5 year pre-employment drug screen

C

cda_to_usa

Well-Known Member
I'm a Canadian (legal authorization to work in the U.S.) trying to get hired with a U.S. airline.

In Canada we don't do drug testing. Is an employer able to hire me if I don't have a 5 year history of drug tests?

Should I start getting myself tested to have documentation?

I'm pretty concerned about problems with the background checks, I have nothing to hide but don't have much to show either.
I also don't have a U.S. drivers license, I can go get one but there won't be any history on a new license for a background check. I can get a report from my Canadian license showing no tickets.

Anybody with any insight into the background checks and what problems I might encounter as a foreigner, I'd appreciate the input.
 
I've never heard of anyone ever having to get a drug test regularly for 5 years. Seems impractical. Perhaps they are referring to criminal records?
 
Now that I think about it, it doesn't make sense. The ad says this,

Must pass a background check and five (5) year pre-employment drug screen.

I'm guessing if you fail there's a record of it somewhere and that would make you ineligible.
 
cda_to_usa said:
I'm a Canadian (legal authorization to work in the U.S.) trying to get hired with a U.S. airline.

In Canada we don't do drug testing. Is an employer able to hire me if I don't have a 5 year history of drug tests?

Should I start getting myself tested to have documentation?

I'm pretty concerned about problems with the background checks, I have nothing to hide but don't have much to show either.
I also don't have a U.S. drivers license, I can go get one but there won't be any history on a new license for a background check. I can get a report from my Canadian license showing no tickets.

Anybody with any insight into the background checks and what problems I might encounter as a foreigner, I'd appreciate the input.
Click to expand...

Why are you coming to America? I'd suspect that there are better flying jobs with better benefits in Canadia...
 
ppragman said:
Why are you coming to America? I'd suspect that there are better flying jobs with better benefits in Canadia...
Click to expand...

It's been a 12 year wait for me to get a family based green card, my kids will naturalize as U.S. citizens if we move to the U.S. It's hard to put a price on the additional opportunities that will give them as well as myself. Unfortunately with the green card it's a "use it or lose it" type deal, I need to make the move.
I'm very competitive experience wise for places like JetBlue, my biggest obstacle is no U.S. work/education history and no network of people to get my name in front of the right people.
 
@mrivc211 It's not that big of a deal, we just hate the typical stereotypes that they put on us for just being Colombians...Drugs and Medellin Cartel, it's just not that funny anymore. It actually is very safe, as a matter of fact...I was in Medellin a month ago and since the day I left Medellin 14 years ago, it had changed tremendously. Of course some areas are still dangerous but so are many areas in the city I live in NC. @desertdog71 is who keeps me in check at our airline.
 
Do you have a job lined up? What are you doing now in Canada?

If you are leaving Canada when you have a job there in hopes that you can catch on with a US based carrier, you are really taking a big chance.
 
tonyw said:
Do you have a job lined up? What are you doing now in Canada?

If you are leaving Canada when you have a job there in hopes that you can catch on with a US based carrier, you are really taking a big chance.
Click to expand...

I'm currently a captain on an Embraer 175, the job is probably on par with being a captain at Republic. Not bad but something I plan to move on from. I should be able to do all my job hunting from Canada so the plan is to get something decent in the U.S. before I quit my current job.
 
Nobody stays in this industry without the frequent, often, and regular usage of drugs. Some like alcohol, others prefer Viagra. Either way, everyone is doing it, so you'll be just fine.
 
cda_to_usa said:
I'm currently a captain on an Embraer 175, the job is probably on par with being a captain at Republic. Not bad but something I plan to move on from. I should be able to do all my job hunting from Canada so the plan is to get something decent in the U.S. before I quit my current job.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. If you want to network, I would suggest leaving the Great White north for a few days to head down to Network JC. I know that a number of connections have been made there that resulted in jobs.

And if not, hey, you get out of Canada when it's cold in October and get to spend a few days in relative warmth of Las Vegas.
 
cda_to_usa said:
I'm a Canadian (legal authorization to work in the U.S.) trying to get hired with a U.S. airline.

In Canada we don't do drug testing. Is an employer able to hire me if I don't have a 5 year history of drug tests?
Click to expand...

Just say you've never failed a drug test.
 
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