4 Tips for Finding A Job And Building a Career After Rehab

One of the most difficult aspects of rebuilding a happy, healthy, and well-balanced life after finding long-lasting sobriety is finding a stable job. Even more difficult is building a career that you enjoy while empowering you to grow both professionally and personally.

This is largely because of the stigma placed against those who have suffered from substance use disorder (SUD) in the past, the false belief that their sobriety is unlikely to last, and any legal issues that may have occurred before entering recovery.

Combine these factors, and it creates a daunting proposition for those looking to reenter the workforce. It is not at all uncommon to feel hopeless when beginning this process. In today’s article, we will explore how to find a job after finding sobriety and building a long-term, meaningful career.

How to Build a Career After Rehab

Finding a job and building a career are some of the biggest and most important steps of any successful recovery journey. While it can seem daunting at first, there are many organizations, programs, and well-intentioned individuals out there eager to help you find work and help empower the next phase of your life. With some thought and planning, it is entirely possible to find work that excites you after rehab.

Overcoming the Resume Gap

If you have suffered from SUD, it is not uncommon to have lengthy gaps in your resume or a sporadic work history. While that is not exactly appealing to employers, there are ways to strengthen your resume and help you secure a job.

Make sure to create a recovery-friendly resume that plays to your strengths instead of highlighting your past substance use disorder. Additionally, if you are struggling to get favorable responses from your applications, consider making targeted resumes for each individual job posting that directly addresses the bullet points in the job description.

Another excellent way to give yourself a leg up against the competition is by writing personalized cover letters. Cover letters provide you with an opportunity to speak directly with potential employers and explain why you are the best possible fit for the position being offered.

How to Find a Job While in Recovery: 4 Actionable Steps

When trying to find a job after rehab, there are many things to consider, as well as resources available to assist you throughout the process.

1. Look For Assistance Programs and Initiatives

Many states offer assistance programs and initiatives to those who have recently found sobriety, helping them to get back on their feet and rejoin the workforce in a meaningful way.

These programs can sometimes lead to direct employment in the form of a job or point you in the right direction and guide you toward other opportunities that could potentially be a good fit for you and your individual skill set.

2. Don’t Mention Your Past Substance Use Disorder Unless You Have To

When interviewing with a potential employer, it is generally advisable to focus on the person you are in the present and the positive attributes you bring to the table that will make you a valuable component of their business’s success. Speaking at length about your previous battle with SUD may cause doubt or concern to arise in their minds and thus make it less likely for you to land the job.

Under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there are certain questions that potential employers can and cannot legally ask you. These laws ensure your privacy and state that you do not have to answer any questions about drugs that have been legalized in the United States (alcohol and prescription drugs, for example). 

The one major caveat to this law, however, is that it does not extend to illegal drugs or whether you have any previous criminal convictions in your history. Employers are allowed to ask about these at their own discretion.

3. Leverage Your Personal Network and Connections

Personal connections and relationships are one of the most effective ways to find a job. This is particularly true for those in recovery after battling substance use disorder. People who know you personally understand the struggles that you have endured and the strength and resilience that it took to find a way out.

This knowledge of your journey can allow them to see what other potential employers view as negative as a testament to your inner strength. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the people that you know who may be decision makers at companies or businesses that you think could be a good fit for you and your skill set, but understand that they may not be in the position to offer you a job. That’s okay. Take any advice or help you can get, and always be appreciative toward them regardless of the outcome.

4. Keep Your Head Up and Don’t Give Up

Job hunting can be a daunting process for anyone, even during the best of times. While rejection is an inevitable part of the process, the rejections can pile up and begin to make you feel like it’s your fault or that you’re doing something wrong.

While it is important to take inventory of what you are doing when applying for jobs and look for ways that you can improve your applications, sometimes it’s just the luck of the draw. You can apply to hundreds of jobs that you are well-qualified for and hear nothing back or land an offer on the first application. A certain degree of randomness is normal and to be expected throughout the process.

Start Living a Healthier, More Well-Rounded Life Today With SoberMind Recovery

SoberMind Recovery is a Los Angeles recovery center offering a variety of specialized treatment programs, ranging from LGBTQ sober living to dual diagnosis treatment. In addition to these popular options, they also offer individual, group, and cognitive behavioral therapy options.

Our mission is to provide individualized, research-backed care in a compassionate and high-quality environment while making a difference in the world of addiction. We aim to help people achieve long-lasting recovery and lead better and fuller lives.

Residents of the Los Angeles area are encouraged to call today 100% free of charge at 818-835-9268 or 819-398-8047 to see if our compassionate, evidence-based treatment options are a good fit for you and your recovery plan.