Searching for a job with a felony on your record can feel overwhelming. Employers are often quick to reject felons, but thankfully, some employers are willing to give convicted felons a second chance.
Is Dollar General one of those employers? Does Dollar General hire felons to work in their stores? What about in their warehouses? Is there a background check or drug test?
In this guide, we’ll answer your questions and give you some tips on how to get hired at Dollar General with a felony.
Does Dollar General Hire Felons?
Yes, you can work at Dollar General even though you’ve got a felony on your record. Dollar General accepts applications from candidates with a criminal background and considers suitability for employment on a case-by-case basis after running a criminal background check.
The type of felony conviction on your record will be taken into account, as well as the age of the offense and your conduct since that time.
The Dollar General application form provides the following statement for candidates with a criminal background.
“Applicants with criminal histories should not be discouraged from applying for employment with Dollar General, and a criminal history does not necessarily exclude you from employment.”
As you can see, there’s definitely an employment opportunity for felons at Dollar General.
It’s a good idea to apply for entry-level positions to start with. Then, once you’ve established a good track record with the company and shown that you’re reliable and trustworthy, you may be eligible for a promotion.
Entry-level positions at Dollar General include:
- Cashier
- Stocker
- Sales associate
- General warehouse worker
Felons can apply for jobs at Dollar General retail stores or Dollar General distribution centers. The company looks for friendly, hard-working team players, and having previous experience in a retail, warehouse, or customer service role will be beneficial.
For entry-level positions, a High School Diploma or GED is preferred but not essential.
Does Dollar General Warehouse Hire Felons?
Dollar General has 31 distribution centers servicing stores across the United States. Felons are welcome to apply for any open positions, including general warehouse worker, equipment operator, and maintenance technician.
When you apply for a distribution center job, you’ll need to pass a background check.
What’s The Hiring Process Like At Dollar General?
You’ll need to be at least 18 years old to work at Dollar General, and you must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Dollar General’s application process is handled online,e and the application shouldn’t take you longer than 30 minutes.
Online applications are much easier to do on a computer than on a mobile phone (and you’re less likely to make errors) so if you’ve got a computer you can use for your Dollar General application, that’s the best option.
The first part of the application asks you to enter your personal details, upload your current resume (if you have one) and list your work history. The second part of the application is a short assessment where you’ll answer a series of multiple-choice questions.
The questions ask you about your personality and quiz you on some situations you’re likely to encounter at Dollar General, e.g., how you would respond to a customer asking for help or making a complaint.
If Dollar General is happy with your application, they’ll call you or send an email inviting you to an interview.
After a successful interview, Dollar General will run a background check and then make a hiring decision.
Dollar General hires felons for their retail stores and their distribution centers after making an individual assessment based on background report information, work history, and experience.
The entire hiring process takes between four days and two weeks unless there are unforeseen delays.
What Does The Dollar General Background Check Look For?
Once you receive a conditional employment offer, Dollar General will run your background check.
The background check will search local and national criminal records databases to obtain your criminal history. If you’ve applied for a driving job, your Motor Vehicle Report will also be checked.
Other information the background check will confirm includes:
- Name, date of birth, and address
- Social security number
- Work history
Dollar General doesn’t say how far the background check will go, but seven years is a common lookback period with many employers.
Some states don’t allow employers to look any further than seven years on a background check:
- California
- Colorado
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- Texas
- Washington
Once they’ve received your background check report, Dollar General will make an individualized assessment. If your felony conviction is incompatible with the job you applied for, the company will withdraw your job offer.
Background checks can clear in one or two days, but may take as long as one week. If you haven’t heard anything after one week, you should call and follow up on your application.
What Criminal Offences Are Disqualifying At Dollar General?
Is Dollar General friendly towards all types of offense? As you know, there are different classes of felony, and each classification covers many different crimes.
We haven’t seen the list of disqualifying offenses used by Dollar General, but these are some contributing factors that may result in your application being unsuccessful.
- For driving jobs, your felony must be at least 7 years from the date of clearance (release from prison, completion of parole, probation, or diversion program).
- Very serious felony offenses, including murder, armed robbery and rape, will be hard for an employer like Dollar General to overlook. If you have to register as a sex offender in your state, you’re also unlikely to be hired.
- A non-violent offense on your record will be less of an obstacle than a violent one, but Dollar General will also be concerned about theft and fraud.
- The time since release and your record since then will be important. The more time that’s passed, the better your chance of being hired.
No matter the level of your felony, at your interview, it’s important to demonstrate the steps you’ve taken towards rehabilitation.
Remember, you’re competing for a job against candidates who don’t have a criminal background. It’s up to you to convince the hiring manager at your interviewthat you’re the right fit for the job and you don’t pose a risk to employees or company property.
Does The Type Of Felony On Your Record Matter?
Does Dollar General hire convicted felons with charges for theft, robbery, or assault?
While Dollar General is a felon-friendly employer, they still need to be careful about who they hire, and some types of felonies will be more problematic than others.
Retailers like Dollar General are often unwilling to hire offenders with felony convictions for sexual offenses or violent assaults. Convictions for theft or robbery, and crimes involving money are also a problem for retailers.
If you’ve applied for a driving job at the distribution center, then a felony conviction for DUI or other driving violation will mean they’re unlikely to hire you.
Having a single conviction on your record won’t look as bad as a series of offenses.
Is Dollar General felon-friendly for recent felons? The age of your felony will be an important deciding factor at Dollar General, and with an older offense, you’ll have a better chance of being hired.
However, you could be hired with a more recent felony. It all depends on the type of felony reported on your background check.
Will You Need To Pass A Drug Test?
Dollar General doesn’t require a pre-employment drug test for retail positions, but if you’re hoping to get a job at a distribution center, you’ll be asked to provide a urine sample for a drug test.
Drug tests only take place if you’ve had a successful interview. You’re usually given 48 hours to provide a urine sample at a local collection site.
The Dollar General drug test is a 5-panel drug screen that looks for:
- Opiates
- Cocaine
- Marijuana
- Amphetamines
- Phencyclidine (PCP)
Tips For Getting Hired At Dollar General With A Felony Conviction
Availability – When you fill out your application, one of the questions will be about your availability. If possible, indicate that you’re available to work all shifts on any day of the week. The more flexible you can be, the better.
Transport – Dollar General also wants to know if you’ve got reliable transport, so you’ll arrive on time for your scheduled shifts. Being able to answer yes to this question will make you a more attractive candidate. If you don’t have a car, reliable transport can include public transit or even a bicycle. Live close to the store? Then walking will be fine.
Appearance – Be well-groomed for your Dollar General interview and dress in a smart casual outfit. A pair of slacks or dress pants (with a belt) and a button-down shirt or polo shirt will make a good impression.
Attitude – When you meet the hiring manager, shake hands, and thank the manager for meeting you. Show an enthusiastic, positive attitude and answer questions honestly.
References – Reliable references are always helpful. If you don’t already have yours, contact responsible people you know and ask if they will give you a written character reference. Present your references in a document folder, along with any education and training certificates you’ve obtained.
Fitness – Working at Dollar General involves being on your feet all day with lots of bending and lifting. If you’re out of shape, think about working on your fitness before you apply. If you’re already fit, be sure to mention that physical work is something you can easily handle.
Honesty – When you know your felony is going to show up on your background report, you should mention your past conviction at the end of the interview after you’ve already made a positive impression.
Wait for the manager to ask you if you have any questions, then bring up your conviction. Take responsibility for your mistakes, then briefly talk about the steps you’ve taken to rebuild your life and career.
Provide the manager with a concise written statement so they’ve got all the relevant information about the offense to attach to your file.
After you’ve explained your background, ask if there’s anything else they need to know
You can’t hide your conviction, so it’s best to be open about your situation. If you don’t mention your felony, the hiring manager will feel that you weren’t being completely honest when they see the felony on your background report.
Federal Bonding – Before your interview, find out if you’re eligible for the Federal Bonding Program. This is a free insurance program that covers employers for losses they may incur as a result of hiring a felon. If you’re eligible for bonding, let the hiring manager know.
Wrapping Up – Does Dollar General Hire Felons?
Dollar General is a second-chance employer open to hiring felons who pass the company background check.
An entry-level retail or warehouse job at Dollar General is a good employment opportunity for felons, and once you’ve got your foot in the door and proven your worth, you may have the chance to move into a position with more responsibility.
All employment offers are dependent on the results of your background check, and distribution center jobs also require a negative drug test.
Finally, think about improving your future employment prospects so you can move on to higher-paying jobs. Find out if you can get your record expunged. If that’s not possible with your felony in your state, contact a legal aid group or re-entry organization to see if you’re eligible to apply to the court for a Certificate of Rehabilitation.