Does Postmates Run Background Checks?

The most direct answer is yes, Postmates runs background checks on all potential employees. Postmates has a strict hiring policy and is unlikely to employ felons at this time. If you have a felony it will be difficult for you to secure a job with Postmates. Continue reading below to learn more about the company and to find out how you can improve your chances of employment.

In this article, we will share information about these topics:

• What is Postmates?
• What will Postmates see on my background check? What do I do if I have a felony or misdemeanor?
• How can I successfully land a job with Postmates?

About Postmates

Postmates is a food delivery service. People order food on the Postmates app and employees deliver the food.

Postmates is part of what many people call the “gig economy.” This is a term used to describe work that is not paid by hourly wage, but instead by the completion of a task. Many “gig economy” jobs are connected to apps or websites. For example, a job as an Uber driver would also be considered a “gig job.”

To work for Postmates you must be at least 18 years old and have a smartphone with cellular data. This will allow you to take orders and navigate to delivery spots. Many people who work for postmates use a car. However, you can be a delivery person (a “courier”) without a car, too. You can deliver by foot, on a bike, or even using a motorcycle.

To begin using Postmates you have to download the app to your phone. Once you have made an account using the app, you will be asked to choose your preferred mode of transportation (Driving? Biking? Walking?). Next, upload a selfie and an official form of identification, like a driver’s license or passport. After your identity is verified, Postmates will send you an official delivery bag and a prepaid card that you use to pay for all orders.

Being a courier for Postmates is a fast-paced job. Working for the company, you might be asked to:

• Monitor the Postmates app for new orders
• Interact with restaurant staff when picking up food
• Travel safely and efficiently in order to deliver food quickly
• Navigate independently to customers’s locations

Another challenge of working for Postmates is that it is largely self-directed work. No one is standing over you telling you what to do. You decide when to work and how often you want to work! For some people this sounds like a dream. For others it could be a challenge!

Because Postmates is a gig job with no official hours, some people use it to supplement their income. They may work another job and deliver for Postmates in their free time.

Postmates Background Check

The application process at Postmates begins when you register with the app. After you have verified your identity and have received your Postmates bag and prepaid card in the mail, the company will perform a background check. The background check will be initiated after you activate your prepaid card. Postmates has to get your consent before they run a background check. They will ask for your consent over the app, and will also ask for your date of birth, Social Security Number, and your drivers license information. Once you have provided this information, you need to wait for your background check to be cleared before you can start delivering food.

The Postmates background check will include information about any pending charges, felonies, incarcerations, or misdemeanors on your record. They do not require a drug test, but they will check your driving record. Here is Postmates’s statement about hiring practices:

“In addition to our internal review procedures, every Postmate is screened before they’re permitted to deliver on our platform, through professional third-party criminal and DMV background checks. The criminal background check includes national and county-level databases and records. Among other things, Postmates denies access to our platform for violent crimes, felonies, sexual offenses, or drug-related convictions that appear on a background check.”

Because the hiring requirements for Postmates are quite strict, it’s a good idea to make sure your record is as clean as possible before signing up with the company. You can see your criminal record before Postmates does by using an official criminal background check website. Here is a list of these websites, organized by state.

The cost of a background check is different depending on your state. It is usually not more than $20. Although the cost might be off-putting, it is a good investment to make before you start applying for jobs. It is valuable for you to know exactly how your record appears to employers.

Use the above websites to check for any incorrect information before you apply for a position with Postmates. Make sure that all of your information is up-to-date. If you find any problems on your record, take the steps to fix it. The process for fixing mistakes on your criminal record varies by state. You could be asked to submit a form online, have your fingerprints taken, or even file a motion for a judge to make the correction. This depends on your where you live and what kind of correction you need to make. A simple google search will tell you more about how to correct your criminal record in your specific state.

You might also be able to get an arrest or conviction expunged from your record. If you get an expungement, the conviction will “disappear.” It will not show up on a background check. You do not have to tell your employer about it. For an employer like Postmates, this is the ideal scenario. States that currently support expungement are:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Missouri
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington

If you live in one of these states, this website has more information about the process. If you do not live in one of these states, expungement is unfortunately not an option for you at this time.

If you make changes to your record, know what the changes are. Get official documents that prove that the changes are legitimate. If Postmates denies your application, you can get in touch with customer service and send proof of the changes that were made to your record.

Also know that there are different kinds of background checks. Some are more extensive than others. Eleven states have passed laws that only allow background checks to go back seven years. In some of these states, this time limit depends on the amount of money you will make at a job. For a job at Postmates, the following states only allow the past seven years to show up on a background check:

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

How can I successfully land a job with Postmates?

One problem with Postmates is the amount of information that the app shares with couriers. For example, a Postmates user might order dinner to their home using the app. Many users would be unhappy if Postmates sent someone with a criminal background to their home. For this reason, the company is unlikely to hire felons. It would be especially hard for someone who has committed a violent crime, a drug-related offense, or a sexual offense to get a job with Postmates.

You might still have a chance of being hired by Postmates if you fall into one of the following categories:

• You only have a misdemeanor
• You have a felony that is over 5-10 years old
• You have a non-violent, non-drug-related felony

Unlike many other jobs, Postmates does not require an interview or a resume. This means that you cannot vouch for yourself or demonstrate your professionalism to an interviewer. However, it also means that you have to put less time and effort into the application process. Because the application is so easy, there is no harm in applying for the job (even if you don’t think you will get it). Try your luck – the worst that can happen is a rejection.

Do not lie about your identity or impersonate someone else in order to gain employment with Postmates. The long-term consequences of this kind of dishonesty is not worth the job. If you are unable to get a job with Postmates, explore other options in your area. The H.I.R.E. Network has valuable resources for job-seeking felons in every state.