Obtaining Employment with a DUI Conviction

Trying to get a new job can be a stressful and anxiety-ridden experience. You have to find jobs for which you qualify and then send in the best version of your resume with a wonderfully written cover letter. You wait to hear from the potential employer and, if you are lucky, go on an interview or two. You worry about how to dress, how to talk, how to sit, how to answer questions. The list goes on and on. And, if you’ve ever been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), you have even more to worry about.

Many people may lose sleep over obtaining employment with a DUI conviction. The sleep loss may turn into nightmares if they also have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicle. Ignition interlock devices are breathalyzers that have been installed on a vehicle to keep the vehicle from starting if the driver either refuses to breathe into it or has been drinking and has a certain amount of alcohol present in the breath. Having a potential employer find out about this device could be embarrassing and lead to rejection. A DUI can change you, and your life, and it is important that your conviction is known in order to establish trust with your employer.

Some companies may do a background check to see if you have any convictions or arrests, but this is certainly not true for all companies. When trying to obtain employment with a DUI conviction, simply make sure to answer all application questions as honestly as possible and you will avoid problems. While it is possible that potential employers will reject your application if they see that you have been convicted of a DUI, you never know. Some employers are more interested in your honesty than your history, especially if your conviction occurred many years ago. Never lie on your application, though, because no matter when the lie is discovered, you are setting yourself up to lose the job.

A DUI or DWI conviction does not need to be a depressing thought in the mind of job seekers. Everyone has a past and none of us is perfect. How a potential employer views your conviction is subjective and there is no need to bring up having an ignition interlock device unless you are applying for a delivery job or another position that requires driving. No matter what mistakes we have made in our pasts, our futures can be bright as long as we keep a positive mindset.