[LawdHelpMe]

So, I’m about to start my Master’s year in august, hopefully about to start a job at a hospital for this summer and during grad school, starting to study for the CPA exams… all the fun stuff.

This hospital obviously ran a background check and of course found a DUI from ’09 (i was 19), a public intox from ’11, and a second public intox from February of this year(not guilty, it was deferred for 2 years and will be expunged unless something else happens beforehand). I knew they were going to find it, didn’t hide it (was never asked), but also didn’t share this information voluntarily.

I was offered the job but now they’ve seen the results of the background check, they’ve scheduled a meeting early next week.

My question is this: How seriously is this going to impact my career? I genuinely don’t have a problem at this point. I probably drank my way to undiagnosed alcoholism(kidding, probably) in my early college years but definitely grew up after I transferred schools, and this recent incident was a very poor lapse in judgement but it was definitely wrong place wrong time.

Also, regardless of what happens with this hospital result, any suggestions how should I handle, as far as disclosing it, the DUI etc. going forward, or at least for the next few years? I believe most background checks only go back 10 years or so.

[Credit Revenue]

1st – You have to quit drinking! It's all fun and games until you start getting in trouble and then things become super serious. If you are getting that hammered something worse may happen someday. Some people just can't drink like others. It doesn't make you a bad person…it just is what it is and you need to stop before the damage gets worse.

2nd – Can you not get the previous charges expunged?

3rd – If I were the hiring manager I would probably not hire you. I wholeheartedly believe in second chances, but you are going to have to commit to staying clean. I am not sure you realize how serious all of this is yet. If you are getting multiple PI's that means you need to stop drinking.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[LawdHelpMe]

thanks for the reply,

1-I have quit drinking, by in large. I do not mean I am entirely sober, but the reality is I hardly ever have more than 2 drinks. Again, my actions in february were very out of character for the past 5 years and do not represent my current lifestyle.

2-I'm not sure if I can or not, how would I go about doing that?

3-I do realize how serious this is, and I'm trying to address it, if you have any advice regarding how I should approach disclosing this information to potential employers, I would love to hear it.

[Credit Revenue]

I would contact an attorney. Do you have an attorney you used for the previous cases? You may can just call the state and fill out some paperwork to have the 2 old charges expunged. The PI I am pretty sure you can since it is a small charge, but the DUI may be more complicated.

Step 1 – Call the Criminal Court Clerk where you charged. Ask them what you need to do to get the charges expunged.

Step 2 – Get them expunged. If the Criminal Clerk isn't helpful you may have to pay an attorney $500 or something to help you. They shouldn't charge you much…since all they have to do is file paperwork. If you have an attorney you can trust or someone in the area that has a familiarity with the process reach out to them.

Step 3 – Hopefully, they are expunged and you will not have to explain yourself. In not, I think it's best to be honest on the front end.

Hopefully, you can just get them expunged. I am not judging you, but I am giving you some tough love here…going out and partying isn't good for you. It's probably best you don't drink at all, but if you just have to….you need to be with someone who you trust your life with who will get you out of these awful spots.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[Credit Revenue]

And lastly – Truthful or not. I would be adamant about how you stopped drinking 100% if you have to discuss this with the employer. No one is going to hire you with that track record if they know you still drink.

A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
B - 78
F - 80
R - 83!!! Can live again!

[Author]

Replies