A person with a criminal background is always at a disadvantage when it comes to getting a job. In general, there is a stigma attached to employing a felon and for obvious reasons. “Once a thief always a thief.” However, there are companies that do not discriminate against felons and Aldi, the global retail conglomerate, is one such company. To answer the question ‘Does Aldi hire felons?’, they definitely do but that will depend on different circumstances. With the right qualification, experience and preparing well for the interview, you will be in a position to land a job at Aldi. In the following sections, you will know everything to get a job at Aldi.
Company Overview
Aldi is one of America’s favorite grocery store chains providing the best value for money. Every day, they sell high-quality products at the lowest price to an ever-growing customer base. More than 45+ million satisfied customers leave their footfalls at Aldi stores regularly every month.
The company provides an easy no-frills shopping experience to all its customers. Delivering products at the lowest price is their strength. They have done this by cutting down on inessential features to keep the price low.
Aldi South has a good share in the US supermarket segment. Aldi operates in 11 countries, has 5,903 stores and 85 distribution centers with about 12,600 employees on its payroll. It has posted net sales of €51.8 billion.
Aldi opened their first store in IOWA in the year 1976. Over the past few decades, they have grown exponentially and now have 1,900 stores in 36 states. They employ nearly 1,000 people. Today, they are among the fastest-growing retailers in the nation and by the year 2022 hope to achieve their target of 2,500 stores.
They select most of the items on their racks meticulously to ensure high quality and best pricing. The company does not compromise on these two factors as it is the core of the business.
Full decentralization of their operations is the key to shaping the positive growth of Aldi. The item ranges are tailored to meet the needs of the customers across the nation and adhere closely to the regional demands.
Entry Level Jobs at Aldi
Aldi has many entry-level jobs such as warehouse clerks, drivers, store associates, customer service associates that you can apply for. Generally, the jobs can be classified into different departments like Retail, Management, Loading and Stocking, Administration. The employee salaries vary according to the jobs and could range from $12.90 per hour for a Retail Sales Associate to $23.99 per hour for a Store Manager.
Aldi believes in providing its employees with the best salary in the market for the concerned post, a friendly work environment, and superb benefits. As a company focused on positivity and collaboration, Aldi creates a workplace atmosphere that is conducive for growth and provides equal opportunity to all its employees to climb up the ladder.
Will Aldi Hire You?
Aldi is a global grocery retail chain. This paves the way for huge employment opportunities. As an employee of Aldi, you are in the envious position of being better paid than your peers in other similar retail stores. Apart from this, when you refer an efficient worker to apply to ALDI, you get paid incentives.
The nature of the business requires greater interaction between customers and employees. This entails that the staff should be selected only after careful consideration of his trustworthiness, honesty and overall approach towards the customer. This being the case, Aldi is very particular about who they employ and where.
Aldi does not have a clear employment policy on whether to hire a felon or not. The important consideration is that they will comply with state and federal laws when recruiting new staff. The policy also states that having a conviction will not disqualify a candidate from being considered for a job at Aldi. If the felony was committed long ago, then they would consider the candidate for employment. However, the process involves a few procedures that they strictly adhere to.
Does Aldi Do Background Checks?
A job application form contains a box calling for details of the applicant’s criminal background. Some people believed that this was discriminatory towards felons and started a movement called the “ban-the-box” campaign. Though Aldi is not known as a supporter of this movement. The company asks about the applicant’s criminal history before the interview stage. However, this does not indicate that Aldi is discriminatory towards felons.
As a prospective candidate who has committed a felony, you will be subjected to a background check. Aldi generally conducts background checks on all its potential employees. These checks will strictly adhere to the requirements in the locality and as per the state laws. This means that if the particular state’s laws are harsh towards felons, then you may find it difficult to find employment at Aldi within that state.
Background Checks in the Different States
Some states have a rule that background checks can go up to seven years only. Any felony committed beyond seven years will not come under the ambit of these checks. This means that if your felony happened 7 years ago or more, it may not count against you. You will not find it difficult to find a job at Aldi in those particular states where this rule applies. The fact is that in these states the felony records for an individual do not show beyond 7 years.
Another important aspect that comes as good news to felons is that in a few states, felonies with not guilty verdicts will not show up during the background checks.
Now for the bad news. In some states, the entire record of criminal activities is visible to background checks. All judgments, whether guilty or not guilty, are available for prospective employers. Chances of hire in these states would be more difficult.
However, in most cases, the selection is done based on the nature of the crime you commit. Some positions require you to deal with money and financial information. You may not land these jobs if you had committed fraud or money related felonies. Some jobs require you to interact with customers in a stressful environment. Those with felonies involving violence such as assault may find it difficult to be hired for these positions.
Finally, if you have been convicted for a sex-related felony, you may not fit into their environment. You will be working with children and women, to whom you might be considered as a potential threat, based on your record. For felons with such crimes, it would be advisable to seek an opportunity in warehouses instead of at retail counters.
Why Background Checks?
Aldi is an equal opportunity company and does not discriminate on people’s past criminal history. But yes, it needs to safeguard its reputation and standing in the market by selecting the right person to man its stores worldwide. It is, therefore, imperative that Aldi track the applicant’s criminal background before they are shortlisted for the interview stage. All applicants, regardless of their criminal or non-criminal backgrounds have to go through a set procedure to get a job at Aldi.
Aldi, like any other prospective employer, conducts these background checks purely to safeguard their business. These checks also ensure the safety of other staff and customers.
In addition to the background checks, a drug test is also mandatory. This is performed after you have been called for an interview. Your test will at a nearby facility where you will undergo a swab or urine test.
How to Get Hired at Aldi with a Felony?
- To start with, check to make sure that your felony will not automatically disqualify you from applying for a particular job at Aldi. For this, you need to also look at the laws about felons for that particular state where you are applying. Once you clarify your eligibility for the post you are applying to, you may proceed with the activities that follow.
- Next, ensure that you meet the qualifications for the position you are applying for. This would include your academic qualifications and the work experience that you bring in. If you have a good job experience, your chances will be better.
- Update your resume to provide all the relevant information about yourself up to that point. A crisp and well-thought-out cover letter would be of great help as it gives the person hiring you a better picture of yourself. Your cover letter should highlight your skills and explain how that would be useful for the company. And be honest!
- The company will call you for an interview after they screen with your resume and cover letter. Before attending the interview, study everything you can about Aldi such as their core values, their work ethics, and their vision. This will enable you to impress them during the interview. You can mention your good behavior while serving time and also your desire to fully use this opportunity at a second chance in life.
Aldi does not discriminate against felons. You have every chance to find a job at Aldi. But your felony background might limit your chances to apply for some positions in the company. The best way forward is to try for an entry-level job and then move up the ladder.
>>> Click Here to Apply for Available Jobs at Aldi
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- Check out our latest list of jobs who hire felons.
- Besides Aldi, you can also find opportunities at Dollar General, Costco, and Walmart.