With almost 6,000 stores across 47 states, O’Reilly Auto Parts is a major employer with plenty of good job opportunities. As an ex-offender hoping to get a job with the company, you’ve no doubt got questions about their hiring policies.
Does O’Reilly Auto Parts hire felons? Is there a background check, and how far back does it go? And will you need to pass a drug test? Let’s get some answers!
Does O’Reilly Auto Parts Hire Felons for Store Positions?
Yes! O’Reilly’s has hired felons in the past for a variety of positions within their retail stores. What’s more, O’Reilly participates in the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program.
The WOTC is a federal tax credit employers can claim when they hire people who face barriers to employment, including recently released ex-felons. When employers receive WOTC for an employee, their payroll costs are lower, so by hiring a former felon, an employer like O’Reilly’s saves money.
Is O’Reilly Auto Parts A Ban The Box Employer?
O’Reilly’s aren’t part of the Ban The Box initiative, which removes the question about criminal convictions from job applications. When you go through the online application for a job at O’Reilly’s, you’lll be asked about your criminal history, but O’Reilly’s stresses that your offense will not necessarily disqualify you from employment.
If your felony has been sealed, expunged, discharged, or dismissed under a diversion, deferred judgment, or first offender program, you are not required to report the conviction.
Otherwise, you should answer the question honestly, and then supply further details about your convictions.
- The nature of the conviction (felony or misdemeanor)
- Month and year
- State & County
- The offense you were convicted of
- A brief explanation of the circumstances
O’Reilly’s Background Check For Store Positions
Your background will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Your eligibility to be hired will depend on the type of felony you have on your record, when it took place, how old you were at the time, and if that offense would make you unsuitable for the job you’ve applied for.
- Entry-level positions will be easier to qualify for than supervisory roles with key career responsibilities.
- Supervised store-based positions will be easier to qualify for than parts delivery driver jobs.
If you apply for a job that involves driving (parts delivery, retail merchandise specialist), your Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) will also be checked to make sure you’re a safe driver.
How Far Back Does O’Reilly’s Background Check Go?
O’Reilly’s uses GoodHire, an outside background checking agency, to carry out its background screens.
The standard period GoodHire recommends for employment background checks is 7 years, and former and current O’Reilly employees have mentioned that their background reports covered the last 7 years.
On the employment application, O’Reilly’s also asks about your employment over the previous 7-year period.
From that information, it’s reasonable to conclude that O’Reilly’s is interested in your conduct during the last 7 years. And in some states, 7 years is as far as a criminal records search can go. If you’re applying for a job in the following states, your felony won’t be reported if it’s older than 7 years:
- California
- Colorado
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- Texas
- Washington
Does O’Reilly’s Hire Felons In Their Distribution Centers?
O’Reilly Auto Parts operates 27 highly efficient, modern distribution centers. Felons are welcome to apply for roles, including:
- Material handler
- Forklift operator (training provided)
- Maintenance technician
- Custodian
- Warehouse worker
- Office support
- Admin assistant
These entry-level positions will be easier to qualify for than supervisory, management, CDL driver, or non-CDL driver roles.
O’Reilly Auto Parts distribution centers work around the clock, 7 days a week, so you’ll have several shifts to choose from.
If you’re selected for an interview, you can expect to find out if you’re hired the same day. Job offers are conditional depending on your background report.
O’Reilly’s Background Check For Distribution Center Roles
When you complete your job application, O’Reilly’s will ask if you’ve ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor offense, so make sure you answer the question honestly and provide details.
Having a felony does not mean your application will be rejected, and your background report will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Your background report will contain details of your criminal record, and if the position you’ve applied for involves driving or operating a forklift, your Motor Vehicle Report will also be checked.
As with the background checks for O’Reilly Auto Parts stores, the look-back period at the distribution centers appears to be 7 years.
Is There A Drug Test During The Hiring Process?
For any position at an O’Reilly’s distribution center, and for roles that involve driving, you’ll need to pass a drug test during the hiring process. Drug tests take place once you’ve received a conditional job offer.
Be aware, though, that it’s common to be offered a job at the end of your interview or later on the same day, so that means your drug test could take place on the same day as your interview.
Pre-employment drug testing at O’Reilly’s is a 5-panel urine test that takes place at a local urinalysis testing center. They look for:
- Marijuana
- Cocaine
- Opiates
- Amphetamines and methamphetamine
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
Retail employees who won’t be delivering parts aren’t usually required to take a pre-employment drug test, although O’Reilly’s reserves the right to drug test any applicant if it chooses to.
All employees, once hired, are subject to post accident drug testing. CDL holders are subject to standard Department of Transportation rules, which require random drug and alcohol screening and post accident testing.
Quick Recap
O’Reilly Auto Parts is a felon-friendly employer. The company has hired felons in the past, and they evaluate candidates on a case-by-case basis.
You’ll find it easier to get hired if you apply for entry-level positions to begin with, then apply for a promotion once you’ve established a good track record with the company.
Make sure you fill out the job application honestly (they will run a background check) and be prepared to discuss your offense at your interview.