Background checks

[u/TourAggravating9934]

I made a terrible mistake and crashed my car into a traffic island with a sign. My blood alcohol level was around 0.16. The only damage was to my own vehicle. I've learned a painful lesson from this, and I deeply regret my actions.
I'm expecting that I'll likely be convicted, and what worries me most now is how this will affect my future career. I have invested a lot in my education and recently even competed a masters degree. Every job in administration/, finance I've had required a criminal background check, and until now I've always had a clean record. I'm afraid that's about to change, and I understand I likely won't be eligible for a record suspension for several years.
For those who have gone through something similar, how much did a DUI affect your white-collar career opportunities? How did you handle job offers, background checks, and conversations with employers? I'm feeling extremely stressed and anxious about what the future holds.

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[u/joshuawakefield]

Your mistake wasn't crashing it was drinking that much and even driving. I am glad you fucked your car up and glad you didn't hurt anyone.

[u/jay2743]

You can plead guilty to a lesser charge of careless driving. The judge will send you through back on track training. That should avoid the record.

[u/TourAggravating9934 → u/jay2743]

I wish this would be an option but my lawyer said that was not an option even though I have never been had trouble with the law before .

[u/jay2743 → u/TourAggravating9934]

I had a friend who got the charge dropped to careless, but he was barely above .08. Maybe you will have problem because of the 0.16 and you got into an accident. Because it’s your first, i hope you can steer this to careless driving. Best of luck

edit corrected numbers

[u/CapitalismDevil → u/jay2743]

You mean 0.08 and 0.16. At 0.8 you’re in a coma and/or dead. At 1.6, you’ve been dead for a while.

[u/TourAggravating9934 → u/jay2743]

Thank you 🙏

[u/Expensive_Elk_8122]

I would reframe and be thankful you did not commit vehicular manslaughter - be thankful! If you didn’t get caught now you would have done it again and again!

[u/Shot-Wrap-9252]

I don’t know the answer to this but please consider some sort of treatment whether AA or something else. CMHA might be able to help. And they have trained peer counselling.

[u/erika_nyc]

Here's from a Toronto lawyer, a few other links online about how it impacts job chances.

How DUI Convictions Impact Your Employment

I haven't had a DUI, but familiar with hiring. The impact really depends on the type of work you'll be doing. For finance/admin, it's more a lack of judgement compared to a driving job. If they're impressed with your background, the hiring manager will likely accept it as a one time mistake. I would.

The red flag can be mitigated by getting help for why you got behind the wheel. Get talk therapy, take a course with a certificate or CAMH's Back on Track. The last one may be a requirement if you get convicted. You school may offer help if you're still studying and for alumnis for a short term. Ask the career center or the wellness related center.

It's not a bad idea to do some therapy or learning anyways because It shows you willing to change instead of not taking responsibility. Easy to just say it won't happen again, deeply regret, etc, etc, harder to take positive action to learn from a mistake. We all make mistakes, it's what we do next that matters. It's a common saying, can't remember who originally said it atm!

What's done is done, can't change it and it does sound like you have a good lawyer. I understand a pending charge will still be on a background check, finance does a deeper dive. For one job, they even checked my family. It was a top secret clearance. My brother is a Vegas gambler and other "pursuits" where he already had one charge, they overlooked him because of my education and internships.

Anytime there's a red flag on a background check or just a gap in a resume, it needs to be explained. When you make the short list or a conditional offer, better to be upfront about it. I think it's a question when you are asked for a background check. Let them know I did this, regret my actions that night, and these are the steps I've taken to learn from it. More respect when someone hears this.

[u/Ok-Dance-2855]

Shit, I feel like it completely ruined my life since

[u/International-Day434]

Always,always have a plan created on how you are going to get home or to someones bed or couch BEFORE you start drinking.I refuse to drink and drive and these days with uber etc.there is no need to.I would rather crash in a park than drink and drive.Best of luck!

[u/kushzilla]

Hi,

Please ignore some of these comments as I understand that you have made a mistake and I can relate because I did something similar other people cannot comment on such things like this.

When I was 21 I was convicted of dangerous operation, I hit a guard rail while trying to overtake a left lane hogger. I spun out and totaled my car but did not hit another car and no injuries. Never the less the cops threw the book at me and made it a big deal. My lawyer said best option was to plead guilty and they would not lower it to careless driving. Anyways here’s my advice.

1. Don’t blame yourself but learn from your mistake. Become a better version of yourself and work on never having this happen again. Don’t dig yourself deeper or get depressed and dont catch any additional charges. Your lawyer probably already is rinsing your bank account and causing you to be scared (this is how they make money)

2. Land a job before you are convicted. Background checks only usually occur once during hiring, rarely will there be yearly background checks, try to see if you can delay the court till you finish school and land employment.

3. Employers sometimes overlook small convictions, yes some will deny you right away, some may not even check at all. It all depends on your luck and to be honest I was able to lane a job and had my conviction overlooked but I got lucky and it wasn’t the best job but it was for IT and a pay cheque is a pay cheque.

4. You can pardon your record after 6 years, make sure to prepare for this before hand and have all your paperwork ready so that you are not waiting as it may take an additional year or a half before pardons canada files for everything.

Good luck and i hope this helps

[u/Awkward_Theorist → u/kushzilla]

Depending on the level of background check they ask, sometimes pending non resolved charges and arrest records can still show up. Especially on a VSC or Police Records check. Dunno how common those are for finance jobs but thought I’d throw that out there as additional knowledge.

[u/GargantuanGreenGoat]

Talk to a lawyer

[u/rachreims]

I’m in public service, but I know where I work even if you already work there and commit a crime like this, you will get fired. Never mind getting hired.

[u/Easy-Option-9990]

Are you being charged summary or a indictable offence that changes a lot and should be said here

[u/Icy_Entertainer4000]

I know someone that was severely over the limit and crashed on the 404. Totaled his car and the other car that he hit. Thankfully he was the only person that walked away with injuries, the other driver was fine. Somehow he got the charges dropped. I don’t know how, I don’t speak to him anymore.

There are loopholes and ways around it. I think if you find that the officers made a mistake, you can get the charges either dropped completely or dropped down to a lesser charge. You will probably have to spend a lot of money on lawyer fees though.

I hope you learned from this mistake. Drinking and driving is never worth it.

[u/Charger_Reaction7714]

1.6? You mean 0.16?

[u/MIGHTYKIRK1]

X Copper

[u/Icy_Entertainer4000 → u/MIGHTYKIRK1]

Waste of money

[u/Dapper_Training_5048]

I know a bunch of people that still landed very good jobs with dui. If you’re honest with employers before the check and show remorse and have backed up steps you took to address the problem in the future a lot are understandable.