Yes it is unfortunate, and maybe unjust; however it is reality. The chances are good that the FAA will give a relative pass on the first and hopefully only DWI, although it very much depends on the circumstances. However the FAA might still request a personal written statement and case records to assist in their evaluation, even with a first arrest. The evaluations are done on a case by case basis with several factors considered. If an arrest comes to the FAA's attention via a medical application; the AME will very likely defer issuance of the certificate pending a decision from Oklahoma City. The reason they now ask about arrest is that many first time offenders manage to get the charge reduced to so something less than a DWI or on rare ocassion to something not related to alcohol; formerly unreportable offenses. Therefore when a person encounters a subsequent DWI arrest and is sucessfully prosecuted it appears to the FAA as that persons first, when in reality a pattern has been established that quite likely signals a person has a substance abuse problem, at the least, as opposed to an isolated lapse of judgment such as having a little to much wine with dinner or being in the wrong place at the wrong time... The FAA is just trying to catch the problem sooner. As far as a job interview with a DWI, many companies won't touch you. The short answer is; if nothing else there are too many applicants that don't have that issue so why should they waste the time.