Aldi Background Check

Aldi is one of the fastest-growing supermarket chains in the nation. Pay and benefits are fair, and the work isn’t too challenging. If you want to work at your local store, the entry requirements are fairly basic but you will need to pass the Aldi background check.

Background checks always make people nervous. If you’ve got a criminal background, you’ll always face an uncomfortable wait after you apply for a new job.

And if you’re just starting out, and this is the first time you’ve applied for a job, you’ve probably got all kinds of questions about the type of information a background check will reveal about you.

In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of what you can expect from the Aldi background check.

What Does The Aldi Background Check Look For?

The Aldi background check will confirm your identity, your age, and your right to work in the country.

You need a high school diploma or a GED as a minimum level of education to work at Aldi, so the check will confirm that information. Any college degree will be checked too if it’s a requirement for the position.

If you apply to the Aldi warehouse, your forklift operator’s credentials will be checked (if applicable) and if your job will involve driving, they’ll run a Motor Vehicle report to look for things like speeding or moving violations.

Aldi will look through the county, state, and federal databases for any criminal record you have.

They’ll also check the previous employers that you listed to confirm the positions you held and the dates you worked there.

When Does Aldi Carry Out A Background Check?

The Aldi hiring process consists of a series of interviews which you’ll need to pass before they move on to the background check.

Your first interview will usually be a brief interview or phone call with the District Manager, and if you pass that, you’ll be invited along to an interview with the store manager.

Alternatively, your first interview could be a group interview. A manager will take a group around the store, talk about how things work at Aldi, and ask you all some questions. Then you’ll take a short one-on-one interview.

If they decide to hire you, you’ll receive an email with instructions for initiating your background check.

Unfortunately, Aldi sometimes isn’t very good about following up with candidates. Keep an eye on the jobs portal which you used to make your application to see if a job offer comes through.

If the store you applied to is run properly though, you should receive an email or a phone call to let you know you got the job and what you need to do next.

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How Far Back Does the Aldi Background Check Go?

Aldi will look at least 7 years into your history. Some states don’t allow employers to look beyond that period, so if you live in one of the following states your background check will go back 7 years:

• California
• Colorado
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• Texas
• Washington

Some of these states don’t allow reporting on convictions older than 7 years, while others will allow prison release, probation, or parole dates to be included if they fall within that period.

If your state isn’t on the list, then Aldi can go back as far as they want to. Applicants who were turned down have shared that offenses from as far back as 18 years ago were included in their report.

If your background check disqualifies you, you’ll receive a notice giving you the opportunity to receive a free copy of your background report, so that you can see the information held and review it for any discrepancies.

You should always ask for a copy of the report and check it carefully for mistakes.

What Offenses Disqualify You From Working For Aldi?

Aldi will look at the information on your background check and consider any offenses on a case-by-case basis.

They’re not going to look kindly on offenses involving theft or violence, or on any sexual offences.

If you have any other type of offense, they’re going to look at your skills, experience, and employment record since the offense occurred, and then come to a decision.

But if you’re applying at a time when they have a lot of qualified applicants, then they have no reason to take a risk on you because any of those other candidates can do the job just as well as you.

Does Aldi Do Drug Tests?

Aldi’s official policy is to carry out drug tests before an applicant is hired. However, given the difficult hiring conditions that have been present since 2020, employees report that pre-employment drug tests are not the norm in 2022.

That could change at any time though, so it’s a good idea to assume that you’ll need to take a drug test. Aldi job listings all carry a notice stating that you may be required to take a drug test as part of the hiring process.

Aldi doesn’t carry out random drug testing on employees, but they will test you if they have any reason to believe you are under the influence of drugs at work. They’ll also make you take a drug test if you’re involved in an accident.

When Aldi carries out drug tests, they use a 5-panel drug test that screens a urine sample for the most commonly abused illegal drugs.

• Opiates
• Cocaine
• Marijuana
• Amphetamines and methamphetamine
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

How To Stand Out At An Aldi Hiring Event

If you’ve seen a notice about an Aldi hiring event and you’re thinking about attending, there are some things you need to know.

When you apply to Aldi in a regular way through their jobs portal, they do not know anything about you except for the information you give them.

If that information looks good, you’ll get the chance to impress the managers at your interview. And because you’re attending an interview, you’ll have spruced yourself up, put on a nice outfit, and practiced your interview responses.

Hiring events seem like they’re more informal, and you might think it’s an easy way to get started on the hiring process.

Well, sometimes that’s true. But hiring events with lots of applicants are a super easy way for employers to screen people out of the process.

• Turn up late in the day, you’re probably lazy.
• Show up wearing jeans, you didn’t make an effort.
• No resume, you didn’t bother to prepare.
• A bit on the chubby side, you’ll be too slow.
• Vibrant hair color and piercings, you could make a fuss.

They’ve already formed an opinion about you before they look at your information. And that first impression counts for a lot. But if they look at your application and resume first, that’s the basis for their first opinion.

Before you go to an Aldi hiring event, look on the jobs portal or on a job search site to make sure they’re actually hiring. If you don’t see any job openings for your location, you could be wasting your time, because the hiring event could simply be a box-ticking exercise so management can meet their interview quota.

Here’s how you should approach an Aldi hiring event.

Plan to be there early. Be the first in line if possible. Go an hour before the stated start time.

Dress well. Wear a smart pair of pants, a shirt or blouse, and workwear shoes. You might have to do a stock lifting and stacking test, so you need the right shoes for that task.

Take a copy of your resume, a cover letter tailored to point out your suitability for the job, and a nice headshot. If you’ve got some written references, take copies of those as well.

Make sure your hair color is a natural shade and remove facial piercings.

Have some knowledge about the company, check out common interview questions at Aldi, and watch some working at Aldi videos on YouTube.

At the event smile, shake hands, maintain appropriate eye contact, be enthusiastic, and when you leave, thank the manager(s) for their time.

If you do well at the hiring event, you’ll get a call for a second interview, and your background check will take place after that.

Must Read: Does Aldi Hire Convicted Felons?

Summary

Aldi carries out background checks on all applicants. The background checks take place after you’ve successfully completed a series of interviews.

Aldi will check all the information that you’ve given them on your application and they’ll run a criminal record check.

Having a criminal record isn’t automatic grounds for disqualification, but recent offenses will count against you. With more serious offenses, Aldi is unlikely to offer you a job. Offenses involving theft or violence are generally disqualifying.

You may be asked to take a pre-employment drug test, and all Aldi job ads make that clear, so make sure you’re clean before you apply.

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