How Does a DUI Conviction Impact Your Ability to Secure a Job?

Although not every driving under the influence (DUI) charge is a felony, it might as well be, especially considering how a conviction for one can get you fired from your current job or make it harder to secure a new one. If the job you have or want involves working with children, being privy to sensitive materials or driving, then a DUI conviction may jeopardize your ability to either get or keep it.

While, in some jurisdictions, it's illegal for employers to ask about your previous arrests, in others, they're allowed to do so. In some places, a company who's looking to hire you may only be authorized to ask about previous drug- or alcohol-related arrests if you'll be coming in contact with those types of substances at your new job.

If you have a DUI conviction on your record, then it's highly unlikely that you'll be able to find a day care or teaching job, namely because of concerns over the influence you'll have on the kids you'll be working with. Securing any job that requires you to drive a company vehicle such as a delivery truck, bus or sales car may also be difficult to land because of fear that you many operate one of their vehicles while intoxicated.

Jobs that give you access to potentially confidential information such as in the medical field, with the government or in the military sector may be virtually impossible to get hired for as well. This is because a drunk driving conviction is considered to demonstrate that you exercise poor judgment.

If you attempt to apply for the types of positions listed above, then it's highly likely that a background check will be performed before a job offer is made. This is why it's important to be forthright about disclosing previous DUI arrests.

If you're invited to an interview, it's important to keep the description of your conviction as brief as possible. It's also important to emphasize that you've grown from your previous indiscretions.

In some cases, an individual with a DUI conviction on his or her record may be eligible to have his or her record expunged. In cases such as that, it may make it unnecessary to disclose details of your conviction on a job application. In learning more about your criminal record, a Christianburg DUI defense attorney can advise you of your right to file for an expungement of your own conviction.

Source: Houston Chronicle, "Can a DUI prevent you from getting a job?," Shala Munroe, accessed Nov. 30, 2017