If you are searching for a job, and have a DUI on your record, you may be discouraged. Along with frustrating sentences like jail time, a license suspension, and mandatory rehab, a DUI can affect your personal life and possibly end your career. This is especially true if you work in a company where you are upheld as an example and need a spotless reputation. For example, those that work at educational facilities often lose their jobs when they are involved in a DUI. Just last month a principal at a Palm Beach, Florida public school was placed on leave after she was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol one night. The principal is devastated at having lost her job and her reputation with the students that she watched over.

If you lost your job after your DUI, or are simply searching for a job now, then you may be worried that your previous conviction will stand in the way. The best way to determine whether or not your DUI will keep you from a job is to purchase a background check on your own. You can use various background check services online to perform a check on yourself. You can also go to your Department of Motor Vehicles and find a copy of your driving record. They will probably charge you a small fee for the record, but it might be worth it. Check both your driving record and your background check thoroughly to see if your DUI shows up. If it doesn’t then maybe your charge was not placed on your record as part of a plea bargain or another deal. If this is the case you have nothing to worry about. Your DUI will not stand in the way of your desire to get a job.

If you do see that mark on your record, then it’s time to get to work. It’s illegal to try and conceal your DUI, but there are ways that you may be able to smooth the offense over with potential employers. You can call a hiring manager and express your interest in the job, or send him a resume by fax or e-mail. This is not the time to talk about your DUI conviction, so wait until you hear back before mentioning. If the employer wants you to interview, this may be the best time to bring up your DUI conviction. You will want to tactfully consider the situation, because there is no point to give incriminating information that isn’t necessary. Still, the issue will probably come up on your worker's application, so it may be worth warning your HR contact or ptotential employer so that it doesn't become an issue later on.

During your interview, you shouldn’t ever focus on your DUI conviction, even if it is what’s on your mind. Wait until you feel comfortable with the person you are talking to to mention it, and then bring up the concern you have about how the DUI will affect your possibility to get the job. Explain the positive aspects that came out of the charge. For example, if you went through rehabilitation, and the DUI comes up in conversation, this may be worth mentioning. When you fill out the worker’s application, you should never lie. If it asks if you have had a criminal conviction, you must say yes and then write your explanation in the box provided. You can summarize what you have already told your potential employer and what the experience taught you. By being tactful, you still may be able to land an excellent job after you have a DUI on your record. Be honest, explanatory, and hopeful in order to keep a DUI from standing in your way when it comes to employment!