Will you be able to get a job with a DUI on your record?
Drivers who are charged and convicted with a DUI under Florida state law are often concerned about their ability to land a new job down the road. In Orlando, a DUI conviction carries with it a misdemeanor charge and, therefore, it will turn up if a potential employer conducts a criminal background check.
At Finebloom and Haenel, we’ve helped thousands of drivers charged with DUI in Orlando plan for the future and make informed decisions when it comes to accommodating the effects of a DUI. Our DUI defense attorneys offer clients specific advice when it comes to coping and planning for the days ahead.
3 Things to Consider When It Comes to Landing a New Job with a DUI on Your Record
- Honesty is the best policy. If a new employer is going to run a criminal background check, they are required to disclose this to you prior to hiring and you must sign a form authorizing them to do so. If this happens, they are going to see a DUI on your record. In this case, let the employer and be forthcoming about the situation. Acknowledge the mistake, and make it a point to highlight what you learned from it and the steps you took to correct the problem. You have a better chance of still landing the job by being upfront then by a hiring manager uncovering your past after the fact.
- Volunteering Information: While answering questions honestly if important, this does not necessarily mean that you are required to answer the questions that are never asked in the first place. Many smaller or professional organizations do not run motor vehicle or background checks. They must disclose, up front, if they are going to do so. In this case, if a new employer does not inquire whether you’ve ever received a DUI or have any convictions, this may be information that you should consider keeping personal. A DUI is a personal mistake. If this does not impact your ability to do your job effectively, keep your personal past to yourself. Consider refraining from volunteering information. If nobody will be looking for this information, it may not help you to volunteer it in the first place. On the other hand, if you sign a background check release form, refer back to Item #1.
- Driving Positions – Common Sense: If operating any type of motor vehicle is an integral function of the job you’re applying for (or it IS the only function of the job you’re applying for), you will absolutely need to disclose your DUI. Any company hiring for a driving position will almost always conduct a minimum of a DMV driving history record check. Again, you will be required to sign an authorization form to allow this. Disclose your DUI history up front, but highlight the corrections you’ve made. You’re not the first person to have ever received a DUI. If your drivers and/or commercial license are in good standing, this is evidence itself that you’ve taken the necessary steps to earn the reinstatement. Disclosing your DUI history is the right thing to do for any position involving driving. The hiring manager will agree with this philosophy. If he/discovers a DUI on your record after the fact, it will resonate much more deeply due to the nature of the work and this will almost guarantee immediate termination.
Finebloom and Haenel – Experienced DUI Defense Lawyers
Finebloom and Haenel are Orlando’s focused DUI Defense attorneys. With over 20 years of combined legal experience in and around the Orlando area, we help drivers charged with DUI every day. Call Finebloom and Haenel today!
