You can apply to be a personal shopper and be waitlisted for a few days or even as long as months. It all depends on the region you applied from, that is, where you live. Each zip code has a different number of applicants so it is uncertain how long the wait could be.
Why does Instacart have a waitlist?
In regions where there are a lot of people applying to work as a shopper, instacart employs based on the number of orders that come in through the platform. If there are only a few orders and so many employees, there won’t be work to go round and so instacart would be unable to pay. This is why they created a waitlist.
These applicants are waitlisted depending on how many orders coming from a particular zip code and how many shoppers they already have employed. When the number of employees reduces, the applicants on the waitlist are hired immediately.
The waitlist period is also a chance for Instacart to carry out a background check on the applicants. The checks are done by obtaining records from local, state, and federal agencies to be fully informed of the applicant.
As an Instacart shopper, your job requires that you drive from place to place to pick up and deliver groceries. This is why Instacart also checks an applicant’s driving record. Any applicant without a history of criminal activities or traffic violations will be approved. However, If you have minor records of violation, your application can also be approved so long as there is no record of violent behavior or irresponsible driving habits.
These checks help to guarantee that once an applicant is hired, he or she would be reliable with deliveries and not become a liability to Instacart.
How do I know how long I’ll be on the waitlist?
As a result of the varying number of applicants in different zip codes, it is not easy to tell how long the waitlist in your particular zip code is. However, you can find out by reaching out to the Instacart Customer service.
When you contact the customer service through a phone call, email, or their website chat room, you will be asked to provide your application details. With that, your application status can be checked and the customer care representative will give an idea of when you will be approved.
If I am waitlisted, how do I get off the list?
You can only get off the waitlist if Instacart has a surplus of customer demands. This is when they begin to hire more applicants off of the waitlist. So, to get off the waitlist, you need to patiently wait for when you will be notified of an available position via email or the app.
However, there is a way you can avoid being on the long waitlist altogether. During your application process, select the zip code of a region where there is a higher demand for grocery shopping service providers. This means that Instacart would be hiring more shoppers and so, you wouldn’t be on the waitlist for a long period.
When changing the zip code in your application, ensure that you’re selecting areas that are close to you. This is so you do not run into difficulties carrying out deliveries as a result of distance.
You can change the zip code in your application multiple times until you find the one that is most suitable for you and won’t make you wait long.
Conclusion
Working as a personal shopper for Instacart is a good way to make some extra money. The uncertainty in the length of the waitlist period, however, can be unpleasant for someone interested in making quick cash.
If you do not have the patience enough to wait till you’re alerted of an opening, then you can withdraw your application and seek other service providers.
However, it is important to note that, just like Instacart, other driving service providers have their waitlists because the rate at which people apply for these kinds of jobs increases by the day. So, leavng Instacart to another service provider doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be hired quickly.
It is advised that you patiently remain on the waitlist while looking for other means of making money. If you select the right zip code, provide your accurate information, and apply at the right time, you wouldn’t be on the waitlist for longer than the time it requires for instacart to carry out a background check on you.
