Fired from job for DUI

by Lee
(Illinois)

I was fired from my job because of a DUI and have been unemployed for a year. I can't find a job anywhere. I'm worried that no one will ever hire me now. I feel like such a loser.

What can I do to find a job and get this behind me?


Mike Petras comments:

Sorry to hear of your job loss and your struggle to find a job. Here are a couple of suggestions to help you move forward.

First, your whole life should not be defined by your DUI. You made a mistake. Learn from it and move on.

Second, you may be able to get your DUI conviction reduced to reckless driving or another non-alcohol related offense. Your best bet is to hire an attorney. My guess is it will cost you about $1500-2000 to get this done, but there are no guarantees the judge will go along with it. Even so, it's definitely worth a shot. If you can't afford an attorney right now, here is a website that may be able to help you accomplish the same thing, www.duiprocess.com.

In the meantime, the best way to find a job is by networking with people who know and trust you.

Are you on LinkedIn and Facebook?

If not, sign up for a free account. I wrote an article about job hunting on these 2 sites in one of my newsletters, Job Brick Wall - Social Networking for Job Seekers.

If you're already on Facebook, make sure you don't have any embarrassing pictures or comments accessible to the public. Future employers will look up your profile on these sites and form an opinion about you. So, creating a professional profile is paramount.

Connect with as many people as possible... past school chums, old neighbors, friends of your parents, relatives, past work associates. Let all of them know you are struggling to find work and ask for their help in the way of leads, ideas, or referrals to others who may be able to open a door for you.

Don't tell them about your DUI, unless one of them offers to help you get in the door with their company; then you should tell them about it. The reason you should share your DUI at that time is because your contact may be able to diplomatically share your situation with senior management to relax any "no DUI hires" policy.

Follow up at least every 30 days with your connections to let them know you are still looking. If some of your connections are not on Facebook or LinkedIn, call them up and talk to them directly.

If you are still young and want to change career directions, can you move back in with your parents, relatives, or friends to save money and focus on your training for your life's work?

Consider going to college or trade school and just working part time until you graduate.

Buy the book, What Color Is Your Parachute? 2011: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers, by Richard Bolles. This is by far the best book ever written about selecting your life's work and the best ways to go about finding your dream job. It will definitely lift your spirits and give you positive insights into yourself.

Remember... your job search struggles are not all related to your DUI. The economy is still weak and jobs are scarce. It's going to take more effort to find work.

Make finding a job a full time job. Get up early and start your job search by connecting with as many people as possible vs just surfing the net. One of the worst ways to find a job is applying to job postings on the Internet. Eighty percent of all job openings are not advertised. The only way to find these hidden jobs is by networking.

Don't give up, Lee. You're not alone.

See if you can find a local networking group and meet with them often. Check with your local unemployment office for information on networking groups in your local area.

All the best to you. You'll get through this and will be working again in no time.