Amazon is the second-largest employer in the U.S. This e-commerce giant has job opportunities at every level. If you’re interested in working at Amazon, you may be wondering about Amazon’s background check policy.
What Is Amazon’s Background Check Policy?
Amazon conducts background checks, including criminal convictions, misdemeanors, and felonies, for up to 7 years. These background checks occur after the in-person interview and before hiring is confirmed to ensure that new employees are trustworthy. Additionally, Amazon may hire people with convictions, but they treat each prospective employee on a case-by-case basis.
What Is The Amazon Application And Interview Process?
As an employer of one million Americans, Amazon takes its hiring policies seriously. Before Amazon runs background checks, the hiring process starts with an online application, followed by an interview. The online application is available at www.amazon.jobs/, and questions depend on which type of job you are applying for.
This is a similar process to any other online job submission, as you can explore different positions and provide any required information about yourself after you make an account and start an application.
Once you submit the initial application, expect to hear from Amazon regarding an interview. Check the email you signed up for your account with, as Amazon will contact you regarding the next steps.
Many senior roles at Amazon require completing a short assessment, which should take 20-30 minutes. This is a way for Amazon to check if your skills and competencies suit the role.
After a successful assessment or if you are applying for a manual role such as a warehouse fulfillment worker or delivery driver, your application will proceed to the interview stage. Sometimes Amazon does phone interviews, while others are conducted in person only.
If you pass Amazon’s interview questions and seem like a good fit, Amazon will make a conditional job offer. The conditions are that you must pass all of the company’s employee background checks.
What Are Amazon Background Checks?
Amazon requires a full criminal background check (fingerprints are not required during hiring), which goes back seven years, so the company can consider any convictions, including misdemeanors and felonies, during that time.
Additionally, Amazon may hire people with convictions, but they treat each prospective employee on a case-by-case basis.
While it depends on each situation, generally, Amazon is less likely to hire someone with a record of fraud or stealing from a former workplace.
Instead, applicants with low-level drug offenses or other crimes that shouldn’t directly impact the job role and responsibilities are more likely to be considered.
Amazon uses a professional service for conventional background checks to search through all public records, revealing any arrests, felonies, misdemeanors, or charges.
Once the background check is complete, Amazon provides a hiring decision in several business days.
If candidates are disqualified due to their background checks, Amazon notifies them under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) guidelines.
The FCRA states no employer is legally allowed to consider any criminal conviction from over seven years ago. So, if you have a conviction over seven years, Amazon cannot use it when deciding whether to hire you.
However, some states have additional regulations that minimize this time even more. When looking at your criminal history, you can check your state law to understand how far back Amazon can go.
Does Amazon Do Reference Checks?
Reference checks are another aspect of Amazon’s hiring process, although they are generally pretty brief due to the numerous applications Amazon receives.
Simply put, hiring managers want to know your references check out, and they usually only pay attention to high-level details like position title, pay, and overall performance.
Of course, it’s important for companies to know who they are hiring. Reference checks give Amazon the chance to verify the information on your resume.
In most cases, Amazon will look at your last boss or check in with a few, depending on your employment history and the job you applied for.
Although they may seem daunting initially, you shouldn’t worry too much about reference checks, especially if you left a good lasting impression in your most recent work.
If your resume is honest and transparent, you will likely pass the reference check without major issues.
However, many hourly roles at Amazon do not require a resume; in that case, Amazon focuses on interviews, background checks, and drug tests.
Does Amazon Require Drug Tests?
Amazon requires drug tests of incoming employees. You must agree to a mouth swab, typically after the in-person interview.
Each swab is lab-tested in search of common recreational drugs that are illegal in your state.
While some applicants may use a home drug testing kit to ensure they are clear, Amazon requires annual medical assessments, including a drug test.
Also, Amazon reserves the right to spot drug test staff so that regular recreational drug activity will be a problem.
To learn more about Amazon’s policies, you can also check our related posts on Amazon’s transfer policy, Amazon VTO policy, and Amazon’s mandatory overtime policy.
