:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• DC
• Delaware
• Florida
• Idaho
• Indiana
• 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

Star Market is rated at 3.2 out of 5 on glassdoor.com. When you consider that people tend to review things more when they have some sort of problem, these numbers are great.

Fifty percent of reviewers would recommend working here to a friend. Work-life-balance was rated highest, followed by job security and advancement.

What felonies Star Market will not hire

The company didn’t put out any detailed information on the types of felony records they consider unhireable. Below, though, we have some thoughts on what charges will give you the most hassle.

What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired?

So does Star Market hire felons? Yes, they most likely do. But some specific jobs may still be off-limits to those with a certain felony on their record.

Felony convictions related to the job you’re applying to will make it harder for you to land the job. People with vehicle-related offenses won’t be hired to deal with cars, while handling money is generally off-limits to those who have theft or fraud convictions.

Honesty is the best policy, here as most everywhere in life. It is within employers’ rights to ask about your criminal record, as long as it isn’t sealed. Employers in the state of Massachusetts, for example, have the right to know about any misdemeanor or conviction that you served time for if you were released less than five years ago.

Does Star Market hire sex offenders?

The company hasn’t come out to say, either directly to us or online. Additionally, we couldn’t find information from previous or current employees. We don’t know!

Does Star Market drug test?

We don’t know for sure, actually. The company didn’t say officially, and we hear conflicting responses from employees.

You should be prepared that they might.

Have you applied or worked here? Share your experiences.

One of the best things you can do, as a former felon who has applied or even gotten hired here (congratulations!), is to pay it forward. Tell us how you did it below.

If this article has helped you get a job at Star Market with a felony, let us know so we can help others.