My Walmart Background Check Experience During Hiring – What Really Happened

Disclosure: Some links, like Spokeo, are tools I’ve personally used and found helpful. If you use them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are based on genuine experience.

Walmart, the retail giant with over 10,500 stores worldwide and more than 2.1 million employees, is a top employer for job seekers in various fields, from retail to corporate roles. If you’re considering a job at Walmart, like I did, you might be wondering about their hiring process, particularly the background check. Does Walmart do background checks? How thorough are they, and how far back do they go? How long does the process take, and what happens if you have a past incident, like I did? In this article, I’ll share my personal experience as Sophia Davis, a job applicant from Chicago, Illinois, and provide a comprehensive guide to Walmart’s background check process to help you approach your application with confidence.

My Journey to Applying at Walmart

My name is Sophia Davis, and I’m a recent graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where I studied Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. Growing up in Chicago, I’ve always admired Walmart’s commitment to community and its opportunities for career growth. With a passion for retail and customer service, I saw Walmart as the perfect place to start my career, offering stability and a chance to grow within a global company. However, I had a concern: a closed case from my university days that made me nervous about passing a background check.

During my sophomore year, I was involved in an incident where someone attacked me on campus, and in self-defense, I fought back. The other party filed a complaint, but the case was thoroughly investigated and closed, with no charges pressed against me. Still, the fear lingered—would this show up on a background check? Could it jeopardize my chances of landing a job at Walmart? To ease my worries, I decided to take matters into my own hands before applying.

Does Walmart Do Background Checks?

Yes, Walmart does conduct background checks on all job applicants who receive a conditional job offer. This is a standard part of their hiring process to ensure a safe and trustworthy workforce. According to multiple sources, Walmart partners with a third-party background check company, typically BackgroundChecks.com, to screen candidates. The background check is initiated only after you’ve been offered a job, meaning it’s one of the final steps before you’re officially hired.

In my case, after a successful interview at the Walmart store in Chicago’s Loop area, I received a conditional job offer for a Sales Associate position. The hiring manager informed me that I’d need to submit my details for a background check via an email from BackgroundChecks.com. Knowing this in advance helped me prepare, but I still wondered what exactly they would look for.

What Does Walmart’s Background Check Include?

Walmart’s background check is thorough and covers several key areas to verify your suitability for employment. Here’s what they typically look into:

Criminal History: Walmart checks county, state, and federal databases for arrests, charges, pending cases, misdemeanor and felony convictions, incarceration records, probation, and parole. They focus on offenses like theft, fraud, violent crimes, or drug-related issues, as these could impact workplace safety.

Employment History: They verify your past job titles, employment dates, and reasons for leaving to ensure your application is truthful.

Education Verification: If you list degrees or certifications, Walmart confirms these with the respective institutions.

Driving Records: For roles involving driving, such as delivery positions, they check for traffic violations, DUIs, or accidents.

Credit History: For financial or managerial roles, a credit check may be conducted, though this is less common for entry-level positions.

Drug Testing: Certain safety-sensitive roles, like those in the pharmacy or auto center, may require a pre-employment drug test for substances like marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines.

The thoroughness of the check depends on the role and your location. For instance, my Sales Associate position didn’t require a credit check or drug test, but the criminal and employment history checks were mandatory.

How Far Back Does Walmart’s Background Check Go?

One of the most common questions job seekers ask is, “How far back does Walmart’s background check go?” The answer depends on federal and state laws, particularly the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which regulates consumer reports like background checks.

Criminal Records: For most information, Walmart’s background check goes back seven years, covering arrests, misdemeanors, and other records. However, felony convictions can be reported indefinitely unless state laws impose restrictions.

State-Specific Limits: In states like California, Colorado, and Illinois (where I applied), laws limit reporting of all offenses, including felonies, to seven years. This was a relief for me, as my university incident occurred over three years ago and was closed with no convictions.

Since my case was closed and didn’t result in a conviction, I hoped it wouldn’t appear. But to be certain, I took a proactive step before my interview.

Walmart conducts background checks on all hires through third-party services. Checks typically take 2-5 business days and review 7 years of criminal history, employment verification, and education records. This personal account details exactly what appeared on my report, how Walmart handled a closed case from my past, and what applicants should prepare. Includes tips for addressing potential red flags before applying.

My Experience with a Self-Background Check Using Spokeo

To calm my nerves, I decided to run a self-background check using Spokeo, a popular background check website that offers affordable searches for as low as 95 cents for a trial. Spokeo provides tools like reverse phone lookup, which I used by entering my phone number to see what data was publicly available about me. To my surprise, the results showed my address history, social media profiles, and some basic personal information, but no criminal records or mention of my university incident. This gave me confidence that the case was not registered or publicly accessible, likely because it was closed and resolved quickly.

Running a self-background check was a game-changer. It’s a simple step anyone can take before applying to Walmart or any employer. For less than a dollar, services like Spokeo can help you understand what might show up on a background check, allowing you to address potential issues or confirm that your record is clean.

How Long Does a Walmart Background Check Take?

The duration of Walmart’s background check varies based on several factors, such as the complexity of your history and the responsiveness of agencies like courts or past employers. On average, the process takes:

2-5 Business Days: Most applicants, like me, receive results within this timeframe. My background check was completed in three days, and I got an email from Walmart confirming I’d passed.

Up to 2-3 Weeks: If you’ve lived in multiple states, have a common name, or if there are delays in accessing records, it could take longer.

Factors that can extend the timeline include:

Complex Histories: Multiple addresses or name changes require more verification.

Agency Delays: Courts or employers may be slow to respond.

Hiring Surges: High application volumes can create backlogs.

To avoid delays, double-check that all information you provide (name, addresses, Social Security Number) is accurate. I made sure my application matched my official records, which likely helped speed up the process.

How Thorough Are Walmart’s Background Checks?

Walmart’s background checks are comprehensive but not overly invasive. They focus on ensuring safety and verifying your qualifications without digging into irrelevant details. For example, they don’t typically check social media unless it’s publicly accessible and relevant to the job. The process is designed to balance thoroughness with fairness, adhering to FCRA guidelines and state laws.

If discrepancies or red flags appear, Walmart follows a strict process:

Pre-Adverse Action Notice: If your background check raises concerns, Walmart sends you a copy of the report and a summary of your FCRA rights, giving you a chance to dispute errors.

Adverse Action Notice: If they decide not to hire you, they’ll notify you and provide another opportunity to contest the report.

In my case, the background check was clear, as expected after my Spokeo search. The closed case from my university days didn’t appear, and I was thrilled to receive a formal job offer shortly after.

Can You Work at Walmart with a Criminal Record?

If you’re worried about a past incident, like I was, know that Walmart evaluates applications on a case-by-case basis. They support the “Ban the Box” initiative, meaning they don’t ask about criminal history on the initial application. This gives you a chance to showcase your qualifications during the interview.

For misdemeanors or felonies:

Misdemeanors: If they’re older than seven years, they typically won’t show up due to FCRA and state laws. Recent minor offenses, like traffic violations, may not disqualify you unless relevant to the job (e.g., driving roles).

Felonies: Walmart may hire felons, depending on the offense’s nature, recency, and relevance. Serious crimes like theft, violence, or fraud are red flags, but a clean record since the incident and evidence of rehabilitation (e.g., community service) can improve your chances.

My closed case didn’t impact my application, likely because it was resolved without charges and fell within the seven-year limit. Honesty is key—if asked about past incidents, explain the context and emphasize your growth.

Why I Wanted to Join Walmart

Beyond the practical need for a job, I was drawn to Walmart for its opportunities for advancement. I read that 75% of Walmart’s salaried managers started as hourly associates, which inspired me to see this as a stepping stone to a long-term career. As a Business Administration graduate, I’m excited to apply my marketing skills to enhance customer experiences and contribute to Walmart’s success in Chicago’s vibrant retail scene.

Conclusion

Walmart does conduct background checks after offering a conditional job offer, and the process is thorough but fair, typically taking 2-5 days and going back seven years for most records. As Sophia Davis from Chicago, I was nervous about a closed university incident, but a self-background check on Spokeo gave me peace of mind, and my Walmart background check came back clear. This allowed me to confidently accept a Sales Associate position and start my career with Walmart.

If you’re applying to Walmart, don’t let background check fears hold you back. Take a proactive step by checking your own record, be honest in your application, and prepare to shine in your interview. With the right approach, you can join the Walmart team and start building your future, just like I did.

Disclaimer: This article is based on my personal experience and publicly available information as of August 15, 2025. Always verify details with Walmart’s official hiring policies and consult legal professionals for specific concerns.