Yelp Hiring Overview For 2023

Official company policy for hiring felons

As promised, we contacted Yelp to ask if they hire former felons and this was their response:

“We run and consider background checks with all federal, state, and local laws. Unfortunately, we cannot disclose any other information past that due to company policy.”

Since that didn’t really answer our question, we looked to our sources. They couldn’t confirm either way that Yelp will or won’t hire former felons.

Has Yelp hired felons in the past?

We checked our online sources to see if Yelp has hired felons in the past, but, unfortunately, there just isn’t enough information to know for sure either way.

Does Yelp hire people with misdemeanors?

We honestly can’t say at this time if Yelp will hire people with misdemeanors.

Will Yelp hire you with pending charges?

We aren’t sure on this one, but there’s a chance they will. If a conviction wouldn’t stop you from working there, maybe!

Is Yelp on the Ban the Box list?

Ban the Box is an effort set forth by All of Us or None to get companies to rid their applications of the question asking if you’ve been convicted of a crime.

The Fair Chance Business Pledge was established during the Obama Administration. Employers taking this Pledge are promising to look past your criminal history and focus on your talents and skills instead.

We didn’t find Yelp on either of these lists, so we filled out their online application to see if they ask about your criminal history. Guess what? There wasn’t a box asking if we’d been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony!

Does Yelp have special programs for hiring felons?

Yelp doesn’t offer any special programs for hiring ex-offenders. That’s okay since most companies don’t. If you’re interested in these types of programs, get in contact with your local workforce office or employment agency for more information.

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

We give your odds of being hired Yelp with a felony as uncertain. Even though they aren’t on the Ban the Box list, we know their application doesn’t contain the box asking if you’ve been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony. However, there is little information on whether or not Yelp will actually hire an ex-offender. You may be able to start off in an entry-level position at the company, though.

What are some entry-level jobs?

The main entry-level position at Yelp is customer service. In this position, you’ll be responsible for cold calling companies and selling services, so previous selling experience will really come in handy.

Tips to get hired here with a felony

We aren’t certain if you can get hired at Yelp with a felony, true. But that doesn’t mean you can’t check out their careers page and submit an application to the position of your choice. Before you do, let’s take a look at your resume.

Since Yelp’s entry-level position is in customer service, highlight any skills you have related to selling or marketing. Any time you resolve a conflict between customers and your work will be good to bring up!

Include your past work history that is related to the position you’re applying for. For example, if you’ve worked as a customer service representative, add it. But if it’s something like driving a forklift, you can leave that out.

If you need additional help, check out Relaunch Pad’s resume guide designed specifically for felons. You can also visit your local employment agency for assistance.

We have some tips to help you nail the interview as well:

• There’s something to be said about “dress to impress.” While you won’t need a fancy suit and tie, you also don’t want jeans and a t-shirt. Try finding something in-between. Look at what typical office wear is and try to match it. If you don’t have anything to wear, visit a local clothing pantry or charity for budget-friendly options.
• If you have any tattoos, piercings, or augmentations, hide or remove them where possible. You can address the company policy at the end of the interview.
• Be positive with your answers. Since you’ll be assisting other clients and businesses, Yelp will want to know that you can turn a negative situation into a positive.
• It’s best to be upfront about your past. There is no point in trying to hide it because the company will find out. If you haven’t been truthful, it could cost you your offer of employment.

In their statement, Yelp says they’ll perform a background check during the hiring process.

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

Background checks vary from state to state. If you live in one of these states, great news! They won’t look at anything older than seven years:

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

(* sometimes certain pay or salary bracket positions require one.)

Even better, these eight states don’t care about not guilty verdicts:

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

Be aware if you live in the states on this list, however. They can and will see your entire record, including the not guilty cases:

• 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 did some digging into Yelp’s ratings. On glassdoor.com, they have 3.2 out of 5 stars. Quite a few of the 2,200 reviews were positive. Most boasted about the great working environment and the ability to grow your career. The negative comments were mostly about how stressful the job can be.

What felonies Yelp will not hire

There are going to be felony charges Yelp can’t get past, but they haven’t shared them with us yet.

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

Does Yelp hire felons? We honestly can’t say either way. However, there are certain felonies that might make it more difficult, or even impossible to get a job at Yelp with a felony record. Since the main entry-level job is customer service, you’ll be dealing directly with other businesses. Any violent crimes, drug or alcohol charges, or theft convictions may make it tougher.

Does Yelp hire sex offenders?

We don’t know! They might, especially for less people-facing positions.

Does Yelp drug test?

Our sources say Yelp will not perform a drug test . . . but it’s always safe to be prepared, just in case.

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

Did you use this article to help you get a job at Yelp with a felony? Here’s your chance to help others. Tell us about it and help our community!