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Are you considering a job in the food industry, maybe in a grocery store? If so, you may be wondering, does Jewel-Osco hire felons?
Today, we want to tell you how to get a job at Jewel-Osco with a record. We asked them directly about their hiring practice as well as some other important questions, like:
- Does Jewel-Osco do background checks?
- Does Jewel-Osco drug test employees?
- What kind of jobs are available here?
- Does Jewel-Osco hire people with misdemeanors?
- Will my conviction stop me from getting a job here?
Our goal for this article is to give you all the information you need before applying for a job at Jewel-Osco. We hire former felons at Relaunch Pad to give you the best tips possible. What helps in an interview? What can you do to get your resume looked at? We’re here to help.
So, let’s find out how to get hired at Jewel-Osco with a felony.
Does Jewel-Osco Hire Felons?
Official company policy for hiring felons
When we asked Jewel-Osco’s parent company, Albertsons LLC, if they had policies regarding hiring those with a felony conviction, they told us the following:
“Albertsons LLC conducts criminal background checks as part of our normal hiring practices. Every job offer is conditioned upon completion of this background check and each and every job applicant’s history is considered on a case-by-case basis. All applications for employment are accepted online.”
Have they hired felons in the past?
Jewel-Osco did not comment about if they have previously hired felons. Don’t despair! We have confirmation from other sources, however, that Albertsons LLC has hired felons in the past.
Does Jewel-Osco hire people with misdemeanors?
We could not find specific information on this, but we think they probably do considering we’ve heard they have hired felons in the past.
Is Jewel-Osco on the Ban the Box list?
The Ban the Box campaign and the Fair Chance Business Pledge have made great strides towards stopping hiring discrimination against former felons. Ban the Box has convinced many employers to remove criminal history questions from their application. FCBP also works to encourage employers to eliminate barriers for those with a criminal record. Additionally, FCBP works for equal treatment in the workplace for former felons.
Unfortunately, Jewel-Osco has not removed criminal history questions from their application. However, since they do background checks on everyone, this is not a surprise.
Does Jewel-Osco have any special programs for hiring felons?
Jewel-Osco does not have any specific programs for hiring felons. Always remember to check with local job placement agencies and workforce centers. Not only do they know who hires felons, but they usually have programs geared towards people coming out of prison.
What are the odds someone with a felony will get hired?
We think your odds are pretty average that you will get hired at Jewel-Osco with a felony. They have not taken criminal history questions from their application, but we have heard the company has hired felons in the past. Since the company hires on a case-by-case basis, each individual will be looked at.
What are some entry-level jobs?
If you’re looking to get a job at Jewel-Osco, start here. Entry-level jobs are a great place to start and provide on-the-job training. They leave plenty of room for advancement as you work to build a reputation within the company as a hard worker.
Jewel-Osco is a large grocery store chain with plenty of locations around Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. Since this is a grocery store, there are a wide range of jobs available. Here are some of the jobs you can find in a supermarket.
- Shelf Stockers
- Food Services Cook
- Food Service Food Packager
- Dishwasher
- Cashiers
- Bakery Workers
- Produce
- Meat Department
- Pharmacy
- Floral Department
- Fuel Stations
- Security
Jobs like this usually include shift work. Typically, you’ll be doing things like cleaning, ringing through purchases and giving change, preparing food, and putting products away.
How to get hired at Jewel-Osco with a felony
Jewel-Osco’s hiring process of done through their parent company, Albertsons LLC. You’ll need to build a profile, so have a professional resume ready.
What skills did you learn in prison that translate to real-world experience? If you worked in the kitchen, you have all the skills you need to work in a food services position. Were you a dorm worker? Great, you have the work ethic needed for janitorial services or shelf stocking.
You may be surprised how working as a clerk in prison can prepare you for a professional setting, especially when dealing with customers. Think about it. You had to manage inmates, guards and prison staff as a clerk. Talk about communication skill building!
Yes, your resume will have gaps, but fill those with the skills you learned in prison. Did you take vocational courses or other classes in prison? Those matter.
If you match the requirements for the job offered, you will be contacted by recruiters and asked to come in for an interview. This is your chance to let them know who you are and to let them know why you are a good fit for the job.
Do not let your felony conviction define you or change your determination. They will ask what experiences you have that qualify you for the position. Have an answer ready.
If you make it to the interview part of the hiring process, it is time to start thinking about appearance. When you show up in person, first impressions matter. Get a fresh haircut. Brush your teeth. Hey, cover the tattoos if you can. They may not have a problem with them, but you won’t know that at first.
(Note: we know most inmates get a prison tat or two. Or 10. That’s okay. Just be aware of how those appear to those who know nothing about prison.)
Don’t let someone’s first thought when they see you be, “Yeah, he did time.”
Does Jewel-Osco do background checks?
Yes, they absolutely do. As you can see from their official statement, you need to pass a background check. However, they look at these on a case-by-case basis, so you don’t let it stop you!
Here’s what you need to know about background checks:
There are a handful of states that don’t look at offenses that are more than seven years old. If you are close, around the sixth year, you may want to wait a bit before applying. Here are those states:
- California
- Colorado*
- Kansas*
- Maryland*
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire*
- New York*
- Texas*
- Washington*
*sometimes certain pay or salary bracket positions require one.
Some states do not look at court cases in which you were found not guilty (seems like common sense to us). Here is a list of those states:
- Alaska
- California
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New York
Unfortunately, there are some states that show everything on their background checks. Employers will see all of the cases you have been charged in, no matter how old they are and even if you were found not guilty. Here is a list of those states:
- 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
Company ratings
Jewel-Osco has plenty of reviews on the site glassdoor.com. They have an overall average of 3.2 score out of a possible 5 and 47% of respondents say they would recommend working here to a friend.
We read through a bunch of the reviews left about the company. Many people praised the flexible work schedule as well as the family environment promoted by the company. People also liked that there was room for growth and promotion.
There were complaints about pay as well as some people not getting enough hours and lower entry-level wages. Surprisingly, there were few complaints about management, something that is common with grocery stores.
What felony convictions might have a hard time getting hired here?
You may still be wondering, does Jewel-Osco hire felons? What you have been convicted of may play a part in answering that.
Since grocery stores are filled with products that people need and use on a daily basis, they may be more hesitant to hire those who have had theft convictions in the past. For example, if a manager sees that someone has multiple convictions for theft separated by only one or two years, they may be hesitant to hire.
Also be aware that sex crime convictions will be scrutinized more than other conviction types. If your crime involves a minor or violence, employers may turn you down.
Be aware of your full criminal history. In Texas, where most Jewel-Osco are located, you are lucky that convictions older than seven years will not show up. That being said, if you are required to register as a sex offender, the situation is a bit different.
Does Jewel-Osco drug test?
We could not find any specific information about whether or not Jewel-Osco performs drug tests. Many places like this only test for management-level positions, but we are not sure at this time. However, it’s still best for you to prepare.
Have you applied for a job or worked here before? Share your experiences!
We want to hear from you if you have worked at Jewel-Osco before or know information about their hiring process. Any information you can share will go a long way towards helping men and women who have a felony conviction get back on their feet. Share your information in the comment section below.
