Will young mistake hurt chances?

[TruckGuy2]

When I was young and dumb I received a DUI in another state than I currently live in and am a volunteer firefighter. Does this rule me out from possibly being a full-time firefighter? How do full time departments look at a person with something like this on their record, even if it was when they were yound and dumb?

-TruckGuy2

[Jesse613]

If it is like going to be a police officer and it happend years ago and they feel you have grown and regret doing it it will not really affect your chances. I have talked with officers about this before. Like I said, If it is anything like going to be a officer.

[ramseycl]

How long ago was it. Several departments in this area look at anything back 5 years. Also it does not matter what state you got the DUI in, when the run a criminal history it comes back for all states.

[CaptBob]

DUI's
No department wants one of their firefighters cited with a DUI. If you have already had a DUI, it's difficult but not impossible to get hired. Candidates who have been cited with wet and reckless (less than a DUI) can also have problems getting hired. A candidate who seldom drinks was stopped after his wedding reception. He was cited for wet/reckless. Even though nothing happened before this incident, over one year later, he is still having problems getting hired.

If you do a psych, the doctor could DQ you because he might feel (I have actually seen this written on a report from a psychologist) because of the pressures of the job; you could end up drinking more.

You could try and get the record expunged. You can find our more on this in the "Background Expunged" section under the "Application and Resume" title of the Free "101 Inside Secrets How to Get a Badge" off our we site @ http://www.eatstress.com/faq.htm

You should never bring this situation up in an oral interview unless the panel does. Many candidates feel they have to do repair work. It will only bury you. The panel probably won't because this is something that is handled with the background investigator.

All the background investigator is looking for is a reasonable explanation of what happened. Although a DUI is a tough one, this formula can help you overcome this hurdle:

The simple solution is did this situation happen before or since? If not, it can be considered an isolated incident.

Pat was in the hiring process recently with LA County. He had been testing for five years. He had not one but two DUI's. He was DQ'd in the hiring process for San Jose and Sacramento in last year. We gave him this problem solution format to let them know he was a viable candidate.

This is who I was.

This is what changed.

This is who I am now.

This is how he used it:

He told the background investigator and the psychologist that he didn't think he had a drinking problem, until he got his second DUI and did some jail time (this is who he was).

He knew this was not the person he was or wanted to be (this is what changed).

He attended a program to educate himself. He discovered he didn't have a drinking problem, but a behavior situation. He stopped drinking. He went back to school, got his paramedic license, married with children and a model seasoned medic for 8 years. He said it's hard to believe those earlier situations ever occurred. Not once has anything like that happened again.

Guess what? Pat got hired! He proudly wears the badge for LA County Fire Department.

"The secret of success is to know something nobody else knows." --Aristotle Onasssis

Absolutely nothing counts 'til you have the badge. Nothing!

You can find more on testing secrets in the Career Article section from the Jobs drop down menu just above this posting.

"Nothing counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"

Fire "Captain Bob"

www.eatstress.com

[captjab]

First of all, we all make mistakes, some more then others and some can be serious ones. I would not dwell on the DUI and wonder what would happen “if” this or “if” that happens. Just put your best foot forward and try to put the mistake behind you. Never purposely omit the fact that you have had a DUI in any application and when asked by your employer, just step up to the plate and tell him how it was back then, that it was an awful mistake, clouded by young immaturity and a lesson you will never repeat. I have approximately 4 personnel in my department that have had DUI’s and they all have learned the hard way. You will see that most officers are very opened minded and willingly to accept mistakes. Just remember, a mistake is a one-time free pass that offers forgiveness for the mislead. Good luck and hope everything works out for you.

B.T.W. captbob hits it on the head.