After a long battle with addiction, you’re finally celebrating six months of sobriety. This is a huge accomplishment. You can now focus on your career. You start applying for jobs and manage to clinch an interview with your dream company.

But how do you prepare for a job interview after recovery? And should you even tell your future employer about your past battle with addiction? Below, we share a few tips for navigating job interviews after addiction recovery.

1.Research the Company

Even though you should prepare to talk about your recovery journey in case it comes up, you need to prepare for other aspects of the interview as well. Before you attend an interview, make sure you thoroughlyresearch the company．Read about the company’s mission and the work that they do. This will demonstrate to an employer that you are well-informed about the organization, which will also help you answer questions like, “Why do you want to work here?”

In addition, do some googling to see if there’s any recent news about the organization. If you havea social media account, it may be helpful to follow them on social networking sites to gather additional information.

2.Dress Professionally

Creating a positive first impression during the job interviewstarts with dressing the part. You want to chooseappropriate clothing for the interview．Depending on the company, this might include business casual or formal business attire. Do your research to find out which is the most appropriate for the employer you’re interviewing with.

Often, addiction recovery can lead to a loss of earnings, especially if you had to take time off to go to a residential treatment facility. Not working for some time may pose financial challenges for people who need professional attire, such as suits, which can be expensive. Thankfully, there are programs designed tohelp people recovering from addictionget the professional wardrobe they need.

In addition to local places of worship or a local community center, here are a few organizations you can reach out to:

• 100 Suits for 100 Men
• Dress for Success
• Goodwill
• Project Smile
• Salvation Army

3.Know Your Rights

There arelegal protections for job seekers who are recovering from addiction．TheAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA)prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals with substance abuse disorders who aren’t currently using drugs.

Once you’re hired, your employer must provide reasonable accommodations for you to perform your duties successfully. For example, you could ask for medical care to support your sobriety. Or, you could request to attend the annual conference virtually.

4.Decide if You Wish to Disclose

Diclosing your addiction recoveryis a personal choice．There is no simple answer as to whether you should or shouldn’t tell a hiring manager about your time spent using rehabilitation services.

However, if you have a significantemployment gapon your resume, you may need to open up about your addiction recovery journey. Bear in mind thathow much you want to disclose to the hiring teamis entirely your choice.

If you choose to tell a hiring manager, here are some tips that may help:

• Make it clear that addiction is in your past and that you’re committed to sobriety.
• Keep your disclosure simple. Don’t provide all the intricate details of your addiction.
• Ask for the help you need, such as extra time to complete projects.
• Focus on your success in achieving sobriety.

5.Don’t Get Worn Down by Rejection

Sometimes, even though it’s not supposed to happen, hiring managers may be unwilling to hire people who have recovered from addiction. It’s important not to take this personally. Manypeople aren’t well-informed about the nature of addiction recovery．

Though it always stings to berejected for a role, it’s important to remember that other employers are willing to give you a fair chance. Continue toapply to other jobs, and don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

To maintain your well-being, practice self-care. Check in with your support group for encouragement. Go for walks, do yoga, or meditate. Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate. Do what feels best for you.

6.Connect With Your Recovery Team

Sometimes,your treatment center may have employment resourcesavailable to help you find and land a job. Even if they don’t have a program in place, they may know of community resources that are available. Don’t be afraid to reach out to them for help. Remember, they’re committed to your success.

7.Practice Answering Standard Interview Questions

While you can’t know the exact questions a hiring manager will ask you, some questions come up more than others. Practice answering common job interview questions with a friend or family member. If that’s not available to you, a career coach can also assist you withmock interviews．

Here are a few examples of questions a hiring manager may ask:

• Why are you interested in working for our company?
• What are your career goals?
• Tell me about your proudest accomplishment.
• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Why should we hire you?

8.社会化媒体的注意

Although you might be comfortable sharing your recovery process with family and friends, you might not be ready to disclose that information to a potential employer.

Manyemployers admit to checking the social media profilesof prospective employees. If you don’t want to share this information with a company, adjust your privacy settings accordingly.

9.Focus on Your Strengths

Thejob interview is an opportunity to sell an employer on why you’re the best candidatefor the role. Make sure to highlight your strengths and abilities. Do you speak another language that’s used in a region where the company frequently conducts business? Do you have a special certification or degree a prospective employer may find desirable? Be sure to highlight your unique qualifications during the interview.

If you’ve chosen to disclose that you’re in recovery, be sure to emphasize how you’ve been able toovercome challenges．告诉招聘经理你如何坚持through the recovery process despite any difficulties. Hiring managers often want to know if prospective employees have the stamina to handle challenging situations. It can also put to rest any fears they may have about employing someone in addiction recovery.

10.Ask Questions

Remember, an interview is a two-way street. You’re also interviewing the company to determine if they are a good fit for you. Make sure to ask questions during the interview. Rather than trying to recite them from memory, you can write your questions down on a piece of paper ahead of time.

Here are a fewquestions you may want to ask a prospective employer:

• Can you describe a typical day in this job?
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What challenges is the company currently facing?
• How often can I work from home (if it’s aninterview for a hybrid job)?
• How do you communicate with remote employees?

Nail Your Next Interview

Successfully recovering from addiction is a huge accomplishment. But navigating an interview after recovery can feel scary. By following these tips, you can have a great interview and start on the path to a successful career.

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