Getting back into the workforce after treatment can seem daunting. How do you explain to your employer why you were gone? How do you manage stress? How do you explain gaps in your resume?
These questions can seem frightening and it might be tempting to ignore the idea of working again completely. However, stable employment and finances are an essential part of transitioning from treatment to a life of sobriety.
This article answers all of these questions and gives you tips on how to navigate the high-stress job hunt without compromising your sobriety.
Anxieties About Entering the Workplace
Work can be a significant source of stress. It’s also the place where many people spend a large amount of their time. People may spend more time at work than they do with their families.
How you operate in your workplace as someone in recovery can have a significant impact on your mood, energy, and stress levels. For some people, their workplace can be where their addiction first started.
The stress of work may have been a significant contributor of your drinking or drug use. Substance use may have been a way to cope with the pressures of work or problems with coworkers. You may have developed a drinking habit from going to the bar after work with your coworkers. Because of these past habits, the workplace can be a source of plenty of triggers.
When looking for work, the application process itself can be a major source of anxiety. Finding a job can be extremely difficult for you, especially with a history of addiction.
You may need to explain gaps in your resume, decide if you should disclose your history of addiction, or find jobs that won’t reject you because of past legal issues. Even without these circumstances, applying for jobs can come with plenty of rejection. It might seem that after hundreds of applications, you aren’t getting anywhere.
The inability to gain employment can eat away at your self-esteem. All of these anxieties might make you question why you need to find a job in the first place. Wouldn’t it be easier if you just coasted by? Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple.
Why You Need to Have Stable Employment
It might not be apparent to you why it’s important to hold a steady job. Obviously, you need to be able to support yourself. However, there are plenty of other things that having employment gives you.
At Real Recovery, residents are expected to either look for employment or take classes and pursue a degree that can help them gain employment. This is because we want you to leave Real Recovery with a bright future. If you aren’t doing anything with your time, then you might not have any motivation, nothing driving you.
Besides financial stability, employment can give you something to care about. Your career should be something that you are passionate about.
It can be challenging to turn your passion into something that can be a job, depending on what it is, but you will tend to thrive in jobs where you are doing something that has a purpose.
A job can also give you structure. If you have a job, you’re able to schedule your life around your responsibilities. Your job sort of works like a sun at the center of all of your other obligations while everything else orbits around it. You are able to work on habits, routines, goals, and meetings that keep you busy and allow you to push forward.
The Steps to Finding a New Job
Although you may feel heavy pressure as you search for a new job, there are a set of steps that can help you find and secure employment. Consider the following:
Build a Resume
The very first thing you’ll need to have prepared is a resume. Your resume allows your potential employer to see your job history and why you would be qualified to work there based on your experience.
In your resume, you’ll want to include the name of previous companies, the title of your position, how long you worked there, and your responsibilities in that position. You should also include any degrees or certifications that you have. Every resume that you submit should be tailored to fit the job that you are applying for.
It’s recommended that you have one master resume. This document will have every previous job, volunteer work, work credit, skill, and project that could be useful in a future job.
This document won’t be what you send off to an employer. Instead, this document will serve as a compilation of all of your experiences that might be relevant somewhere. Having this document makes it easier to pick and choose which jobs should be included in the resume that you send to a potential employer.
When building a resume, you’ll want to have your most current job first. At most, you should include three jobs that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
Your resume should fit the type of job you’re seeking. If you’re looking for a corporate position, your resume should look professional, neutral, and minimalist.
If you are looking for a creative job, then it’s appropriate to include a little bit of color and creativity in your resume. At the bottom of your resume, you should include the sentence, “references available upon request.” At most, a resume should be no more than two pages long.
Check Job Boards
There are plenty of job board websites that post local jobs or remote work. Every day, new opportunities are posted. Each posting will include what your responsibilities will be, as well as what type of person they are looking for.
Most job postings will include the name of the position, salary, how many candidates they are hiring, and whether the position is part-time, full-time, or a contract job.
When applying for these jobs, it’s important to pay close attention to the requirements. Some postings might require you to apply on their company’s website. Others might require that you submit proof of credentials, a portfolio, or samples of your work.
If you find that you fit most of their requirements, but not all of them, apply for the position anyway. Some requirements are not as important as others, and they might make an exception for the right candidate.
Attend Job Fairs
Check local events for a job fair. There are employment agencies that host job fairs where you can learn how to build a resume, write a cover letter, and talk to potential employers in person.
Companies will have their own booth where they hope to meet new candidates. If you’re lucky, you might even get hired on site.
Applications are usually available for each company, allowing you to apply for a position and make a great first impression. When you attend a job fair, make sure that you’re dressed as if you’re going to an interview.
Don’t Forget the Cover Letter
Writing a cover letter can go a long way. Many people who apply for jobs forgo this step. Adding a cover letter to your resume can help you stand out.
Your cover letter should include the name of the company, the position you are applying for, and what about you makes you qualified for the position. The tone of the letter should be polite as well as friendly. If you aren’t sure what the letter should look like, look for a cover letter template.
Secure an Interview: How to Make it Successful
Another difficult part of the application process is doing well in your interview. How you do in an interview will most likely be what determines if you have a future at their company.
The first thing you need to consider is how you should dress for the interview. What you wear to an interview depends on the job. A corporation will want you to dress professionally.
If you are looking for a job in customer service, you may wear a polo shirt and khakis. If you’re looking for a labor-intensive job, such as construction work, you won’t be required to dress up at your interview, but you should make sure that your hair is washed, your facial hair is trimmed, and your clothes are clean. It wouldn’t hurt to wear a nice shirt and khakis as well, depending on the employer.
You should arrive fifteen minutes early for your interview. This allows you to get organized, calm down, and drink some water. A minute before your interview, you should let the employer or secretary know that you’re here for an interview.
In the interview itself, you’ll want to make sure that you sit up straight, use direct eye contact, and appear personable, but still respectful. Your employer may ask you questions about your previous employment, as well as some difficult questions like, “What is your greatest weakness?”
When answering these questions, try to be honest, but frame it in a way that reflects how you would be a good fit for the company. At the end of the interview, your employer will probably ask you if you have any questions.
Always ask questions at the end of an interview. Questions that you could ask include:
- What would a typical day be like in this position?
- What is your favorite thing about working here?
- What is the most challenging part about working here?
How to Navigate Workplace Stress
Once you’ve been hired, you’ll need to know how to keep a healthy mindset at your job. The workplace can be triggering considering the amount of stress and your interactions with coworkers.
If you have a difficult project, it’s important to make sure that you’re regulating your stress levels. Take breaks during work, delegate tasks to your coworkers if appropriate, and reach out to your support system if things feel too difficult.
Make sure that you get plenty of exercise and eat nutritious foods. Staying active and eating well can help keep your stress levels down. After work, try some mindfulness activities, such as meditation and yoga, that allow you to take a moment to yourself during your day.
Getting back into the workforce is a vital part of getting back on your feet in recovery. At Real Recovery we expect our residents to eventually have a stable job and financial situation, but we know how difficult navigating the workplace post-treatment can be. There is a lot to manage and a lot of steps that need to be taken. In addition to all of this, you need to take care of your needs and keep your stress levels down. For some, their work environment was the cause of their addiction. They turned to substances to deal with the stress and pressure. Entering the workplace again also means knowing when you need to take a break and how to keep yourself safe while working. Despite all of the obstacles and challenges, working after treatment is still possible. If you would like to learn more, call Real Recovery at (727) 290-9156.
