Jooble: Why Working After Recovery is Important
After recovery, you not only need a stable job to support yourself financially each month, but a stable job will help you find your place in society again. Whatever your recovery from addiction. It is particularly important to find a job that both gives you the opportunity for personal development and supports your sobriety. When you find a suitable job, it will help you develop a structured daily routine, which can reduce the risk of relapse. On the other hand, it can help you gain new experiences and skills that can distract you from your past addiction, and it can also help you find a supportive environment where you are not scolded for your past and are supported in your future development.
How to Start Looking for a Job
Looking for a job after recovery can be daunting, but job search portal Jooble has put together some steps that can provide the right strategy.
1. Assess your individual skills
Before you start looking for a job, think about what individual skills you have that you would like to develop in the future. Based on this, try to determine what job skills would suit you. Perhaps there is a profession you could return to after a previous job or, if not, encourage you to learn new skills.
2. Use job search resources
- Job centres and non-profit organisations can help you find a job.
- Special programs such as second chance employers who knowingly hire recovering addicts.
- Online job portals where you can screen for jobs that do not require a criminal record or previous experience.
3. CV and interview preparation
- If there are gaps in your CV because of your past, it’s worth filling them in with volunteer or learning experience.
- Be prepared to talk about your past at interview – honesty and a positive attitude can help.
Best Job Opportunities After Recovery
Not all jobs are equally suitable for recovering addicts. The following jobs may be particularly good choices, as they are flexible, less stressful and offer opportunities for self-development.
1. Physical and manual work
These jobs are structured, less stressful and do not require long training.
- Construction labourer
- Gardener or park maintenance
- Cook or baker
- Electrician, plumber, painter (if trained)
2. Customer service and administrative jobs
If you have good communication skills, these jobs may be suitable.
- Customer service representative
- Data entry clerk
- Virtual assistant
3. IT and telecommuting
Online jobs give you the chance to start afresh without having to check your past.
- Data entry
- Website development
- Coding or programming (if you’re learning)
4. Social and helping professions
If you want to help others, the following areas can be inspiring:
- Addiction counselling (if you have been sober for a while)
- Social worker assistant
- Mental health aide (if you are already a mental health aide (if you are a recovering addict)
5. Entrepreneurship and self-employment
If you are finding it difficult to find work, you may want to start your own business.
- Freelance writing, graphic design, marketing
- Selling handicraft products (e.g. Etsy, webshop)
- Driver (e.g. food delivery)
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, whatever you’ve built up from protection, you should be incredibly proud of yourself. This move can change your whole life and can be the start of a successful long-term career.