Does Pepsi Hire Felons?

Unemployment is one of the reasons why a large percentage of released felons keep returning to prison. That’s what makes an offender’s re-entry into society an uphill battle that seems insurmountable.

If employers do really intend to level the playing field, ditching any form of discrimination in the hiring process would be the first step to it.

About Pepsi

Headquartered in New York, Pepsi (PepsiCo) is a multinational manufacturer and distributor of grain snacks and beverages. Its major products are Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Lay and Cheetos.

Pepsi-Cola was founded in 1890 by Caleb Bradham, a pharmacist, until it became PepsiCo when it merged with Fritto-Lay in 1965. Fritto-Lay was created through the merger of two snack companies – Fritto and Lay.

PepsiCo acquired other well-known brands such as Quaker Oats. It is now the world’s second largest company in the food and beverage industry, employing around 274,000 employees worldwide.

Their employees enjoy fair salary and benefits including health, insurance, wellness and retirement programs. Additional rewards such as discounts, gifts and service awards are also provided.

From the viewpoint of former employees, the pay and benefits at Pepsi are great but with the volume of work, life and work balance is barely achievable.

Does Pepsi Hire Felons

Pepsi is listed as one of the companies that signed the Fair Chance Pledge, an executive program where organizations and communities commit themselves to give second chances to applicants with criminal records.

These companies pledged help by “banning the box”. This means that, at least, no questions will be asked about the applicant’s criminal history until he moves further through the process.

Moreover, in 2011, Pepsi was sued for racial discrimination by using the criminal background check policy to deny certain group of applicants. Now, the company learned its lesson – that former policy was obliterated.

The rule is that in implementing such policy, the company must still consider the nature of the offense and its relevance to the nature of the job in order to validly exclude a job candidate based on his criminal record.

Application Process At Pepsi

Through Twitter and LinkedIn, recruiters of PepsiCo always provide updates on the company’s latest job events and opportunities. You may also look for available jobs through the company website and apply online. The standard hiring process is to:

• Create a profile and submit your resume
• Complete the assessment
• Review of credentials may take up to a month
• May call you for initial interview by telephone, Web cam or traditional in-person depending on the role, location and timeliness of the availability of position
• Panel interview (Second interview usually occurs in campus or job events hiring)
• Job offer

Tips To Apply At Pepsi

In your resume, mention your experiences and latest achievements on the first part so they will be read first. Emphasize your strengths, your skills and their relevance to the job being applied for.

Do a little research about the PepsiCo Corporation and its brands divisions. As a consumer products company, the employer expects that you are at least knowledgeable about the goods it sells.

Answer casually if you’re asked about your criminal history. Never attempt to conceal nor deny the fact of your past conviction because dishonesty, in case you were hired and it was found out, is a valid ground for job rescission.