Shipt’s Hiring Process: What to Expect, Timeline, Troubleshooting, and More

Applying to work for Shipt as a Shopper or a Driver (read about the differences) is relatively straightforward. The Shipt hiring process involves filling out basic information, agreeing to a background check, and, depending on the role you are interested in, completing a brief interview.

How to apply to Shipt

The Shipt application process is pretty simple, but there are a few requirements you need to meet before you apply. According to Shipt’s official Shopper requirements, you need to:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a valid current mailing address.
• Have a valid U.S. driver’s license and auto insurance (must meet your state’s minimum requirements)
• Have access to a reliable vehicle (1997 or newer)
• Have knowledge of produce selection
• Be able to lift 45 pounds
• Have access to a smartphone - iPhone (iOS 10 or newer) or Android (5.1 or newer).

There’s one additional requirement for Drivers: you can’t use a two-door sedan. 

If you meet these requirements, you can apply here to be a Shopper or apply here to be a Driver — it takes just a few minutes. 

Once you start the application, you’ll be asked to provide basic information, such as your name, date of birth, mailing address, and email address. Make sure you have your Social Security Number and driver’s license on hand — you’ll need those to complete the application. 

You’ll get an email when your Shipt application is under review

When you’re finished, an email should arrive in your inbox within a few minutes to confirm that Shipt received and is processing your application.

If your area is not currently accepting new Shoppers, this email will inform you that you’ve been placed on the Shipt waiting list. Otherwise, you will be told that someone will reach out to you if your application fits Shipt’s current needs.

Checking your application status

There’s no set way to check on your application status. If the Shipt team reviews your application and your area needs more Shoppers or Drivers, a team member will reach out to you to finish the hiring process. 

Updating your application after it’s submitted

If any of your information changes during the application process (for example, if you move to a different zip code), or if you have any trouble signing up while using the app, contacting the recruiting team at onboarding@shipt.com is your best course of action. A team member can update your information or help troubleshoot your application.

You’ll have to consent to Shipt’s background check

If the Shipt team has determined your application fits their current needs, a team member will reach out to you to complete the next steps, including completing a background check, filling out some forms, and completing an interview. 

The background check is done via Checkr, a third-party company. Results can come back instantly, but can also take up to two weeks. There’s no charge for the background check. 

If you’ve got a criminal record, there’s no way to tell in advance how this might affect your application. Shipt has a policy of evaluating felons and other more complex applications on a case-by-case basis. Shipt does hire felons sometimes, so if you’ve got a criminal background, the best thing you can do is apply and see what happens.

There’s no drug test for Shipt

Shipt doesn't drug test, but you’re expected to maintain sobriety on the job. If you do use substances, you’ll also need to make sure that they don’t interfere with your work in any way. For example, even smoking in your car on your day off could leave a smell in your car and then cause your customers’ groceries to smell, which is against Shipt’s rules. 

You’ll have to complete the Shipt interview

If you're applying for a Shopper role, you will also be asked to complete a brief interview. If you’ve been placed on the waitlist, this will happen after you’re taken off. This is typically the last stage in the application process (if you’re applying to be a Driver, you don’t need to complete an interview). 

The Shipt interview is more like a short “entrance exam” — it includes multiple-choice questions, asks for written responses to prompts, and will require you to take a few short videos in which you answer questions about yourself and your experiences.

Once the background check and interview are completed, you'll hear back from a team member if Shipt is interested in moving forward with your application, and complete the hiring process.

You’ll need to fill out some forms

In addition to the initial application, the background check, and the interview, you'll need to sign a Shipt Shopper agreement and fill out a W-9 for tax purposes as an independent contractor.

How long does Shipt take to hire?

The waiting time for your application can vary widely, with some Shoppers reporting being hired within a week and others waiting over a month. In areas where there isn’t a long backlog of applicants, you’ll usually hear back within a few days.

If you’re told up front that you’ve been placed on the waiting list, you can expect a pretty long wait time.

Catherine Meyers, a Shopper with two years of experience, signed up for Shipt in 2021 and was immediately placed on the waitlist. She explains that Shipt hiring might be “pretty uncommunicative until you’re actually eligible to apply,” suggesting that there may not be much you can do while waiting to get off the waitlist. According to Catherine, “there wasn’t any type of lead up or contact to them opening the hiring process up to me. I was just checking my emails one day and saw I was eligible.”

Why didn’t Shipt hire me?

If Shipt decides not to move forward with your application, there are several reasons this might be the case. 

There are too many Shoppers or Drivers and not enough demand in your area

If there are already enough Shoppers and Drivers in the zip code you provided when the form was filled out, you may have been placed on a wait list. This is typically outlined in the confirmation email you’ll receive after filling out your application.

You didn’t pass the background check

You may not have been hired because you didn't pass the background check. This can be for several reasons, but there are a number of steps you can take to still be considered for employment by Shipt. Immediately, you can appeal your decision by contacting Shipt support and explaining your situation. You can also work on getting your offense expunged or sealed.

You didn’t pass the interview

You may not have answered the interview questions in the way the Shipt team was looking for. If that’s the case, you can always study up and try again in the future.

There was a mistake on your forms

Make sure you filled out the W-9 and Shipt Shopper agreement forms with the correct information. If something isn’t right on these, it can cause problems with your application.

If you don’t get hired, you can always reapply (and apply to other gigs)

Regardless of why you weren't selected to move forward as a Shipt Shopper or Driver, you can always reapply at a later date. Sometimes, applicants are rejected on the first go around and then hired the next time they apply.

If you only applied to be a Shopper, you can also apply to be a Driver (and vice versa). Just keep in mind that Shoppers can become Drivers, but Drivers can’t become Shoppers. So, if you really want to be a Shopper, becoming a Driver first might make that impossible. 

It’s also a good idea to apply to other gigs while you wait to reapply. Instacart and DoorDash offer similar gig opportunities, and, according to James Tuliano, “likely also have a waitlist, but likely not as long as Shipt’s waitlist.” Plus, you can work all of these gigs at the same time — in fact, “multi-apping” is a great way to maximize your gig work income.

What if I have questions or need help troubleshooting? 

If you have additional questions about the application or the hiring process at Shipt, you can contact the hiring team by emailing onboarding@shipt.com.

Get Started

Can you see yourself as a Shipt Shopper or Driver? Read about the differences or apply now to be a Shopper or Driver.