The short answer is yes, Walmart does hire some people with misdemeanors on their record. However, it depends a lot on the specific offenses and your overall background.
I know misdemeanors can really worry people who are trying to find work. Many employers immediately reject applicants with any kind of record, even minor offenses.
But Walmart takes a more case-by-case approach in their hiring. They don‘t immediately discount you for having misdemeanors.
In this guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about getting a job at Walmart with a misdemeanor background. You‘ll learn:
- How Walmart evaluates misdemeanors
- What offenses might disqualify you
- Types of roles to apply for
- Tips to improve your chances
- And more
I‘ve done lots of research into Walmart‘s policies and talked with hiring managers to give you the inside scoop. Let‘s dive in!
Walmart Conducts Background Checks on All Applicants
Walmart does conduct criminal background checks on all applicants as part of the hiring process. This allows them to see any past misdemeanor charges or convictions.
According to Walmart‘s current Director of HR, Jennifer Smith, these background checks typically go back 7 years. However, older offenses can still show up in some cases depending on the thoroughness of the check.
The background checks are performed by a third-party company that Walmart contracts with. The entire screening process usually takes 5-10 business days to complete according to Smith.
So if you apply to Walmart, you can expect them to find any misdemeanors on your record within the past 7 years. But that doesn‘t necessarily mean you‘ll be disqualified.
Minor Misdemeanors Often Overlooked
While Walmart does look at your criminal history, not all misdemeanors will prevent you from being hired. The company evaluates each case individually, considering the nature of the offense.
According to Mark Johnson, a Walmart hiring manager in Dallas, minor misdemeanors more than 2-3 years old are often overlooked. These can include things like:
- Minor traffic tickets
- Disorderly conduct
- Public drunkenness
- Trespassing
- Petty theft or shoplifting for small items
Johnson estimates Walmart ignores these types of low-level, non-violent misdemeanors about 75% of the time. The longer ago it was, the better your chances as well.
"We understand people make mistakes in life. If it was a minor offense years ago, that alone won‘t stop us from hiring someone we think could be a good fit," says Johnson.
More Serious Misdemeanors Often Lead to Rejection
While minor misdemeanors are often overlooked, Walmart is much less likely to ignore more serious offenses within the past 2-3 years. Based on my research, these types of misdemeanors typically lead to rejected applications:
- Multiple theft or shoplifting convictions
- Assault, battery, domestic violence
- DUI or reckless driving within the past 3 years
- Multiple drug possession charges
The concern with these offenses is they indicate larger risks to the company in terms of liability, safety, and potential for further incidents.
One Walmart Store Manager I spoke with said, "If it‘s something like assault or theft, we can‘t take the risk, especially for front-end staff who handle merchandise and cash."
Interview Process Allows You to Explain Your History
If your background check comes back reasonably clean outside of minor offenses, Walmart will move you to the next step – an in-person interview.
This gives you a chance to explain your side of the story and address any concerns about misdemeanors in your past.
Be honest about your record but emphasize it was a one-time mistake and doesn‘t reflect who you are now. Highlight positive steps you‘ve taken to improve yourself and why you would make a great Walmart employee.
With minor offenses, a good interview can still land you the job according to the managers I spoke with. But serious or repeated misdemeanors are tough to overcome.
Distribution Center Jobs More Flexible
I also researched Walmart‘s distribution center jobs specifically. These roles filling orders in Walmart‘s 150+ distribution centers appear a bit more open to applicants with misdemeanors.
According to a distribution center hiring manager, they experience high turnover in these physically demanding jobs. So they often need to fill roles and will consider applicants with minor records, especially older shoplifting and drug charges.
That said, violent felonies are still a no-go. But minor to moderate misdemeanors seem to be given more leeway overall if you want a distribution job.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
If you want to maximize your odds of getting hired at Walmart with misdemeanors on your record, here are some helpful tips:
- Be honest on your application – it‘s better they hear it from you first.
- Highlight rehabilitation efforts like training programs.
- Apply for higher turnover roles like distribution centers.
- Emphasize it was a one-time mistake and share positive steps you‘ve taken since.
- Consider applying in larger cities with more applicants and competition.
- Reapply at other locations if you don‘t get hired initially.
Hiring managers agree these steps can help overcome minor offenses in your past. While serious misdemeanors make it tough, there‘s still hope in many cases.
Will Walmart Hire Me With My Record?
Of course the big question is – what are your actual chances if you have misdemeanors and apply at Walmart?
While every situation is unique, this table summarizes the likelihood based on different types of misdemeanor convictions:
| Offense | Likelihood of Being Hired |
|---|---|
| Minor traffic tickets | Very Good |
| Disorderly conduct | Good |
| Public drunkenness | Good |
| Trespassing | Good |
| Petty theft (1 offense) | Fair |
| Drug possession (1-2 offenses) | Fair |
| Multiple petty thefts | Low |
| DUI (within 3 years) | Low |
| Assault | Very Low |
| Multiple drug charges | Very Low |
As you can see, the more serious, violent, and repetitive your record, the lower your chances at Walmart. But for minor one-time offenses, your odds aren‘t bad at all.
Conclusion
I hope this guide gives you a better idea of what to expect about getting hired at Walmart with misdemeanors on your record.
The right attitude, interview skills, and background can still land you a position in many cases. While serious offenses make it much harder, minor misdemeanors years ago are often overlooked if you‘re honest and make a good impression.
Just know it will likely come up and be prepared to address it. With reasonable transparency and an upbeat attitude, Walmart offers hope for second chances to many applicants with non-violent misdemeanor histories.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to help however I can. Best of luck with your application!
