Finding a Job After a Drunk Driving Conviction

Whether stopping for happy hour with colleagues after work or attending a social gathering with friends and family members, a person may enjoy a beer or glass of wine and then drive home. This normal sequence of events, unfortunately, may expose a person to being arrested for a suspected impaired driving offense.

After an arrest, the person may be concerned about many things, including how the event may impact their ability to get a job.

Arrests and Convictions

Most employers today routinely conduct background checks on job applicants prior to finalizing a new hire. The Chronicle explains that a person may not expect a criminal conviction to appear on a background check, but perhaps not an arrest that did not result in a conviction.

Types of Jobs and the Relation to a Conviction

When looking for a new job, a person with a criminal conviction on their record should evaluate potential jobs in relation to the nature of their conviction. For example, if they were convicted of embezzlement, they may choose to avoid applying for a job as a bank teller or other role in which they manage or have access to money. Searching for jobs that have no relation to the nature of the conviction may provide better opportunities to be hired.

Discussing a Past Conviction

Monster recommends telling a potential employer about a criminal conviction prior to them discovering it via a background check. Discussions should emphasize what the person learned from the event so as to assure the employer that the behavior should not be expected to continue.