How To Get A Job After A DUI
Imagine the following scenario: in your youth, you mistakenly hop behind the wheel after a few too many drinks. After consulting with a Redlands car accident lawyer, you find this is not the end, thankfully, but you’ll have to walk the straight and narrow to avoid any potential problems in the future.
Simple enough, but then years down the line, it happens again. In addition to needing to find an attorney for a second DUI, you’ve also got to contend with how you’re going to find gainful employment after such a mishap. It’s difficult, but it’s not completely impossible if you’re willing to be persistent. Here’s what you should know about trying to land a job with a flawed past.
Put Your DUI Into Perspective
While it’s true that not having a DUI on your record is preferable to searching for a job with a DUI on your record, the fact remains that a misdemeanor DUI is not an employment death sentence. In fact, in the modern day (compared to even just a few years ago), a DUI is on the minor end of the spectrum, and there are still plenty of career options on the table.
When thinking about which areas your career choices might be limited, you’ll want to note that jobs in law enforcement, child care, education, healthcare, government, and operating heavy machinery might be harder to get now that you have a DUI. If you have experiences outside of these areas, though, you might find it easier to obtain employment than you anticipated.
Job Searching And Interviewing After Your DUI
Let’s say you’re on the prowl for a job, you score an interview, and now you’re worried your DUI will become an issue. It’s not a certainty that it will, though, and your DUI even becoming a topic of discussion depends on whether or not your potential employer wants to perform a criminal background check. So, don’t mention it right away during an interview, because there’s a chance they won’t care.
If you are questioned about your DUI however, then honesty is the best policy. You should be upfront about the circumstances, explain what happened earnestly, but also show that you’ve changed and that you are still trustworthy. If you are able to assuage the interviewer’s concerns about your DUI (by emphasizing what you’ve learned in the time since), you can still present yourself as valuable in the eyes of an employer and have a shot at that job you’re after.
