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Are you looking for a career in retail? If you said yes, you may have considered Costco and wondered: Does Costco hire felons?
We attempted to reach Costco directly to ask them about their hiring policy for former felons. Unfortunately, we were unable to make contact. However, we’ll keep trying. Until then, we researched them to bring you the best information possible regarding their hiring policies and tips to help you land the job.
Relaunch Pad wants to help make your job search easier. We know from our personal experiences, as former felons and those working with them, how difficult finding a job can be.
To that end, here are some specific questions we’re going to answer for you:
- What is Costco’s hiring policy for former felons?
- Does Costco hire people with misdemeanors?
- Has Costco hired felons in the past?
- What is the recommended approach for applying?
- Does Costco do background checks?
So, continue reading to see how to get a job at Costco with a felony.
Does Costco hire felons?
Official company policy for hiring felons
We found nothing concerning a specific hiring policy for former felons at Costco.
But does Costco hire felons? We are going to keep digging to see what we can find. Let’s see how to get a job at Costco with a felony.
Has Costco hired felons in the past?
There was nothing indicating they haven’t hired felons, but we didn’t find anything concrete saying they had, either.
Does Costco hire people with misdemeanors?
You might be wondering: What about someone with a misdemeanor? Unfortunately, we couldn’t find an easy yes or no to this question.
Is Costco on the Ban the Box list?
What is the Ban the Box list? It’s a campaign with the purpose of giving former felons a chance at employment that’s based off skills and not their record. They work diligently to remove questions about criminal records from applications.
The Fair Chance Business Pledge is signed by companies that are already committed to fair hiring practices for all, including those with criminal records. The Pledge is designed to make it easier for everyone to obtain a job based solely on skills not previous convictions.
Costco is not on the Ban the Box list, nor do they participate in The Fair Chance Business Pledge.
However, that doesn’t mean they won’t hire someone with a record! Keep reading to see how to get hired at Costco with a felony.
Does Costco have programs for hiring felons?
Unfortunately, Costco does not.
What are the odds of someone with a felony will get hired?
The odds of a former felon getting hired at Costco are uncertain. We could not find anything specific that would prevent a felon from being hired here. We believe it’s possible a qualified former felon would have the opportunity to get hired, depending on the job chosen.
What are some entry-level jobs?
Let’s take a close look at some of the entry-level jobs Costco has to offer and their requirements:
- Cashier — Processes member orders and collects payment while providing a high level of member service.
- Stocker — Stocks and straightens merchandise for sale in the warehouse.
- Food Service Assistant — Prepares and sells food and drinks to customers.
Remember, these are not all of the jobs Costco has to offer. Check here for current listings.
How to get hired at Costco with a felony
Thankfully, Costco doesn’t have a bunch of hoops to jump through with their employment process. It consists of an application, an interview and a drug screen.
The application is a standard application: Personal information, education and work history. Be sure you have some solid references ready since Costco gives you the opportunity to give up to four. Make sure you ask before putting someone down as a reference, though. You never want to provide someone’s name if they’re unwilling or unavailable to provide a suitable reference of your job history or personal character.
Even though Costco does not request an uploaded resume, we suggest you have one prepared for the interview. So, make sure you check out our tips for an excellent resume to highlight your skills.
Apply the skills you gained while incarcerated. Jobs inside, such as kitchen worker or housekeeping, provided the skills necessary for all the jobs listed above.
The trickiest part will probably be the interview process. There was limited information on this step, but you should keep the following in mind:
- It’s always better to be over prepared rather than under prepared. Arrive early, have a few copies of your resume on hand and have a few questions of your own to ask.
- Be yourself and sell yourself in a positive manner. After all, the interview is your chance to tell them why you would be an asset to their company. This is also the best time to inform them of the circumstances around your criminal history.
Does Costco do background checks?
We’re not sure. Online reports were mixed, and seemed to depend on location.
This is why we recommend that you make them aware of your background during the interview process. Not only are you not hiding it, but it allows them to see that you are upfront and honest.
Something to keep in mind regarding background checks:
There are many states that now only look at an offense if it is less than seven years old. The following are those states:
- California
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- Texas
- Washington
The eight states below do not look at anything you were not convicted of (they only see guilty verdicts):
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana (limited check)
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
Unfortunately, there are some states that still look at everything. The following are those 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
Reviews on glassdoor.com give them a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars. Even indeed.com has them rated fairly high with 4.2 out of 5 stars!
Costco is considered a great place to work. They provide affordable health insurance for even the part-time employees!
What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?
Since Costco is in the retail field and deals with a lot of customers, there are some felonies that may have a hard time getting a foot in the door. Since there are a lot of different career paths, your particular record may impact one job and not another.
Some of the felonies that might get in your way are:
- Theft — Shoplifting would be an example due to the merchandise.
- Drug charges — Costco is a drug free company, so they may give a drug conviction a hard time.
- Violent offenses — All of the jobs include dealing with the public, so a violent conviction is something they may frown upon.
Does Costco drug test?
Yes, there will be a drug test given. Costco makes it clear that they are a drug free company.
Have you applied for a job or worked here? Share your experiences!
Please let us know what you know about working at Costco with a felony. We appreciate the feedback!
