Starting Over: What Are the Best Jobs for Recovering Addicts?

Depending on your history, such as if you have a criminal record, you may not be required to disclose information about your recovery unless you want to. While it may seem like personal information to share, in many cases, sharing this information upfront can help an employer work with you to ensure they can help support your recovery as well. It is completely up to your own discretion how you would like to handle it. Our course on how to get and keep work in recovery addresses a range of unique job hunting challenges, helping people in the first two years of recovery recognize, build, and communicate their value to prospective employers. We serve a wide range of clients, from those in early recovery looking for that first job in sobriety to someone who has built a new foundation and is working on advancing to the next stage of their career.

Under the Advancing State Policy Integration for Recovery and Employment (ASPIRE) program, the U.S. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs utilizes the IPS model under its Compensating Work Therapy (CWT) program. Every day, you’ll work on your recovery with plenty of time to reflect, rest and just get to know everyone here.

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It can provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which is particularly beneficial for individuals in recovery. With experience, individuals can advance to supervisory or management roles within catering companies or branch out into other areas of hospitality, such as event planning or restaurant management. Catering Staff positions offer recovering addicts a chance to build a stable routine and develop valuable skills in the food service industry. With experience, they can advance to supervisory roles, specialize in areas like HVAC or electrical systems, or pursue additional certifications to enhance their skills and job prospects.

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  • We value our readers’ insights and encourage feedback, corrections, and questions to maintain the highest level of accuracy and relevance.
  • Online courses can be completed either from your home, or partially from home, with some hours on campus.
  • Exercises and discussions provide broad solutions that can be finely tailored to individual job searches in a coaching program.
  • Currently, 327,500 substance abuse counselors are employed in the United States, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  • As you prepare for your job search, you may wonder how to navigate the inevitable gaps on your resume.

It provides opportunities to engage with literature and like-minded individuals, which can be a source of inspiration and support. There are also opportunities to teach jewelry-making skills to others, either through workshops or educational programs. Continued professional development and certification can lead to increased job opportunities and higher earning potential. With experience, Fitness Instructors can advance to become personal trainers, open their own fitness studios, or specialize in areas like rehabilitation, sports conditioning, or nutrition.

Mental Health Resources

Many addicts think that employers won’t even have jobs for recovering addicts. Quite the opposite — there are many companies that go out of their way to offer employment for recovering addicts. This is because recovering addicts are often eager to go the extra mile to ensure success in their work. As clients begin the process of recovery, sooner or later their attention will shift to the necessities of daily life.

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jobs for recovering addicts

In the midst of an active struggle with addiction, people who misuse drugs or alcohol may struggle to hold a job. Seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse can also complicate this process. Taking the steps to re-enter the workforce after seeking substance abuse treatment in a rehab program is one of several challenges a person might face in early recovery. Most often, the term “second chance” hiring refers to the employment of people with a prior criminal conviction. This policy can be applied both to employees who proactively seek help and to those for whom evidence of a potential problem emerged in other ways, such as following a drug test, or based on observations in the workplace. The protocol is summarized in the Sample Second Chance Hiring & Employment Protocol flowchart below.

This Workforce GPS webinar features IPS co-creator, Robert Drake, MD, PhD. A video recording of the webinar, the slides, a transcript, and an executive summary are available. After detox, you’ll start your recovery work with a schedule created just for you. Everyone attends some form of therapy, as well as 12 Step recovery meetings, and there are additional therapies we recommend for people based on their needs.

Nurses, doctors, pharmacists or LPNs who are in recovery may need to think long and hard about their jobs and the access it gives them to drugs. You can remain sober even when surrounded by substances, but it can be more difficult. Changing jobs when you’ve invested so much into your education may be even more of a challenge.

This will help your clients to manage their stress and learn to set goals for themselves. Are you among the 10% who seek treatment out of the 21 million Americans with addiction? Then you may be wondering what jobs for recovering addicts are out there. These individuals help clients improve communication and work through problems with loved ones and family members. No matter what job you are applying for, the job market is tough and highly competitive.

If drugs, alcohol or other substances have made it impossible for you to finish school or continue your career, help is available. At 12 Keys, we understand what it’s like for you and are here to help you start your recovery. For every one of these jobs, there are probably 10 more out there with similar characteristics. Entry-level work that offers you training, a steady paycheck and the chance to gain job skills will help you slowly but surely rebuild your life as you proceed in your recovery. These are just some of the reasons it’s important to stay in your sober house old job.

Finding Employment While In Recovery

America has a high demand for workers in addiction treatment and behavioral health careers. Most counselors work full-time and in a variety of working patterns during the day, evenings, and weekends. For example, substance abuse counselors working for a residential facility may be required to live in the facility for a period of time. Whereas correctional facilities, schools, and hospitals/inpatient environments may require counselors to do shift work in evenings and weekends. Individual practices may be considerably more flexible, and working hours are typically Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. It is important to consider each of these schedule requirements when applying for jobs in the addiction recovery industry, as this is another step toward finding the right schedule for you.

To obtain licensure, the therapist or counselor must obtain a master’s degree, undertake an internship, have completed at least 2,000 hours of supervised practice, pass a licensing exam, and be registered with the state. With a variety of alternatives available, there is assuredly a job opportunity out there for each individual on the journey of recovery. Working as an Animal Caretaker can be the first step in a fulfilling career in animal welfare or veterinary services. With experience, Fitness Trainers can advance to managerial roles within gyms or wellness centers, become specialized trainers, or even open their own fitness businesses.

  • In order to keep your new job, following common sense rules is often the best way to stay employed.
  • You may be invited to participate in EMDR, a new therapy to release trauma or have an extra group or individual counseling sessions added to your schedule.
  • Asking after your own well-being is a supportive strategy for addiction recovery—as is attending to your personal needs.
  • You may also consider opening your own fitness studio, becoming a fitness influencer, or advancing to managerial roles within a fitness facility.
  • It is important to consider each of these schedule requirements when applying for jobs in the addiction recovery industry, as this is another step toward finding the right schedule for you.
  • There are a range of counseling careers that differ in terms of the level of support and expertise provided, and the qualifications and licensure required for the position.

Searching for employment can be a stressful process, even for people who aren’t in early recovery from drug addiction. Updating your resume, preparing for interviews, and returning to work can feel like a lot. During this time, it’s important to check in with yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Networking is a great tool … for those who haven’t been isolated by the disease of addiction. You may have business owners within your support group https://northiowatoday.com/2025/01/27/sober-house-rules-what-you-should-know-before-moving-in/ who would consider hiring you, or people who would be glad to act as references. Support groups are also a great place to learn about job openings and leads.

With experience, Yoga Instructors can advance to open their own studios, specialize in yoga therapy, lead teacher training programs, or develop wellness retreats tailored to individuals in recovery. With experience, Addiction Counselors can advance to supervisory or managerial positions, specialize in certain types of addiction, work in policy development, or focus on community outreach and education programs. This role is ideal for recovering addicts who wish to give back and help others on their journey to recovery.

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