What you need to know about Walmart’s background check process
It’s policy to conduct a background check for all potential employees
Like the vast majority of employers, Walmart conducts background checks on potential new hires to limit the risk to the company, its employees, and customers. Here’s what you need to know about Walmart’s background check and the grounds for disqualification.
The Walmart background check
While Walmart focuses on criminal checks, they also look into a couple of other things. Here’s what Walmart is interested in:
Criminal records
Walmart will look at felonies and misdemeanor arrests and convictions for the previous 7 years. Violent, sexual, drug, and financial/larceny offenses are most likely grounds for disqualification. Walmart does not hire violent criminals.
Note: Expunged records will not show up on a background check.
Identity confirmation
This includes address history and Social Security number validation. Hiring managers want to confirm what you say on your application is true. If an old address doesn’t match where you said you graduated from high school, this dishonesty could lead to disqualification.
Sex Offender Registry
On the state and/or federal level. If a sex crime was convicted more than 7 years ago, it won’t show up on the criminal check. Presence on the sex offender list is grounds for disqualification; Walmart doesn’t hire convicted sex offenders.
Credit score
Depending on state law, they may check credit scores. You have to give express permission for this. A poor credit score may flag a potential hire in an accounting or money-handling position, and may lead to disqualification.
Employment and education history
They want to verify the truth of your application. Dishonesty with either previous jobs or education is a reason not to hire you.
Job eligibility at Walmart: Put your best foot forward
Be truthful during your background check, regardless of what you expect the check to reveal. Answer each question in the application and interview honestly and thoroughly. Walmart supports the Ban the Box initiative, so you won’t answer a question about convictions on the application. But don’t fill in false dates for other jobs to cover up a gap in employment! If something not listed on your applications show up during the background check, you’ll be banned from working in any Walmart property.
It’s up to the location hiring manager to make the call. So do your best to make a personal connection!
Comments
I'm being told by manager they go back 11 years but they brought up past non felony charges from 19 years ago and a felon charge over 8 years ago from Ohio here also seems they can't decide how far back any Walmart goes back too
I was “hired” and submitted my info for background check. I had a DUI in 1999 & battery charge (yeah- getting away from my violent ex who had 4 battery charges on me but he was able to charge me back then that I agreed to plead guilty to in order to leave the state & get away from him) but haven’t heard back from them. How long after they receive report does it take? They’ve already said I have the job & im all set up online with my Walmart app- but will this cause me to not be eligible?
So it's a 50 50 if they want you!
Walmart didn't hire me because of a felony from 15yrs ago.
You may not be able to pass Walmart's background check, but that won't stop you from being the president of the USA.
Door Dash just deactivated me after I was driving for them for 4 years,, they did a follow up background check and found a felony that I have from 45 years ago,, They Deactivated me, I'm not allowed to dash anymore. Not right ! the felony is 45 years ago.
That's incorrect. We have two recently hired individuals with Robbery and battery charges from 4 years ago.
I applied for walmart for the pharmacy. I have a felony but i didnt disclose bc it said they only go back 7 years . This is from over 10 years ago . I sent it the additional info and waiting to hear back.im sorry but i didnt think something i did 10+ years ago should be held against me
I too am waiting for a response. I have a couple felonies from almost 8 and 13 years ago that showed up after it said they go back 7 years. People have the right to move on from their past! People change. This is sad and wrong.
I have a job offer from Walmart, not my dream job but our family business closed down after 27 years so I'm trying to get anything fast. I have a drug related felony conviction from 1999, which is about 26 years ago. I was 18 at the time, I'm 44 now. I'm hearing all different amounts of time that Walmart looks back into your past. Would they really not hire me for an entry level position for a mistake I made as a kid? Seems like that's kinda INSANE. I have a 25 year work history with no gaps whatsoever and was running the factory where I worked for 10 years. If I'm rejected over a mistake from last century, my hopes of employment are grim.