For teens and young adults who have completed a substance use treatment program and are in recovery, finding a job can be a priority. For many, this may be their first time entering the job market. This can bring a different set of challenges, especially when trying to manage recovery from substance use. Ember Recovery is not only committed to helping teens and young adults get on a sober path. We also want to provide the tools they need to be successful in all areas, including their job search in recovery. We have compiled some helpful tips to get on the right path.
Potential Obstacles People May Face During Their Job Search in Recovery
While searching for a job in recovery, it’s essential to be aware of the potential obstacles one may face so that you can be ready to tackle them head-on. These are three of the most common:
Stigma Surrounding Substance Use and Recovery
Some employers may view substance use as a sign of poor judgment, even after someone has completed rehab. If you encounter this hurdle, you must show that you have exercised good judgment in seeking treatment and are now trying to gain responsibility by getting a job.
Limited Job Skills
If this is your first time entering the job market, you may have limited job skills to offer an employer. If you had to leave a job for treatment, you may also not have the amount of skills you’d like to show off. While this can be an obstacle, you can emphasize your effort and drive to learn and return to the game.
Legal Issues
If you have a criminal record that is tied to your substance use, this could become an issue when trying to get a job. Be honest with potential employers and explain how you’ve learned from your mistakes.
Tips to Handle a Job Search in Recovery
Despite the obstacles you may face during a job search in recovery, it’s essential to remain positive and always put your best foot forward. Here are some tips to help you land that job:
Build Your Resume
Building a resume for a first job can be difficult without prior work experience. But you can still list your education and any other experience, internships, or volunteer work related to the job you’re applying for.[1]
Also, tailor your resume to include keywords that align with the position you’re applying for. Research these words because many employers use applicant tracking software to sort through applications to find the best matches for their open positions.
Look for Job Training or Education Programs During Your Job Search in Recovery
If you want to build your skills, look for job training or education programs to help you develop what you need to succeed. These programs can provide support and structure while you recover and search for a job. Look for programs that match your interests and goals so that you can get the most out of them.
Be Open and Honest During the Job Search in Recovery
Be open and honest about your recovery with potential employers. Many employers are open to hiring people in recovery. If you can be open about your situation, you can have a better chance of finding a job that perfectly fits you.
Address Employment Gaps
Young adults going through recovery may have employment gaps on their resume that could cause concern with potential employers. Explain how your recovery made you take a break for a while and that you are now ready to return to work.
You can also address employment gaps by highlighting any education or training you may have received. Discuss how your skills can also be an asset to the job despite your employment gap.
Don’t Get Discouraged
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get hired right away. Finding a job takes time, and you may have to settle for temporary work to show off your skills. As you demonstrate your reliability and commitment, your employer should recognize and reward this behavior.
Understand Your Rights While Navigating the Job Market
Understanding your rights while navigating the job market during recovery is extremely important. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, an employer cannot discriminate against you if you disclose a past substance use disorder during an interview or on an application.[2] All applicants should be treated equally during the hiring process despite their past substance use.
Seek Help for a Substance Use Disorder at Ember Recovery
Ember Recovery provides various treatment programs for youth, teens, and young adults aged 12-24. Our team is committed to finding the right program and therapies to get each client on the path to sobriety and the tools to prevent relapse.
Contact us today to learn more about our two locations to begin treatment for a substance use disorder.
Sources:
[1] https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/how-to-make-a-resume-for-your-first-job [2] https://www.usccr.gov/files/pubs/ada/ch4.htm
Andrea Dickerson is a Licensed Therapist and Certified Substance Use Counselor who has worked in behavioral health since 1997. Currently, Andrea is the Director of Behavioral Health, overseeing the Ember residential treatment programs and YSS outpatient counseling clinics throughout Central and North Central Iowa. She became a Motivational Interviewing (MI) trainer in 2006 and provides MI trainings throughout Iowa.
Andrea specializes in working with adolescents and their families and enjoys seeing the family relationships grow through therapy. Andrea is also a CARF International Surveyor, going around North America ensuring behavioral health organizations are meeting required standards.
In her free time, Andrea enjoys cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, as well as being an active member of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA), a global organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. She has been a member of the SI of Des Moines club since 2012 and has been actively involved at the regional level, currently serving as Co-Governor of the Peaks to Plains Region.
Through her involvement in SIA, Andrea has been actively involved in the Dream Programs, coordinating annual Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls projects, which give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.