Driving under the influence is a serious charge in Mississippi that can cause problems in various aspects of your life. If you apply for a job, you may have to pass a background check to be considered. This is what to know about whether your DUI charge will show up.
How to handle a DUI charge when job seeking
If you have been charged or convicted of driving under the influence and are looking for a job, it might be tempting to lie on your application. However, this is unwise; being dishonest can come back to bite you. If the hiring manager finds out that you lied in your job application, they might decide you’re unworthy of the position and refuse to consider you.
The best way to handle this situation is to be honest. If you must have a background check done, even with a drunk driving charge on your record, you might still get the job.
DUI charges and background checks
Some employers require applicants to undergo background checks depending on the type of job they’re seeking. For example, many jobs in finance and healthcare require such screenings. If you have been charged with DUI, it may or may not appear in a background check. If you have a case pending but have not been convicted, it’s possible for the DUI to appear; if you were convicted of DUI, the background check will reveal that information.
If you were only charged with drunk driving but not convicted and the DUI was from more than five to 10 years prior, it might not show up in a background check.
In some cases, DUI charges end up being expunged from a person’s record. If you were charged but had your record expunged, you’re not obligated to reveal the DUI to a prospective employer at all. Expungement is equivalent to the charge never taking place.
