Your driving record may impact your job search

Your quest to find a new job in South Carolina may require you to prepare to answer questions about your past. Requests for information about your previous job experience, your education, your volunteer work, your skills and even your driving experience may influence a potential employer’s decision to hire you.

If the jobs you are applying for require you to drive company vehicles or operate various machinery or equipment, your driving record will play a significant role in determining your employment. Understanding just how much of an impact your driving record has, may help you adequately prepare for your job search.

Satisfactory, probationary and unacceptable

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, a background check may include a comprehensive look at your motor vehicle driving record if your responsibilities require you to operate company equipment. Depending on the information available about your driving experience, you may fall into one of three categories. These include the following:

• Unacceptable: Serious traffic violations including involvement in an at-fault accident where your actions resulted in serious injury or death, violations involving alcohol or drug consumption, revocation or suspension of your license, leaving the scene of an accident or excessive moving violations within a short period of time.
• Probationary: Some traffic violations that may concern your employer and result in their desire to periodically check your record to determine you are abiding by company policies. Depending on your employer, any traffic violation within the probationary period may result in the termination of your job.
• Satisfactory: Your driving record indicates that you are a responsible, vigilant and safe driver.

Your record affects your company’s reputation

Understanding that your behavior, while operating company vehicles or equipment is a direct reflection of the company you work for, may incentivize you to practice responsible driving. If you would like to learn more about resolving your traffic tickets, please visit our webpage.