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How can a drunk driving conviction wreck your employment chances?

When you think of the consequences of receiving a drunk driving conviction, you likely think of such things as possible prison time, fines and the loss of your driving privileges. While you can receive any of these penalties, they are just the tip of the iceberg. 

Per a report in The Houston Chronicle, your conviction can also negatively impact your employment chances for years to come. 

Professional licenses

If you are a young person in training to become a doctor, nurse, attorney, architect, engineer or any other type of professional, your state licensing board may well refuse to grant you a license to practice your chosen profession because of your criminal conviction. If you already have a license, it may suspend or even revoke it. 

Additional employment consequences

Even if you need not obtain and maintain a license to do the work you want to do, your conviction can still prevent you from getting the jobs you apply for. Why? Because most employers run a background check on prospective employees. When they run yours, they may find any or all of the following: 

  • The court records from the court where you received your conviction 
  • The jail or prison records from the institutions in which you served time 
  • The DMV records showing your conviction and the length of time you received a driver’s license suspension or revocation 

Such negative information about you likely will preclude your getting any of the following types of jobs: 

  • Those requiring you to drive, especially if you must have a commercial driver’s license 
  • Those requiring you to work with children 
  • Those requiring you to work with elderly or disabled people 

Finally, a drunk driving conviction represents a huge black mark on your employment application. The prospective employer may well choose another candidate who has the same qualifications, but a clean record. 

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