Getting hired: PepsiCo careers

PepsiCo is a well-known food and beverage company that's famous for its Pepsi drink.

It's a multinational brand with a large workforce. Worldwide, there are around 309,000 PepsiCo employees.

Right now, the company is hiring in a range of departments across the United States. There are both long-term career opportunities and seasonal positions.

If you're a job seeker or looking for a change, PepsiCo may have a job for you.

In this guide, we'll tell you everything you need to know about PepsiCo careers. We'll give you a rundown of the hiring process and share some common interview questions.

You'll learn about the types of benefits you can expect and how the background check works.

Let's get started.

What is PepsiCo?

The popular Pepsi drink was created in 1893, and Caleb Bradham was the man behind the recipe. He sold it at his drug store, and Pepsi was a beverage that could compete with Coca-Cola.

Pepsi was originally called Brad's Drink, but its name changed to Pepsi-Cola in 1898. In 1965, Pepsi-Cola and Frito Lay merged to become PepsiCo.

Today, PepsiCo is a multinational food and beverage company. While it's a global brand, PepsiCo Beverages North America employs around 60,000 associates.

The headquarters are in Harrison, New York. Besides the United States, PepsiCo products can be found in over 200 countries worldwide, including Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.

Besides Pepsi, the company has more than 500 other brands. For example, there’s Lays, Doritos, Gatorade, Tostitos, and SodaStream.

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The company is committed to the future. It's passionate about sustainable food and plans to farm seven million acres of regenerative farms by 2030. It also aims to use 100% renewable energy by the same deadline.

What do you need to work at PepsiCo?

The minimum requirements vary between states. However, you'll need to be at least 18 years old for most PepsiCo jobs. For some delivery driver roles, you'll need to be at least 21.

Most jobs require a high school diploma or equivalent. You may also need relevant work experience, such as a background in retail, customer service, or a warehouse environment.

Read the job description carefully before you apply. Depending on the job, you may be expected to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime.

Other roles may require lifting and long hours on your feet. If it's a driving position, you'll need a valid driver's license and a safe driving history.

The types of skills PepsiCo looks for include a positive attitude, communication skills, and good time management. It's a team environment, and you should be able to work well with others.

Reliability, organization, and an interest in the PepsiCo range are also important.

How much can you make at PepsiCo?

If you get a job at PepsiCo, the company offers a competitive salary. In the US, the average wage is $19.83 per hour.

How much you make can depend on the location, your experience, and the job title. For example, a merchandiser can make between $13.00 and $21.00 per hour.

If you want to be a warehouse worker, the average salary is $18.00 per hour. Or, if you have a commercial driver's license (CDL), you can work as a truck driver with an average salary of $25.00 per hour.

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The rate for an administrative assistant is between $13.00 and $24.00 per hour. Loaders can make $18.00 an hour, while field service technicians can make $23.00 an hour.

If you have retail experience, you can get a job as a retail sales representative. The average salary for this position is $16.00 per hour.

What benefits do you get at PepsiCo?

You may be wondering about PepsiCo employee benefits. If you get hired, you can take advantage of a range of perks.

Keep in mind there are minimum eligibility requirements. For example, the hours you work, your job title, and your time at the company can impact your benefits package.

First, there's health insurance. The coverage is comprehensive, and you'll get medical coverage for hospital stays, checkups, preventative healthcare, wellness programs, and specialist visits. Your health insurance plans can cover both you and your dependents.

Plus, you'll get access to reduced-cost prescription drugs as well as dental and vision insurance.

You can start planning for your retirement with the 401(k) retirement plan with a company match. You can set aside some of your pre-tax income every time you get paid. This money will be ready for you when you retire.

There's disability and life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. You can even boost your income with a stock purchase plan and profit sharing.

You may be eligible for paid sick leave, parental leave, and severance pay. Employee discounts may also be available.

Want to know more about PepsiCo perks? For more information, check out our PepsiCo employee benefits guide.

How to apply for a job at PepsiCo

To work at PepsiCo, you'll need to complete the online application process. The first step is to visit the company's job portal to see what roles you're interested in.

You can also browse PepsiCo positions on our job board.

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You'll need to create an account using your email address and a password. You can use this login information to keep track of your application and save your progress.

During the application process, you'll be asked to confirm your basic details. PepsiCo needs to know about your work history and education. Next, you can add your skills.

You'll need to verify your age and confirm that the details you've provided are accurate.

There are a few optional forms to fill out, and you can declare a disability. You can be honest because PepsiCo is an equal opportunity employer and doesn't discriminate.

Once this is done, you can review your information and hit “Submit.”

Someone will look through your application, and if it's a good match, you may be asked to attend a job interview.

If you'd like to learn more about the process and get more tips, you can read our PepsiCo job application guide.

Top tips for your PepsiCo resume

There's an option to upload a cover letter and resume with your PepsiCo application.

Here are our tips to help you create a professional resume:

• Read the job description carefully, and customize your resume to suit the position

• Focus on transferable skills, such as customer service, communication, and teamwork

• Check your resume for spelling mistakes

• Make sure your contact details are up to date

• List your work history, starting with your most recent job

• Avoid borders and images, and choose a simple font, such as Arial or Times New Roman

• Try to be as accurate as possible, and include the dates of your work history

• Highlight any experience in customer service, manufacturing, or retail

• Save your resume as a common file type, such as .docx or .pdf

You can create a free professional resume through your Jobcase profile. Follow these steps to get started.

What are the most common PepsiCo interview questions?

Prepare for the interview process by practicing your questions and answers ahead of time.

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You can ask a friend or family member to set up a mock interview. When you know what you're going to say, you'll feel more confident on the day of the interview.

To help you get started, here are some of the most common PepsiCo interview questions:

• Why do you want to work at PepsiCo?

• What do you know about the PepsiCo brand?

• Why should we hire you for this position?

• Share an example of when you helped another member of your team.

• What is your availability?

• Tell us about your skills and how they would help you in this role.

• Are you comfortable working overtime?

• Where do you see yourself in five years?

• Do you have any questions?

For more, check out these common interview questions and answers.

Does PepsiCo do a background check?

Yes; like most companies, PepsiCo does a pre-employment background check.

Once you've made it through the interview process, you'll be offered a provisional offer of employment. This means you'll get the job if you pass a background check and a drug test.

You'll need to agree to the background check. However, it's a condition of your employment, so refusing will mean you won’t get the job.

The background check looks at different areas and is run by a third-party company. PepsiCo will use it to verify the details of your application, including your work history and education.

A criminal background check is part of the screening process. The company will look at your criminal history, and any misdemeanors or felonies will show up. This check usually goes back seven years, but in some circumstances, it can go back even farther.

If you're applying for a delivery driver role, you'll need to pass a driving background check. This report is used to check the status of your driver's license. Plus, any violations or suspensions will be flagged.

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The question is, how important is a clean background check? PepsiCo wants to know that its employees and customers are safe, so the type of offense does make a difference.

During the interview, you can mention any incidents and explain the life changes you've made.

Does PepsiCo do a drug test?

When you have your background check, you'll also need to pass a drug test. If you fail, PepsiCo may take back the job offer.

PepsiCo commonly uses urine tests, and your test will be sent to a third-party laboratory for processing.

Any illicit drugs, including amphetamines, cocaine, and opioids, will appear. Alcohol and cannabis will also be flagged.

Prescription medication may appear on your drug test. If you do have a prescription, we recommend speaking with your doctor.

Even if you pass the drug test, you'll still need to be careful throughout your employment. It's not unusual for PepsiCo to do random drug and alcohol tests on its employees.

You can expect the results of your pre-employment urine test within one week.

What jobs are available at PepsiCo?

Want to work at PepsiCo? There are jobs to suit different skill sets and experience levels.

Plus, there are flexible positions. For example, you can find a full-time, part-time, or seasonal role. There are even remote jobs available.

Here's a rundown of some of the most popular PepsiCo departments:

1. Customer service

PepsiCo has a number of customer service-based roles available.

For example, you can work as a customer care advocate. These team members work in a call center environment and answer phones. They handle complaints and answer questions.

Or, you can apply for a job as a customer service representative. These individuals process orders and keep customers updated on stock availability, delivery times, and new products.

You'll need excellent communication skills to work in customer service. Computer, problem-solving, and time management skills are essential.

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Some customer service roles require experience in retail or sales, while others are entry-level.

2. Delivery

PepsiCo is currently looking for delivery drivers. There are positions for truck drivers, general delivery drivers, and trainee delivery drivers.

Daily duties can include delivering goods to customers and collecting supplies. Loading and unloading vehicles is part of the job description. These workers complete paperwork and make sure loads are stacked safely.

During quiet periods, you may be asked to do other warehouse duties.

You'll need a valid driver's license if you want to work in delivery. Physical fitness and manual dexterity will help you lift and maneuver packages.

Attention to detail, confident driving, and knowledge of your local area are essential.

3. Manufacturing and production

There are jobs available in manufacturing and production. You can start your career as a machine operator and work your way toward a leadership position. For example, you can become a scheduler or supervisor.

Machine operators operate equipment on the production line. The job tasks can vary, but common duties include loading raw materials, removing damaged goods, filling items, adding labels, and placing caps on bottles.

The position can involve lifting heavy objects, twisting, bending, and spending long hours on your feet.

To be part of the manufacturing and production team, you should have manual dexterity. The role can be repetitive, so you should be motivated.

PepsiCo expects you to be a team player with good time management skills.

4. Supply chain

PepsiCo relies on a strong supply chain to make sure its products are created and delivered on time.

There is a range of opportunities for those who want to help manage the supply chain. There are even internships and associate jobs for people who need work experience. For example, departments include food safety, engineering, customer collaboration, and project management.

If you want to work in this field, you'll need excellent communication and leadership skills. Experience in your chosen department will also be an advantage. For some roles, you'll need a college degree — or you’ll need to be working toward one.

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You'll need to have good time management skills, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.

5. Warehouse operations

You can get started in the warehouse department as a warehouse person or loader. These are entry-level positions, but if you have experience, that'll be beneficial.

This role involves preparing loads for transport and helping load and unload trucks. You'll need to check bulk orders and make sure they're filled correctly.

PepsiCo warehouse jobs usually require excellent physical fitness and manual dexterity. The positions can be labor-intensive, and you'll need to lift objects that weigh up to 45 pounds. Bending and stretching may also be required.

You'll need to complete paperwork, track inventory, and use a computer. You may have to operate loading equipment, such as forklifts and pallet jacks.

Warehouse team members need to be reliable, organized, and motivated. There are day and night shifts available.

Where to find a PepsiCo job

There are PepsiCo jobs available in locations throughout the United States. If this sounds like a company you'd like to work for, it's time to apply.

You can browse current PepsiCo positions on our job board. You can also choose your location to narrow down your search. You can even select "remote work only" for work-from-home roles.

When you create a free Jobcase account, you can set up job alerts, prepare your resume, and connect with other job seekers.

If you prefer, you can go straight to the PepsiCo careers portal. Browse by keyword and location to see what positions are available near you.

All about PepsiCo careers

PepsiCo is a large employer, and the company is always looking for new team members.

There are job openings in a range of departments, including customer service, delivery, manufacturing, supply chain, and warehouse operations.

To get hired, you’ll need to complete an online application. If you’re successful, you’ll be asked to attend a job interview. If you make it through this stage, you’ll need to pass a background check and a drug test.

PepsiCo employees get a suite of perks, including health insurance, a 401(k), and stock options.

If you’re looking for a new role, the first place to visit is our job board. And you can find interview hints and tips in our resource center.