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Spent conviction S.O supermarket jobs

JamesZ — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 03:02:44 GMT

Hey. So I was reading some old posts of people applying for supermarket jobs with a S.O. They said the last question from the interviewer was, "Any unspent convictions". Does having a spent conviction stand a good chance with these type of jobs? Warehouse/shelf stacking etc. Or any best practices?
Thanks

RE: Spent conviction S.O supermarket jobs

khafka — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 03:02:44 GMT

[quote]

[b]JamesZ - 30 Oct 25 9:07 AM[/b]

Thanks. Is it a lot easier when your conviction is spent?

[/quote]

I'd certainly image so! As AB2014 said, it won't show up on a basic DBS and in my experience over the years; a lot of retail at least at 'shelf-stacker' level don't even bother with DBS checks, I think it's due to the high turnover of staff in those roles that it'd just cost a fortune.

For what it's worth, I got that role before my conviction (images) was spent.

AB2014 had a good suggestion of getting a DBS yourself just to see what actually shows up. If you're on Universal Credit/Job Seekers etc. you might be able to get it paid for too under the discretionary/flexible support fund if you can make a case for it and depending what your work coach is like.

RE: Spent conviction S.O supermarket jobs

JamesZ — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:49:40 GMT

Thanks. Any info on successes getting a supermarket job with a S.O, spent conviction?

RE: Spent conviction S.O supermarket jobs

AB2014 — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:09:57 GMT

[quote]

[b]JamesZ - 30 Oct 25 9:07 AM[/b]

Thanks. Is it a lot easier when your conviction is spent?

[/quote]

It should be, because you don't have to disclose a spent conviction, because a basic DBS check won't show it. As a treat, you could always apply for one now, just for the pleasure of seeing it clear.

RE: Spent conviction S.O supermarket jobs

JamesZ — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 09:07:24 GMT

Thanks. Is it a lot easier when your conviction is spent?

RE: Spent conviction S.O supermarket jobs

khafka — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:29:58 GMT

Generally jobs like that are fine.

I took up a store management role in retail but left fairly quickly (nothing to do with my offence or anything just wasn't the job for me) and had no issues.
If it asks for unspent and your offence is spent then you should be fine.

Not to be a Debbie Downer but what I will say is to proceed with a wee bit of caution, at least with public-facing roles like in retail etc.

Even though you got the job, your sentence is spent and you're trying to move on there's always the chance you bump into someone you know who has nothing going on in their life so they kick up a wee stink to your manager/online: "I thought you should know that Tesco EMPLOY DA PEEEDOS!".

You know what folk are like with this stuff.