Looking for a new job can be frustrating and challenging. You have to find job listings that align with your skills, interests, and experience. You have to update your résumé. You have to personalize your cover letter for each application you submit. You need to find the right clothes for an interview. And once you land that interview, you have to try to impress people you are meeting for the very first time—while trying not to seem like you are trying to impress them.
It can be a long process in the best of circumstances.
For a person in recovery from a substance use disorder, however, there are additional challenges. For example, maybe your use of drugs or alcohol led to gaps in your work history or even to a firing that does not look great on your résumé. Maybe you need to find a job that offers enough flexibility that you can continue attending 12-Step or other recovery program meetings. Perhaps the pressure of finding work threatens to become overwhelming and puts you at risk of experiencing a relapse.
What can you do in the face of these obstacles? We have some suggestions.
Don’t Share Too Much Too Soon
A substance use disorder is a chronic disease. When it comes to other chronic health issues like diabetes or Crohn’s disease or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), you would be unlikely to disclose these conditions in the early stages of a conversation with a potential employer. That should be your strategy when it comes to a substance use disorder, too.
You do not need to list it in your paperwork or mention it in your cover letter. You do not need to bring it up in a phone or online interview or immediately upon sitting across the desk from a hiring executive. Your substance use disorder is not relevant to the conversation about your job qualifications at these early stages.
Now, gaps in your work history may bring lead a hiring team to ask you for an explanation at some point—even in the early part of the process. And there may be good reasons for talking about your substance use disorder as the process moves forward.
Decide Ahead of Time How Much You Are Willing to Disclose and When
Any chronic health problem—including a substance use disorder—is personal and private. Different people are going to have different levels of comfort when it comes to talking about their struggles with drugs or alcohol.
In many cases—as when you are explaining a gap in your work history—you may be well served by simply saying you faced a difficult medical issue that needed to be addressed. You may need to provide some additional details if you need some flexibility in your schedule to continue treatment or attend recovery meetings. But even in that situation, you could decide only to mention that your health issues require ongoing care.
We want to be clear here: You have no reason to be ashamed of the fact that you are in recovery. Still and all, it is understandable that you may not want to share each and every detail with your employer (or your future co-workers). Depending on where you are in your recovery journey, there may be a limited need to share any details you are not comfortable sharing.
One additional caveat: A potential employer is likely to check your references. While they cannot ask you—or anyone else—about your health, they are allowed to consider any criminal record or firing that resulted from your drug or alcohol use. That may mean you simply have to share more details. If that happens, you should emphasize that you are committed to leaving those issues in the past and moving forward.
Treat Each Rejection as a Learning Experience and Treat a New Job as a Starting Point
Job searches often involve rejection—sometimes a lot of rejection. To keep your spirits up and your recovery intact, it is key to think of each rejection as a learning experience. If you fail to land a particular job, think back on the process and consider what you might have done differently. Sometimes, you will have done quite well but simply not be the strongest candidate. Other times, you might have the opportunity to think about how you might answer a given question or questions in the future.
When you do land a job—and you will!—think of it as a starting point rather than your final destination. After all, you might not land your dream job right away, but you can put in the work that will get you ready for the next opportunity that comes your way. And, of course, the key to staying ready is doing the work of maintaining your recovery.
Our Job Is to Help You
At The Aviary Recovery Center, located near St. Louis, Missouri, we take our job very seriously. We are committed to helping individuals overcome substance use disorders (as well as co-occurring mental health disorders) so they can rebuild their lives and pursue their goals.
We are consistently recognized as one of the top substance use disorder treatment facilities in the nation, and we are ready to provide you with exceptional, personalized, and empathetic care.
