Does AutoZone Hire Felons in 2021?

If you’re a former felon trying to find work, you know getting a job isn’t always easy. Luckily, we’re here to simplify your search a little as we ask the question: Does AutoZone hire felons?

AutoZone is a leading supplier of replacement parts and accessories for automobiles with over 4,000 locations in North America and Puerto Rico. This makes them an ideal employer for anyone who enjoys working on cars in their spare time. Does that sound like you? If so, keep reading, and we’ll help you get a job at AutoZone with a felony.

We’ll also answer several questions you might have, like:

• Can I apply online?
• Does AutoZone do background checks?
• Will my felony keep me from working here?
• Does AutoZone hire people with misdemeanors?

We contact companies directly and ask them if they hire former felons. We also do our own research so we can give you tips that’ll help you ace the application process and land the job. Why are we so interested in helping you? Our team is made up almost entirely of former offenders and people who’ve worked with former felons in the past.

At Relaunch Pad, our mission is to help you lead a normal life after prison.

With that goal in mind, let’s find out how to get hired at AutoZone with a felony record.

Does AutoZone hire felons?

Official company policy for hiring felons

We contacted AutoZone directly and asked them if they hire former felons. Unfortunately, they did not respond to our questions. So we did our own research to see what we could learn about their hiring policies.

We found this statement included with several of their job listings:

“AutoZone, and its subsidiary, ALLDATA are equal opportunity employers. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or any other legally protected categories.?”

What does this mean for you? Being an equal opportunity employer means they follow EEOC guidelines when hiring new employees. Basically, this means they can’t choose not to hire you simply because you have a criminal record. Instead, they have to be able to show your offense would somehow conflict with the position you’re applying for.

So, the short answer is yes, you should be able to get a job here even if you have a felony record.

Has AutoZone hired felons in the past?

We went online to find out if they’ve hired felons in the past. We were excited to learn about a former felon who was hired as a parts manager at an AutoZone store! Not only that, we found other sources which agreed they’re open to hiring former offenders.

This is great news! It doesn’t mean every AutoZone is open to hiring former felons, but it tells us some locations definitely are.

Does AutoZone hire people with misdemeanors?

We know AutoZone is an EEOC employer, and they’ve hired former felons in the past. With that in mind, it’s very likely at least some of their locations are willing to hire people with misdemeanors. When you consider the fact that misdemeanors are often less severe than felonies, considering what we know about felonies.

Is AutoZone on the Ban the Box list?

Submitting an application where you’re asked to check a box if you’ve been convicted of a felony can be discouraging. The Ban the Box Campaign is a movement with the goal of removing these boxes from application forms. It’s also discouraging to feel like a company is more interested in your criminal record than your qualifications for a position. Companies that take the Fair Chance Business Pledge commit to delaying questions about legal history until later in the hiring process.

We checked to see if AutoZone supports either of these movements, but couldn’t find any connections. This doesn’t mean they’re against these efforts, it just means they don’t formally endorse them. As we’ve seen, at least some of their stores are willing to hire former felons. So, ultimately, these decisions may be left up to the individual store managers.

Does AutoZone have special programs for hiring felons?

It doesn’t look like AutoZone has a specific program in place for hiring former felons.

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

Our research leads us to believe your odds of getting hired at AutoZone with a felony are average. Some sources indicated getting a job here with a felony was difficult, while others had no problem getting hired. This seems to imply the willingness to hire former offenders can vary from one location to the next.

Even so, knowing they’ve been willing to hire former felons within the company is a big plus. This is especially true for those who have minor offenses (like misdemeanors) on their record.

What are some entry-level jobs?

Their careers page shows a couple of different entry-level jobs that are available at most AutoZone locations:

• Retail Sales Associate — Responsible for greeting customers and assisting them in finding whatever parts they need. Also responsible for stocking merchandise and running the cash register.
• Auto Parts Delivery Driver — Responsible for safely delivering parts to commercial customers, handling cash transactions and taking care of returns. Drivers must be at least 21 years old.

AutoZone also prides themselves on promoting from within the company. This means getting your foot in the door through one of these opportunities could lead to a career here.

How to get hired at AutoZone with a felony

Ready to apply? Great! Here are some tips to help you put together an excellent resume:

• Start by thinking through your past jobs. Are there any places you’ve worked which are similar to AutoZone? Don’t just think about auto parts stores! Any sort of retail experience will go a long way here.
• If you’ve done good work on your own car, be sure to highlight those skills as well. Anything you mention that tells them you have the skills they’re looking for will help you stand out.
• Now it’s time to turn that information into a resume. We have a guide to creating a great resume on our site. As we suggested above, highlight your relevant skills and work experience, so they can see right away you’re the perfect person for the job. It’s also great to emphasize a willingness to learn and grow, so they know you’ll pick up any skills you lack.
• Have someone else look over your resume for spelling and grammar issues. Whether we’re good at proofreading or not, it’s always helpful to have someone else look over what we write. Ask a friend or family member to help you with this, or take your resume to your local career center. They may even be able to help you see strengths or skills you overlooked.

Next comes the interview. Are you ready? Here are a few ways you can make sure you ace it:

• If you’ve been in an AutoZone store before, you’ve seen the outfits employees wear. They’re usually in jeans or khakis and a polo shirt. Wear a similar outfit, so you look like you’re ready to get to work.
• Go in believing you’re the right person for the job. Confidence and enthusiasm can make a great first impression in an interview.
• Watch your language. Your best bet is to avoid bad language and prison slang.
• Cover any tattoos and remove excess piercings until you know what their policies are. After you’ve gotten the job, you can adjust accordingly.
• Answer their questions honestly. We know they’ll do a background check (if they haven’t already before the interview). If they ask about your offense, tell the truth, but make sure you emphasize what you’ve done to better yourself since then.
• Make sure they know you’re willing to go the extra mile. This might mean working evenings or weekends or holidays. Your willingness to work shifts other people might turn down will help you stand out.

Does AutoZone do background checks?

Yes. Our sources all agree AutoZone will complete a thorough background check. Don’t panic! Remember, they’re an EEOC employer, so having a record isn’t enough reason for them to deny you employment. They have to show that your particular offense conflicts with the requirements of the job you’re applying for.

We’re unsure when they will run your background check or how long it will take. This could vary by location. It’s also important to know not all states handle background checks the same way.

Here’s some helpful information about background checks:

There are several states where your background check will only go back seven years. This is great news if your offense happened a while ago, as these states won’t even see it on their report:

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

(* Certain higher-paying positions could require a more in-depth check here.)

It’s also nice to know these states won’t include information about cases where you were found not guilty:

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

If you don’t live in the states mentioned above, there’s a good chance your background check will show your whole record. That includes not guilty verdicts. Keep that in mind if you live in any of these 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

We checked out glassdoor.com to see what employees had to say about working at AutoZone. Overall, employees gave them 3.1 out of 5 stars. Plus, over half of the 2,300+ employees who left reviews (52%) said they’d recommend the company to a friend.

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

Does AutoZone hire felons? Everything we read suggests they do. However, the nature of this job could make it more difficult to get hired with certain types of felonies. Here are some examples:

• Theft, because you will be required to process payments and handle inventory.
• Reckless driving, especially if you’re interested in the delivery driver position.
• Felonies requiring sex offender registration, as you may be asked to deliver parts to locations which you’re restricted from entering.

In the end, the only way to know if they’ll give you a chance is to go ahead and apply. You may be surprised what they’re willing to overlook if you come in with a great attitude and work ethic.

Does AutoZone drug test?

It doesn’t look like they’ll do a drug test when you’re hired on. However, they will drug test you if you’re injured on the job or have an accident in a company vehicle.

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

Have you been able to get a job at AutoZone with a felony? Tell us about your experience! We’d love to hear what the hiring process was like for you, as well as any advice you might have for others applying here.