Addiction has profound effects on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical health. However, the effects of addiction can be further widespread, impacting a person’s professional life. For some, the use of drugs or alcohol may have also resulted in losing a job. Even after navigating effective treatment at Hawaii Island Recovery’s rehab centers in Hawaii, rejoining the workforce is a huge step. While there can be challenges ahead for balancing continued recovery efforts and professional employment, knowing how to approach the situation after losing a job due to substance use is paramount for reestablishing a healthy and fulfilling career.
How Addiction Can Lead To Losing a Job
Losing a job due to substance use can take many forms. Exploring not just the effects of alcohol and drugs but how exactly they affect a person’s professional life is necessary to create a plan for a sober career in the future. For some, failing a regular drug test can result in losing a job, just as showing up still intoxicated from the use of drugs or alcohol. However, drugs and alcohol can affect a person’s professional career in other, indirect ways.
A compromised workplace performance can be common for those living with addiction, even if an individual is not engaging with drugs or alcohol in the workplace. Persistent hangovers can also make it difficult to tend to professional responsibilities, affecting a person’s overall attendance by more frequently calling out sick, missing days, or showing up late as addictive substances disrupt routines.
Others may have a license revoked after being arrested for a DUI, which can cause an individual to have to leave their job if they have no alternative means of transport. However, when losing a job occurs, navigating the situation and the various effects of addiction alongside professionals is necessary to create a plan to rejoin the workforce, not only to avoid these situations in the future but also to navigate interviews and field difficult questions should they arise.
Seeking Employment After Losing a Job
Alumni of Hawaii Island Recovery will still have to face many changes, and preparing for the stresses of seeking employment after losing a job is necessary. This time can be challenging, but it is always possible to regain fulfilling employment as a sober alumnus.
Stay Committed to Recovery and Sobriety
Addiction recovery is an ongoing process, and nobody is ever “done” with their sober journey. Rather, continuing to commit to sobriety, updating strategies, navigating urges and cravings, and more are all necessary. Even while looking for a new job, continuing to engage in effective outpatient treatment and staying connected to sober peers and communities like those at Hawaii Island Recovery is paramount.
Likewise, no alumnus should have to choose between their continued sober commitment and their job. Being selective about job opportunities that can make accommodations and adapt schedules to fit with continued recovery efforts can be necessary. If an individual commits to a job that compromises their recovery efforts or introduces a toxic work environment, it can increase the chances of relapse and exacerbate the challenges ahead.
Prepare for Difficult Interview Questions
Navigating interviews as a sober alumnus can be difficult. It is important to practice answering questions about why there may be gaps in a person’s resume. Some may want to avoid discussing their history with addictive substances and keep answers vague. Answering interview questions in the present can also be beneficial for distancing oneself from past mistakes that resulted in losing a job, such as outlining time management skills learned in treatment and current hobbies, interests, skills, and more.
Focus On Volunteering Opportunities
Volunteering while looking for a job can also go a long way in showing commitment and developing skills to help find a new career. For some, these volunteer positions can turn into jobs, while others can use the skills, routine, responsibility, and accountability to transition to paid positions at other locations. Having volunteer positions on a resume can also further position a person as a changed individual after addiction treatment.
Network With Sober Peers After Losing a Job
Losing a job can be challenging, but knowing the right people can help get a person back on track with their professional development. Professional networking alongside sober peers can not only introduce an individual to new opportunities for employment but also eliminate the fear of stigmas or judgment based on past mistakes. Sober peers can introduce an individual to work environments that are understanding and supportive of an alumnus’s recovery efforts and can even create accommodating workplace environments.
Be Honest
While avoiding some difficult questions may be possible, that doesn’t mean a person should lie to avoid these situations. Working with family, peers, and professionals to become more comfortable talking about the past can empower alumni to be upfront, honest, and confident in interviews. Practicing answering difficult questions can ensure that an individual can effectively communicate the situation and how they have healed, recovered, and moved on from those circumstances while highlighting the skills and insights gained to create an honest dialogue for potential employment.
Losing a job is a very difficult situation to navigate. However, we at Hawaii Island Recovery are committed to helping you not just navigate the effects of addiction but also establish a healthy and fulfilling sober life. Our unique approach to recovery involves addressing the symptoms of addiction while personalizing your treatment goals to build applicable skills to help you find a job after treatment. We also introduce you to an accepting community of peers to help you navigate these difficult transition times with the necessary support and options for a healthy future. For more information on how our rehab centers in Hawaii can empower you to find a job after treatment, call us today at (866) 390-5070.
