Let’s say you endured a three-year drug addiction and made it through rehab. You even worked things out with your family. After conquering all this, the next hurdle that you face should seem easy, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.

What’s First?

You needed a job, and the thought of interviewing frightens you. What if they asked about your past? How can you explain the gaps in your employment? Should you tell them about your substance abuse and recovery?

So many questions and fears. AION Recovery has a few tips to help you get past these hurdles.

Secrets to a Successful Job Hunt

You aren’t alone. Looking for (and landing) a job is often a huge part of recovery. This process is already discouraging for most people, but for those in recovery, additional difficulties tend to crop up.

If you’re in recovery and on the hunt for a job, try the following:

• Embrace the Stress
  Did you know some stress can be favorable? It inspires you to take action, maintain focus, and be more passionate. So, accept that interviewing will include some stress and then use it to your benefit. If it starts to feel frustrating, try some relaxation methods to calm yourself prior to the interview.
• Prepare Your Answers
  You’re probably not psychic, so you can’t predict every inquiry an interviewer will ask. But you can make an informed guess about a lot of them. Most interviews include basic questions. Practice your answers before each interview. Prepare instances from previous jobs or volunteer experiences to share. Be ready to talk about your personal strengths and what you can provide the company. This will help you prevent the deer-in-the-headlights look during the interview. Feeling more prepared should also minimize anxiety about the interview.
• Do Your Groundwork
  What do you know about your future employer? Before your interview, make sure the answer to that question is: a lot. Be familiar with what the business stands for, how they’ve gotten where they are today, what their goals are, what their top priorities are, etc. Bring yourself up to speed on any current news in the company. You want to be able to speak intelligently about the organization. This will show enthusiasm, initiative and allow you to explain how you are a good fit for the business.
• Boost Your Self-esteem
  Your battle with chemical dependency may have left your self-esteem in shambles. This can make “selling yourself” at a job interview tough. Remember, the goal is to focus on your positive attributes and what you can offer the company. Self-confidence in an interview goes a long way to making a good, lasting impression. Try writing down some of your strengths and skills. Take additional steps to boost your self-esteem.
• Evaluate the Outcomes
  As the saying goes, honesty is the best policy. This holds true for revealing information about your history with substance abuse. It’s never a good idea to lie in a job interview or on an application. However, if the topic doesn’t come up, you have the power to decide when and if that information should be revealed. Every circumstance is different.

If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, call Aion at 888-811-2879 to speak to a treatment specialist.