Does Concord Pet Foods Hire Felons in 2021?

As you know, one of the most important first steps to finding employment with a record is finding the right employer. If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering, does Concord Pet Foods hire felons?

Our team has contacted Concord Pet Foods directly to answer that very question as well as provide you with the best advice on how to actually get a job there (we don’t just guess). In this article, we’ll answer the following questions for you in addition to providing a great deal more actionable advice:

Does Concord Pet Foods hire felons?
What about lesser offenses? Does Concord Pet Foods hire people with misdemeanors?
What are the best ways to get hired at Concord Pet Foods with a felony?
Does Concord Pet Foods do background checks?
What entry-level jobs should you look into at Concord Pet Foods?
Does Concord Pet Foods drug test?

Our team understands the difficulties faced by men and women who have felony records — especially when it comes to getting a job. Here at Relaunch Pad, we practice what we preach by prioritizing hiring people with prior convictions. So, let’s talk about how to get a job at Concord Pet Foods with a felony.

Does Concord Pet Foods Hire Felons?

Official company policy for hiring felons

We asked Concord Pet Foods if they hired those with a felony conviction and they told us:

“We consider all applicants for employment at Concord Pet. Each one of our stores hires on an as-needed basis. We just ask that people fill out an application on our website and drop it off at the store they are looking to work in.”

Have they hired felons in the past?

Concord Pet Foods did not confirm or deny if they have hired felons in the past. Don’t let that discourage you; it doesn’t mean they won’t hire you.

Does Concord Pet Foods hire people with misdemeanors?

We could not find specific information on this, but their application only asks about prior felonies. That’s good news if you have a misdemeanor.

Are they on the Ban the Box list?

You may have heard of the Ban the Box campaign advocated by civil rights groups, or its sister movement, the Fair Chance Business Pledge. These initiatives want employers to remove the check box on their job application asking if the applicant has a criminal record. This helps people with prior convictions get through the first phase of the hiring process and gives them a better chance of getting hired.

Concord Pet Foods’ employment application asks if you’ve ever been convicted of a felony. While it’s unfortunate they have not yet signed onto these initiatives, there are still opportunities for you to get a job at Concord Pet Foods with a felony.

To that end, make sure to be truthful on your application. Be upfront about your prior convictions — it is better for them to find out from you than from someone else or a background check.

Does Concord Pet Foods have any special programs for hiring felons?

Concord Pet Foods does not have any specific programs for hiring felons. However, there may be opportunities with local job placement agencies.

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

We think your odds are uncertain to get hired at Concord Pet Foods with a felony. They do ask you to divulge if you have one. However, the leanings are more positive for misdemeanors since that’s not on the application.

What are some entry-level jobs?

So, what kind of jobs can you expect at Concord Pet Foods? We looked at their website and found that each location is responsible for making job posts to their main company website when they need to hire.

Some entry-level positions include cashier, shelf stocking jobs and cleaners. Most importantly, these positions do not require a high level of education or experience.

Responsibilities for entry-level positions generally include, but are not limited to:

sales
stocking
creative ideas for endcaps and in store displays
maintaining a clean and neat work environment
ordering stock or product
assisting customers with questions regarding pet foods
basic knowledge of the needs of different species

How to get hired at Concord Pet Foods with a felony

The best way to get hired is to showcase your skills and ability. Explore their entry-level jobs and see which ones you are most qualified for. Think outside the box! There are a number of jobs you may have held in prison that prepare you for work. Jobs like being a dorm-keeper, a librarian or a clerk are common in jails and prisons. That experience will transfer to these jobs as well.

Do you have any special training related to pets or animals? Many prisons and jails offer programs that involve training and keeping pets. If you have been in one of these programs, you want to mention that on your application and during an interview.
Apply in-store. You are much more likely to get hired if you look the person who will hire you in the face.
When you’re in prison, you pick up on mannerisms and language that are not appropriate in a professional environment. Be aware of these and avoid using them. They will not help you get a job.
Dress well when you turn in your application. Make sure you look clean and have a fresh haircut. When you are with the manager, speak politely and thank them for considering you.
We know people who have been to prison can have an intimidating look, but that doesn’t reflect who you are. Therefore, cover any visible tattoos the best you can until you know the company policy regarding them.
If you land an interview, you now have the opportunity to discuss your skills and fit face-to-face. Ask questions about the role so they see you’re interested.
Get a referral! If you know someone who works here, get them to talk you up to the hiring manager.

Does Concord Pet Foods do background checks?

We could not find specific information about whether or not Concord Pet Foods performs background checks. However, there is a good chance they do. Routine background checks are performed by most employers. These checks usually show any felonies or misdemeanors.

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

Some states don’t even consider information more than seven years old. This means that if your offense was six years ago, you’ll want until next year to apply. This is also great news for former felons living in these states! If your felony conviction was seven years ago, these states won’t even look at them in the check:

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

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

Even better, there are states that don’t consider court cases were you were found not guilty. Eight states are currently on this list:

Alaska
California
Hawaii
Indiana
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Michigan
New York

However, there are still some states that will look at your whole record. This includes your not guilty verdicts. Be aware, if you live in one of these states, that they will see everything:

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

Concord Pet Foods has six reviews on the site glassdoor.com. This gives them a rating of 2.8 out of 5, with 26% of people would recommend working there to a friend. While some people gave the company a positive review, a few said that the pay was low and management needed some work. One person said that they did not receive enough hours.

We want to point out that Concord Pet Foods has 29 locations and that six reviews is not enough to paint a good picture of what it is like to work there. It is also likely that only those unhappy with their experience actually took the time to leave a review.

What felonies will have a difficult time getting a job here?

Wondering if your felony will stop you from getting a job here is normal. Here are some felonies that may make it harder for you to get hired:

Theft convictions. Any role handling money (such as cashier) will be harder to land with a theft conviction.
Sex crime or animal abuse convictions. There may be positions with Concord Pet Foods that require you to interact with pets and children. If you have a former sex crime conviction, you may not be eligible for these positions depending on the nature of your charges.

Be aware of your record before you apply to certain positions. You can potentially work up to one of these positions after you have been with the company for a while.

Remember, there is no shame in taking another entry-level job and working as hard as you can while you gain a company’s trust.

Does Concord Pet Foods drug test?

We also could not find information on whether or not they perform drug tests. Drug testing likely depends on the type of position you are applying for. We feel it’s best to act as though they do. Prepare for a drug test just in case.

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

We want to hear about your experiences with Concord Pet Foods in the comment section below. Also, leave comments about tips for how to get hired at Concord Pet Foods.

If you’ve been successful in finding a job anywhere after a felony conviction, tell us how you did it. Good luck with your job search!