Does Aldi Background Check?

Michelle Wilson - December 17, 2022

Aldi has proven itself a strong contender for candidates seeking a new career path. Aldi is a low-cost grocery store that began in Germany in 1913. Over a century later, the company includes over 10,000 stores in 18 countries worldwide. Looking closer at the United States specifically, the Aldi chain began in 1961, later becoming the foundation for 1,600 stores and 24,000 employees across the country.

It comes as no surprise many growth opportunities are on the horizon for the Aldi change. The company’s website shares many available jobs for anyone, including felons. Although some are scared by the prospect of a pre-employment background check, the following blog considers the specifics around the assessment and if it is something to fear.

Commonly Available Roles at Aldi

Aldi requires many positions to keep it running. With diversity in the positions offered, felons often gravitate to one of three positions, including:

Store associate: A store associate is primarily responsible for stocking, inventory, or cashiering in their grocery store location. However, they also hold diverse roles that may include cleaning the store. The only prior education that the company requires is a high school diploma (or equivalent) and an interest in working for the company. Many positions as store associates are full-time.

Warehouse associate: Do you have at least one year of warehouse experience? Do you have a high school diploma or its equivalent? If so, you will likely qualify for the warehouse associate role, which is typically available as a part-time position. Warehouse workers must be able to lift at least 45 pounds multiple times per day. If you are physically fit enough for the job, it is a fantastic opportunity to earn full-time pay while working part-time hours.

Commercial driver: Their primary responsibilities include transporting groceries to different Aldi locations and performing vehicle maintenance checks.

The Aldi Hiring Process

Typically, the grocery store chain hires in three stages, including interviews with district managers and department directors. Therefore, from end-to-end, Aldi’s hiring process can take up to four weeks, starting with a brief phone interview lasting a few minutes. Aldi invites successful candidates to participate in an in-person interview, which they can expect to last between 45 minutes to an hour or more. Interviews will be a recruitment call or a face-to-face engagement with the hiring manager. These interviews may also occur within a group setting or one-on-one.

In a lengthy session designed to assess abilities to interact with others in a public setting, an applicant may interview up to 10 to 15 other applicants. Depending on previous work experience, those seeking an entry-level position may only be required to attend a single job interview. Some employers may seek entry-level candidates with prior experience in the grocery or retail industries.

Throughout the interview, successful candidates have done well in sharing their criminal history, answering all questions truthfully, and concentrating on the positive. However, for those with previous convictions, the key is to answer all questions about criminal history on the application truthfully.

Aldi Reference Check

If you’re considering working for Aldi, you might be curious about what happens when your application is in, and more specifically, if Aldi contacts previous employers.

The answer is that reference checks depend on the person. Aldi does contact some previous employers during the hiring process, but only sometimes. Therefore, you shouldn’t expect a call from Aldi from your previous employer, but it’s not out of the question. If Aldi finds it necessary to call references and everything checks out, an applicant must undergo a background check.

The Aldi Background Check

A background check is a procedure employers use to validate information about job candidates. Employers commonly use them to ensure that their employees are safe and trustworthy. Some employers, however, may use background checks to discriminate against specific groups of people. An employer, for example, may refuse to hire someone with a criminal record, even if the crime is unrelated to the job. Not hiring someone who identifies as a felon is known as “ban the box,” a reality that may make it more difficult for those with criminal records to find work.

Sources suggest that Aldi does a background check on anyone Aldi offers a job. The background check will look at criminal records, employment history, and credit reports, all make up a background check, with the intent to identify those with felony convictions in the previous seven years. The company also considers the severity of the offense and the amount of time since the conviction.

Aldi did not directly confirm whether they have hired felons in the past, but there is evidence online that people with felonies have gotten jobs at Aldi. According to several online reports, the company also appears to hire people with misdemeanors. Chances are, applicants with older demeanor are more likely to be hired if the conviction is older. Therefore, candidates can conclude that the grocery store conducts these tests to protect itself, its employees, and its customers.

Criminal History That May Make An Application More Difficult

Some Aldi positions necessitate dealing with money and financial data. Those with a history of fraud or money-related felonies may have difficulty finding work in these positions. Because Aldi employees must interact with customers in a stressful environment, those with violent felonies such as assault present another example of a conviction that may make it difficult to obtain employment.

Finally, those convicted of sex crimes may have difficulty finding work because they may be working with children. If this is the case, candidates may find alternate options by looking into warehouse jobs.

Drug Test

Aldi has a strict anti-drug policy. Before they can begin work, all employees must pass a drug test. According to online sources, Aldi conducts drug tests on employees off-site. If Aldi decides to hire you and you become injured on the job, they will also drug test you. Additionally, all applicants and employees should be able to pass a drug test at any time. Aldi will fire all employees who test positive for drugs immediately.

While Aldi’s drug testing policy may appear strict, drug testing is quite common among employers. Many employers require their employees to take a drug test before starting their first day.

Making Hiring Easier for Felons

Fortunately, Aldi also shares the announcement of a new hiring policy, which may bode well for people with felony convictions looking for work. According to the company, it will soon “ban the box” on job applications, so applicants will no longer be required to disclose their criminal history upfront.

The “ban the box” announcement is a significant departure from Aldi’s previous policy, which barred anyone with a felony conviction from being hired. Applicants will be judged on their qualifications first and foremost under the new policy, with no requirement to disclose their criminal history until later in the process.