Target Background Checks and What Applicants Can Expect

No. You must complete the background screening to finalize a conditional job offer you receive from Target. The company requires your signed consent to order your background check report. If you decline to give permission, you terminate the employment opportunity and the hiring process. Target does not make exceptions to its vetting policies.

All job applicants must go through the screening process. Some roles in Target may require additional screening. For example, the company may employ its own truck drivers to haul freight from distribution centers to individual Target stores. Drivers are subject to regulations by the Department of Transportation. They must complete an approved drug test and review their motor vehicle record. Other roles in Target may also require a drug test, but it is not a provision for all jobs.

Some examples of jobs within Target where applicants will face background screening include:

• Department sales consultants, e.g. electronics or jewelry
• Cashiers
• Floor staff
• Customer service
• Stock crew
• Warehouse worker
• Corporate positions

Target may take several steps to understand someone’s background to develop a clear picture of an applicant’s suitability. First and foremost, of course, are criminal history searches. These reports contain information about misdemeanors and felonies in an applicant’s past. Target wants to identify problematic behavior patterns or serious crimes committed recently. The company also seeks to find any records of crimes that might relate to the job. For example, someone convicted of embezzlement might not be a good fit for handling the store’s daily cash deposits.

Drug screening and work history verifications may also take place. It is less likely that Target will take steps to do things such as check your educational history. However, the exact checks Target requires may vary slightly depending on the position. When in doubt, you can ask the hiring manager during the interview what specific elements of your background the company may inspect.

In some states, reporting agencies will only share conviction information that is not older than seven years. In other states, that number is ten years. In still other locales, agencies will report criminal convictions indefinitely regardless of how much time has elapsed. However, time is one of the factors used to evaluate the relevance and importance of a criminal conviction on a background check. Since it is difficult to know precisely how much information Target may receive, applicants should know what their report says beforehand.

Yes, Target may choose to hire people who have felony convictions. The company’s ban the box policy helps facilitate such decisions. Applicants can demonstrate their suitability before sharing any information about their criminal history. Target may still exclude felons with very recent convictions, a history of multiple convictions, or serious and violent crimes. However, other changes in recent years have further leveled the playing field for Target applicants.

In 2018, Target agreed to make further changes to its screening policy. The changes came on the heels of accusations of discrimination against Black and Hispanic applicants with a criminal record. Target faced numerous Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaints. These complaints alleged that the company’s policies automatically disqualified candidates with convictions. Specifically, the company would not hire anyone convicted of violence, drugs, theft, or fraud in the past seven years.

The EEOC complaints alleged that this practice had a distinct impact on minority candidates. Target did not admit wrongdoing but settled with the EEOC by agreeing to change its background check policies. Target said it would count on “outside experts” to help the company review its background check policies.

The turnaround time on background checks can vary between stores. Many factors can delay background checks. A clean check may come back within a couple of business days. In other situations, it may take Target several business days or more than a week to finish processing your background check. Individuals with criminal histories may need to wait longer for an evaluation. If you have questions about the status of your check, you can contact the hiring manager for more information. Because Target relies on a third-party company to conduct its screening, times may not always be consistent.