Questions asked on a Job ApplicationI had a DUI about 7 years ago in another state. When the question is asked on a Job Application without a time period, should I put this down and will employers hire people who had a long time ago infraction like this? Hard to say. Depends on the employer, the type of position, what the company looks for in a crim check (not all employers look at DUI' s), and how far back. I would say, carefully look at how the question is asked on the application and read any footnotes if available (some applications will include footnotes explaining what they are looking for in your answer). Thanks, I have been reading it thoroughly. I hate to not advise this, as if it comes up on a backround check, I could be accused of lying. But then again, I could say I forgot because it was so long ago. Would that answer fly? No one will believe you "forgot". If the question is worded in a way that includes this, you are MUCH smarter to say yes and take your chances than to guarantee you lose if they find it and you haven' t disclosed it. What employers want to see is that you led a pretty clean life after that DUI. For example, if you were clean the last 7 years, it should not be a problem. But if there is a history of DUIs in the last 7 years, then you can pretty much forget about getting a job from any company because you would be a liability (not showing up for work because you are drunk or you cause an accident with a company car, etc). You can pay for criminal, credit and other background checks at www.USA People Search.com, Although I don' t agree making this site so accessible and shows someone age for free (age discrimination Issue). I do think if you need to run a background check on yourself that is legal. Doing it on the whole world and exposing age free is wrong. Your DUI maybe considered only a traffic violation, I am not a police officer. Check the law, if you were under 18 then it should not be recorded. DUI's can be considered either misdemeanor or felony depending on your blood alcohol content, if there was an accident at the time and if any property damage was reported at the scene at the time of the accident. When employers ask if you have had a DUI, they are looking for as far back as 10-15 years and if you were cahrged with misdemeanor or felony. A felony DUI, even with a no other DUI's in your background since, will always disqualify you from a job with a company where you will have to drive a company vehicle. A misdemeanor DUI will not disqualify you for such jobs. My brother-in-law was disqualified from a job with an armored truck service because of a misdemeanor DUI nearly 25 years ago. So, it does definately have a lot to do with the companys policy. There are both pro's and con's to disclosing this information. For example, if you disclose your DUI, and it turns out that the company does not look further back than say 5 years, you may risk prejudicing the decision maker needlessly. On the other hand, depending on the position, some companies, including my employer, have a flexible hiring policy where, once the background checks turn up something negative, it's up to the hiring manager whether or not to overlook it. If that's the case, being honest up front may work in your favor, while being found out after trying to conseal this will get you disqualified. I would tell the truth, but make sure you are clear about what they are asking. Companies may be interested in felonies only, felonies and misdemeanors, arrests and convictions, only those arrests that resulted in convictions, etc. If you read everything carefully and are still unclear, I would say put down your DUI, but if it was a misdemeanor, make sure to specify that, as well as the year. A standard background check will be somewhere between 7 to 10 years, and so I suggest your putting it on there. Now as far as whether or not it will hurt you, that all depends on what your job will be and whether or not your record has been clean since then. In other words, an employer realizes that people make mistakes in their life, but they're also interested in whether you have made the same mistake again or failed to learn from it. And if you're going for a job as a driver, or will be driving a company vehicle, then you may be cut out. Not saying you will, but it's a possibility. But failure to put it on there could be taken as a "deception" on your part, which will definitely hurt! By putting it on there, you're being honest and that's good. Plus there's usually space to write a little about it. If so, then let them know that you did a bad thing back then, but have learned from it and are a different person today. | |
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