Does Walmart Do Background Checks in 2024?
With over 1.5 million U.S. employees, Walmart has a thorough pre-employment screening process, including criminal background checks on all candidates. This comprehensive guide details what to expect from Walmart‘s background checks this year.
Why Walmart Requires Background Checks
Safety and security are top priorities for Walmart. Conducting background checks helps Walmart:
Verify identities – Background checks validate applicant info like legal name, SSN, past addresses, etc. This ensures candidates are who they claim to be.
Assess qualifications – Background checks verify education, certifications, and 7 years of work history to evaluate qualifications.
Identify potential risks – Screening for criminal history helps avoid hiring individuals who may jeopardize workplace or customer safety.
In 2022, Walmart processed over 1.3 million job applications across the U.S., according to Market Realist. Background checks help identify top candidates out of the high volume of applicants.
Walmart‘s Background Check Provider
Walmart partners with backgroundchecks.com to conduct pre-employment background screenings. Backgroundchecks.com serves over 35,000 employers globally with fast, secure background check services.
Information Included in the Background Check
Walmart‘s background check consists of:
Identity verification – Name, SSN, address cross-checks against government records
Criminal history – 7-10 year check for federal, state, and county criminal records
Sex offender registry – Multistate search of sex offender registries
Global watch lists – Check against FBI and OHS global terrorist watch lists
Education and employment verification – Confirmation of highest degree, certifications, and past 3-7 years of work history
Motor vehicle records – Check of driving history if operating company vehicles is required
Walmart does not consider credit history or credit scores when making hiring selections.
Required Personal Information
To run the background check, applicants must provide:
- Full legal name and any aliases used
- Current address and all addresses in past 7 years
- SSN
- Phone number and email address
- Driver‘s license number
- Past 7 years of employment history
- Highest level of completed education
Always give complete, accurate info on applications to prevent delays processing your background check.
Background Check Timeline
Walmart‘s background checks usually take 5-7 business days on average once all applicant info is submitted. Some checks take up to 3 weeks depending on response times from courts and agencies.
Here is the typical timeline:
| Day 1 | Applicant submits info online |
|---|---|
| Days 2-5 | Backgroundchecks.com verifies SSN, checks criminal and sex offender records, reviews watch lists and education/employment history |
| Day 6-7 | Hiring manager contacts applicant if any other info is needed |
| Day 8+ | Hiring manager contacts applicant with decision or requests additional info |
Checking Background Check Status
There is no self-service portal for applicants to view status. Contact the hiring manager after 7 days to inquire about an update.
Passing with a Criminal History
Having a criminal record does not automatically disqualify applicants from Walmart positions. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), 96% of employers conduct criminal background checks, but many still consider hiring individuals with criminal histories.
Always be transparent about past offenses on your application. Lying or omitting info is grounds for disqualification. Minor misdemeanors often don‘t appear on reports anyway.
Conclusion
Background checks help Walmart evaluate applicants‘ qualifications and potential risks. While the process is thorough, Walmart still provides opportunities to those with varied backgrounds. With over 4,700 U.S. stores, candidates with or without criminal histories may find promising openings with one of America‘s largest employers.
