Old Navy: Company Profile & Background Check FAQs

Want to see what's on your own background check? Use Checkr to preview your own background check results.

Checkr is trusted by 140k+ businesses and 80 million individuals

Frequently asked questions

Old Navy: Company Profile & Background Check FAQs

Old Navy is one of the largest value-priced apparel retailers in the United States, employing tens of thousands of retail associates across hundreds of locations nationwide. If you are preparing to apply for a position at Old Navy, understanding the Old Navy background check process can help you know what to expect before and after receiving a job offer. This guide covers the company's background and answers the most common questions about Old Navy's screening and hiring practices.

Run a personal background check

Order online

Are you an organization? Run candidate background checks here >

Old Navy: Company overview

Old Navy was founded in 1994 as a division of Gap Inc., with the goal of offering affordable, family-focused clothing to a broad consumer audience. The brand quickly expanded, becoming one of the fastest-growing retail chains in US history and establishing itself as a distinct identity separate from its parent brands. Today, Old Navy operates more than 1,200 stores across the United States and Canada, making it one of the largest apparel retailers in North America by store count.

Old Navy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gap Inc., which also operates Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta. Gap Inc. is publicly traded and maintains centralized human resources and compliance functions that apply across its portfolio of brands, including Old Navy. As a large retail organization, Old Navy hires for a range of positions including part-time sales associates, full-time keyholder and shift supervisor roles, store management positions, and seasonal employees during peak shopping periods such as back-to-school and the holiday season.

The company's workforce is substantial. Old Navy regularly engages in large-scale seasonal hiring, bringing on thousands of associates during high-volume retail periods. This scale means that Old Navy's hiring and screening processes are standardized and apply broadly across its store network. Applicants at all levels, from entry-level retail associates to store managers, can expect to move through a structured hiring process that includes pre-employment screening.

Company culture and employee programs: Old Navy employees may be eligible for a range of workplace programs and benefits, which can vary by employment status (full-time vs. part-time) and tenure. These may include a merchandise discount for Gap Inc. brands, access to health and wellness benefits for qualifying employees, paid time off, and participation in company savings programs. The company has also maintained internal diversity and inclusion initiatives as part of its broader corporate programs. Specifics on eligibility and availability are determined by Gap Inc.'s HR policies and are subject to change.

Old Navy background check FAQs

Does Old Navy do background checks?

Yes. Old Navy conducts background checks for most positions across its retail store network. As a large employer operating under Gap Inc.'s corporate HR framework, pre-employment background screening is a standard component of the hiring process. The scope of the background check may vary depending on the role. Candidates applying for management, keyholder, or supervisory positions may be subject to more comprehensive screening compared to entry-level or seasonal retail associate roles. Regardless of position, candidates should be prepared to provide consent for background screening after receiving a conditional job offer.

How long can an Old Navy background check take?

Most Old Navy background checks are completed within three to five business days. However, the actual timeline can vary depending on a number of factors. For more context on what influences screening timelines, see Checkr's guide to background check turnaround times.

Factors that can extend the timeline include:

The number of jurisdictions searched in the criminal history check
Delays in receiving records from county courthouses or government agencies
Discrepancies in the candidate's personal information (name variations, address history gaps)
Delays in employment verification, particularly if a former employer is slow to respond
High application volume during seasonal hiring periods, which may affect processing queues

What can be revealed in an Old Navy background check?

The specific components of an Old Navy background check depend on the role and the CRA engaged to conduct the screening. Common elements of a retail employer background check include:

Identity and criminal history: The report may include an SSN trace to verify the candidate's identity and establish a history of addresses, a search of the sex-offender registry, and a review of global watchlists for sanctions or other flags. Criminal history searches are conducted at the county, state, or federal level based on the candidate's address history.
Employment verification: Old Navy may verify previous employers listed on the candidate's application, including dates of employment and job titles. This helps confirm the accuracy of the information provided.

Old Navy is not reported to require a pre-employment drug test as part of its standard hiring process for retail positions.

How far back can Old Navy's background check go?

For most candidates, Old Navy's background check will look back seven years for criminal history records. This seven-year lookback period is the standard under the FCRA and is also the minimum required by many state-level screening laws. Some states have their own restrictions on how far back a background check can reach, which may limit what appears on a report depending on where the candidate lives or where the position is located.

Additionally, many states and municipalities have enacted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when and how employers can ask about criminal history. In jurisdictions with these laws, Old Navy may be required to delay inquiries about criminal history until later in the hiring process, such as after a conditional offer has been made.

What is the FCRA and how does it protect candidates?

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that governs how consumer reporting agencies collect, share, and use background information for employment purposes. The FCRA establishes specific rights and protections for job candidates during the background check process, including:

Consent requirement: Employers must obtain written authorization from candidates before requesting a background report.
Disclosure obligation: Employers must provide a clear written disclosure informing the candidate that a background check will be conducted.
Pre-adverse action notice: If Old Navy intends to take an adverse action (such as withdrawing a job offer) based on background check findings, the candidate must be notified in advance and provided with a copy of the report and a summary of their rights.
Dispute rights: Candidates have the right to dispute inaccurate or incomplete information in their background report with the CRA that produced it.
Adverse action notice: After taking adverse action, the employer must notify the candidate and provide information about the CRA so the candidate can follow up.

These protections apply regardless of which employer or CRA is involved in the background check process.

What is the Old Navy hiring process?

The Old Navy hiring process is structured and generally follows a consistent sequence for store-level positions. Candidates can expect the following steps:

Application: Submit an online application through Old Navy's careers portal or the Gap Inc. careers site. Applications typically require a work history, availability, and basic personal information.
Phone or video screen: Qualified candidates may be contacted for an initial phone or video screening with a recruiter or store manager. This step is used to assess basic qualifications and availability.
In-person or virtual interview: Candidates who advance from the initial screen are typically invited to an interview at the store location. For management roles, there may be multiple interview rounds.
Contingent offer: If the interview is successful, Old Navy may extend a conditional offer of employment, which is contingent on passing the background check and any other pre-employment requirements.
Consent form: The candidate is presented with the required FCRA disclosure and authorization form and must provide written consent for the background check to proceed.
Background check: A third-party CRA conducts the background screening. The candidate may be contacted directly by the CRA to provide additional information or clarify discrepancies.
Onboarding and orientation: Once the background check is cleared and the offer is confirmed, the candidate receives onboarding instructions and is scheduled for new hire orientation.

What kind of background check does Old Navy do?

Old Navy typically conducts a standard pre-employment background check that includes criminal history search, identity verification, and employment verification. The specific components may vary based on the position.

For entry-level retail associate roles, the background check generally focuses on criminal history searches at the county and state level, an SSN trace for identity verification, and confirmation of previous employment. For management or supervisory positions, the screening may be more comprehensive, potentially including additional criminal searches across multiple jurisdictions and more thorough employment history verification. Old Navy does not publicly disclose the full details of its screening methodology, and specific requirements may be subject to local laws and company policy.

Order your own background check

Running a personal background check through Checkr before applying to Old Navy can help you understand what may appear in your report and address any potential issues proactively. A personal background check allows you to review the same types of information that an employer may see, including:

Criminal history searches, including county and state records
Identity verification through SSN trace
Watchlist and sex-offender registry checks

Checkr offers two options for candidates who want to review their own background information:

Checkr Personal Background Checks - Run a self-background check to preview your own report.
Checkr Profile - Create a portable background check profile you can share with prospective employers.

Are you a candidate with an open background check with Checkr?

If Old Navy is using Checkr to process your background check and you have questions about your report or need to provide additional information, you can log in to the Candidate Portal or visit the Checkr Help Center for candidate support.

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.