What do you know about getting a job with a DUI?

Even though police pulled you over and charged you with drunk driving, you want to defend yourself and protect your legal rights. At the same time, you also want to advance your career.

Chron explains whether a DUI could keep you from getting a job. Understand how your encounter with law enforcement looks to employers.

Sensitive positions

Your chances of qualifying for a job while defending against a DUI could depend on the position’s responsibilities. For instance, if you want to drive for a living or work with kids, your charge could make that difficult. Applicants with a criminal record may encounter hardship while applying to companies that handle secret information.

Arrest vs. conviction

Perhaps Illinois police arrested you, but they did not convict you. An arrest may not bar you from certain positions, because most companies ask applicants about convictions rather than arrests. Even then, a company may only have the right to ask about specific arrests. Carefully read over applications to see whether they ask about arrests or convictions.

Character defense

Even if police arrested you and companies only want to know about your criminal convictions, do not lie about the interaction on a job application. After all, a background check may reveal the information anyway, and you do not want to ruin your chances of working with a company willing to hire someone with a criminal record. Prepare to discuss what you learned from getting a DUI and how you plan to do better in life.

You deserve to understand how to protect your employment prospects with a criminal charge. Mistakes need not define your career’s trajectory.