A charge of driving under the influence of alcohol may result in a person having a criminal conviction on their record. This may pose many challenges for them as they try hard to keep their life in order or get things back on a better track.
When a person needs to find a new job after being convicted of a DUI charge, they may wonder if their criminal record might make it impossible to get a job. Fortunately, that does not need to be the case.
The employer’s view on criminal records
Monster acknowledges that the vast majority of employers today do conduct criminal background checks on potential job candidates prior to finalizing any hiring decision.
However, information from the Charles Koch Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management indicate that two out of three human resources professionals and eight out of 10 hiring managers believe that a person with a criminal record offers at least an equal opportunity to provide value to a company as does a person without a criminal record.
Sharing information with a potential employer
Knowing that a company may not automatically blacklist a candidate simply because of a criminal past helps indeed. However, this does not mean that a person should provide this information on an application or a resume. Glassdoor recommends waiting until after initial conversations and interviews have been conducted, allowing time for the employer to learn about the applicant’s qualifications for the job.
Prior to a background check being conducted, the candidate may then consider telling the employer about the event. Discussions should center around how the person made changes to their life after the conviction so as to reassure the employer that no future incidents should be expected.