The first step in helping your clients successfully gain employment with The Home Depot is to understand the selection process. The better you understand the process, the better you'll be able to support and guide your clients.

Pre-Employment Application Line - 877-223-6468

Individuals interested in applying for a position with The Home Depot will begin the process by calling The National Hiring Partnership Application Line from the One-Stop and answering a few basic questions about their job interests, availability, basic skills and work preferences. This process takes approximately 10 minutes. This phone assessment will end by informing the applicant to either 1) go to their local store and apply at the kiosk, or 2) thank them for applying and ask them to reapply in 60 days.

WHAT TO TELL CLIENTS WHO DON'T SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THIS STEP: "Other candidates' qualifications better matched what Home Depot is looking for right now. You can re-apply in 60 days."

The Kiosk in the Store: Employment Application and Questionnaire

The "kiosk" is the in-store computer that manages the selection process; they are typically located near the front of the store or near the Returns desk. The kiosk will prompt the applicant to fill out an application with the appropriate background information. The applicant is asked to choose a position of interest, and is then prompted to complete a questionnaire. This questionnaire will review basic math skills, customer service skills, and background and job-related questions that focus on the applicant's area of interest.

Applicants should be aware that the questionnaire takes between 45 to 60 minutes to complete and they should be ready to complete it entirely. If the applicant cannot complete the questionnaire at that time, he/she must indicate so before beginning. Once he/she has begun, the applicant cannot stop the questionnaire, as it will lock the applicant out of the system entirely for 60 days.

After the applicant has completed the questionnaire, the kiosk will either 1) congratulate them on successful completion of the process so far and let them know that they are entered into the "Qualified Pool" of candidates to be considered for interviews; or 2) thank them for completing the process and ask them to reapply in 60 days.

WHAT TO TELL CLIENTS WHO DON'T SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THIS STEP: "Other candidates' qualifications better matched what Home Depot is looking for right now. You can re-apply in 60 days."

The Qualified Pool

The Qualified Pool (QP) is the group of approved candidates that the HRMs review when looking to fill open positions. Applicants in the QP have successfully completed the kiosk questionnaire, are matched to positions and are ready for interviews. This group of candidates is typically shared with area stores to widen the pool of available candidates for positions waiting to be filled. When a position opens, the HRM reviews the qualifications and background of candidates and chooses some to interview. The HRM schedules interview times with the individual directly. It is important to note that an applicant could be in the Qualified Pool but never be selected for an interview.

VERY IMPORTANT! If your client is not contacted for an interview, please do NOTcontact the HRM . The HRM does not know who in the Qualified Pool is a One-Stop referral so they will not be able to give you specific information as to why he/she wasn't chosen for an interview.

Structured Interview

The interview is called a Structured Interview because the questions are generated from the computer. All candidates for an open position are asked the same core questions. Additional questions are based on their responses to the kiosk questionnaire. Once the initial interview is complete, the HRM will check references and recommend the applicant for a final interview.

WHAT TO TELL CLIENTS WHO DON'T SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THIS STEP: "Other candidates' qualifications better matched what Home Depot is looking for right now. You can re-apply in 60 days."

The final interview is conducted with the Store Manager (SM). In this interview, the SM will further introduce the candidate to the store and review the candidate's interests and experience. The SM will also ask for the candidate's consent to complete a background check and drug test. The SM will inform the candidate of the final hire decision. Conditional Offer of Employment

Once the final interview is complete and if the Store Manager decides that the person is an appropriate candidate for the job, the HRM will call the applicant and make a "conditional offer of employment". This means that the candidate is offered the position pending the acceptable outcome of a criminal background check and drug test. At this point, the candidate must submit the appropriate information for the criminal background check and must take the drug test.

Drug Test and Background Check

The drug test is completed by an off-site, third party organization and takes 24 hours to process. If the candidate does not pass the drug test, they are prohibited from applying to The Home Depot for one year.

A national third party company with access to national files completes the criminal background check. Candidates may wish to challenge the company's findings. Applicants who have committed violent crimes, sex crimes, drug crimes or theft are typically not eligible to work at Home Depot. The criminal background check turn-around time is 72 hours, though it is normally completed within 48 hours.

For some positions - such as Cashier/Returns Desk Associates and driving positions - credit checks or motor vehicle checks are required in addition to the criminal background check.

Process Time

The entire selection process may take up to two weeks. This may vary due to delayed test results, availability of interview times, and other variables.