What Are Costco’s Conditions for Hiring Felons?
Costco is not only a great place to shop, it’s also a great place to work. It is a Fortune 500 company with over 800 locations and 224,000 employees worldwide. It could be the perfect place for someone with a prior felony conviction to begin to rebuild their lives. Many employers hesitate to hire someone with a criminal past. With that in mind, what are Costco’s conditions for hiring felons?
Reasons To Work For Costco
Besides being a fast growing, successful company there are many reasons to want to work for Costco:
- Starting pay rate of $16 per hour
- Health insurance benefits
- Paid time off
- 401k matching program
Does Costco Hire Felons
Costco’s hiring practices do not preclude hiring someone with a felony conviction in their criminal history. However, they do not have programs aimed at specifically hiring felons.
Is Costco A “Ban the Box” Advocate?
Ban the Box refers to a common box and question on job applications asking if an applicant has been convicted of a felony. There is no federal law regarding asking this question, however some states have implemented legislation banning it. Some employers voluntarily omit this question from their application. As you might imagine, having this question on the job application may put felons at a disadvantage in being offered an interview.
Costco does not advertise itself as a Ban the Box advocate, which means you may encounter a question regarding your criminal past on their application in states which allow it. Check with your local and state resources regarding such laws where you live.
Does Costco Do A Background Check
During the job application process you will be asked to give permission for Costco to obtain a background check. This is usually done only after an interview is concluded and they intend to hire you.
Interview Tips
Under the right circumstances, you may be extended an interview with a felony on your record. In some cases, due to Ban the Box legislation in your area combined with the timing of the background check, the interview may provide an opportunity to be upfront about your past. The goal is to inform Costco about your past and give them information to view you in the best light possible. Here are some tips:
- Wait until the end of the interview, but not in passing as you’re walking out the door
- Accentuate any details that may soften the blow to your interviewer
- Provide information regarding what you have done since the conviction
- Highlight any training, jobs, education or awards in your recent past
- Leave a one page sheet with the information presented with the interviewer for reference.
Getting a job at Costco with a felony conviction in your past isn’t impossible. If you educate yourself regarding hiring rules in your locale for those with a criminal conviction as well as be genuine and upfront about your past, you may find yourself with a new job.
How about you, Clever Friends, do you have first hand knowledge regarding Costco’s conditions for hiring felons?
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Brock is a software engineer by day and personal finance blogger at night. He is a fitness junkie and enjoys grilling and smoking meat. Married with two children, Brock strives to improve his skills as a husband and father, and is always on the lookout to stretch his family’s budget as far as he can.