A felony conviction changes your life in many ways. You lose many rights like the right to vote or the right to carry a firearm. Finding a decent apartment or a well-paying job can also become difficult due to strict background checks and hiring policies.
The general attitude of people towards a felon is not welcoming either. In such a situation, finding a permanent office job can be quite a task and you should have an alternate plan just in case you don’t find a job immediately.
Food delivery service can be a good option if you are ready to work outdoors. The food delivery industry has been providing a lot more second chances compared to the rest.
Also, such a role does not need an advanced degree or a lot of experience and can be done by pretty much anyone.
Does Instacart Hire Felons?
Yes. Our internet research and feedback from other felons show that Instacart does hire felons. Even though their hiring policy does not specifically mention anything specific to felons, they have hired people with records in the past since they are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
However, the chance of a felon getting hired at Instacart depends on a lot of factors like
- Time duration since the conviction – Usually felons with records older than 7 years should not have a problem getting hired. Such records are usually overlooked by hiring managers.
- Nature of the offense – The nature of the offense itself is a major factor. Felons involved in violent crimes, sexual offenses, theft, or aggravated assault might find it difficult to get selected.
- Job Role – Companies usually don’t hire felons for roles that are sensitive in nature.
Does Instacart hire someone with DUI?
Yes, you can get hired at Instacart if you do not have a major driving offense on your records and you currently hold a valid driving license.
Does Instacart run Background Checks?
Yes. Instacart conducts background checks on all applicants before hiring them. Background checks usually include criminal history, educational records, previous employment records, and driving records.
They can also include credit reports. If you are applying for a job as a personal shopper then having a clean driving record is essential.
We do not have any information about drug tests being conducted by Instacart but since the policies keep changing all the time, you should be prepared for a drug test as well.
About Instacart
Instacart is an on-demand grocery delivery service facilitation doorstep delivery of groceries in major cities in the U.S. They claim to get groceries delivered in as little as 1 hour of ordering.
They provide over 300,000 items from several stores like Costco, Safeway, and Whole Foods. Just like cab service apps, Instacart connects users to personal shoppers who shop on behalf of the users and deliver the products.
Job Roles at Instacart
Personal Shoppers: Personal shoppers are field workers who receive shopping orders from users via the App. They then collect the items from the stores and deliver them to the user at their doorstep.
To work as a personal shopper, one must have a valid driving license.
Care Executives: Care executives are customer support personnel who attend calls from users and solve their issues. They also coordinate with the personal shoppers and make sure the customer receives their orders on time.
Corporate Roles: They also have regular office roles like marketing, sales, business development, legal, and finance jobs as well as technical jobs like application developers, network administrators, etc.
Conclusion
Although food delivery might not be as attractive as an office job, it is one of the few industries that are considerate towards felons. Felons have hard time reintegrating back with society and having the means to earn some money will help a lot.
If you are unable to find a permanent office job then food delivery can help you sustain till you find another way.
In some states, you can get your records expunged after a period of 8 to 10 years. Such records do not show up in background checks and can boost your chances of getting a job. You can consult a lawyer to understand the process if this is an option for you.