Careers in recovery (National Recovery Month)
It's fairly common knowledge that a person in recovery, who used to be in active use, likely may have had trouble with the law. Many people in early recovery are faced with the real struggle of having a criminal record and a need to earn an income. We are starting to see good things happen to help people in recovery, who are changing their lives for the better, find employment, even with a record.
For me this was reality in early recovery, and even years into being a person in recovery. After my meth fueled dark days spanning 1994-1996 I was left with something I never in my life believed would be true for me. I was marked as a convicted felon. Just like my previous blog, discussing the stress of finances for someone in early recovery, this blog discussing careers for people in recovery. There was massive stress attached to having the title "convicted felon" attached to my name. I carried that with me for 15 years.........years after I had made the change. The decision to discontinue drug use, and having zero issues with the law, it still followed me, everywhere I went. Mind you, I was not a murderer, a rapist, or a habitual offender of any kind. My two felonies were directly related to my drug use. Once I was in recovery I had zero issues with the law other than a speeding ticket. That was it.
So, to back up, early recovery, with a criminal record, is hard. It is hard to get a job. The second you check the box that asks in differing ways "do you have a record", that is usually the end of it. Employers toss it in the garbage. I experienced this many times. This is also true when trying to find a place to live...same question, same response. Thus, finding a job in early recovery can be difficult.
But, it is possible. Many industries are willing to hire people with a record. What I would do is try to get to a hiring manager before turning in my application to discuss my scenario. When I was able to do this, it increased my chances of getting hired. The other thing that worked well is networking. People who knew me, and, knew the changes I was making, would go to bat for me and get me an interview. I was hired in 1998 by Fred Meyer with a criminal record. This happened because my brother-in-law went to bat for me with his boss and I got an interview. An opportunity to tell my story beside just filling out an application and hoping for the best after checking the box. I turned that opportunity into a nearly ten year career with Fred Meyer. We are in good times for jobs right now and I can almost guarantee that a person in recovery with a record can get a job if they use networking skills, and are able to explain their life changes to someone making a hiring decision.
Our state is one that is following a trend across the nation to "ban the box". No longer can an application have a line that asks the question "have you ever been convicted of crime" on the initial application. Now, before you get all worked up this doesn't mean employers aren't going to be able to do background checks, or, even ask the question. What it means is that it won't be allowed on the initial application. What does this do? It helps the person in recovery get face to face with a hiring manager or business owner to get to know them and explain their scenario. It's a beautiful thing for the over 24 million people in recovery who have changed their lives and are productive members of society, but, might have a record due to past issues due to substance use and behavior that followed.
One other thing to note is many convictions, if they are not violent crimes, can be vacated/expunged from your record. I was able to go back to the courts in 2010 and have my felonies vacated from my record. I can't tell you how amazing it felt to be able to stand in front of a judge in the same courtroom where I was convicted to be able to have those convictions wiped clear. This one act opened up many doors for me from that point to this very day. I LOVE having background checks done on me today! No longer do I have to say the words I used to have attached to my name....convicted felon. Gone!
There is hope, it is possible, you can do amazing things as a person in recovery in the working world. Myself and many others just like me have done it.
For me this was reality in early recovery, and even years into being a person in recovery. After my meth fueled dark days spanning 1994-1996 I was left with something I never in my life believed would be true for me. I was marked as a convicted felon. Just like my previous blog, discussing the stress of finances for someone in early recovery, this blog discussing careers for people in recovery. There was massive stress attached to having the title "convicted felon" attached to my name. I carried that with me for 15 years.........years after I had made the change. The decision to discontinue drug use, and having zero issues with the law, it still followed me, everywhere I went. Mind you, I was not a murderer, a rapist, or a habitual offender of any kind. My two felonies were directly related to my drug use. Once I was in recovery I had zero issues with the law other than a speeding ticket. That was it.
So, to back up, early recovery, with a criminal record, is hard. It is hard to get a job. The second you check the box that asks in differing ways "do you have a record", that is usually the end of it. Employers toss it in the garbage. I experienced this many times. This is also true when trying to find a place to live...same question, same response. Thus, finding a job in early recovery can be difficult.
But, it is possible. Many industries are willing to hire people with a record. What I would do is try to get to a hiring manager before turning in my application to discuss my scenario. When I was able to do this, it increased my chances of getting hired. The other thing that worked well is networking. People who knew me, and, knew the changes I was making, would go to bat for me and get me an interview. I was hired in 1998 by Fred Meyer with a criminal record. This happened because my brother-in-law went to bat for me with his boss and I got an interview. An opportunity to tell my story beside just filling out an application and hoping for the best after checking the box. I turned that opportunity into a nearly ten year career with Fred Meyer. We are in good times for jobs right now and I can almost guarantee that a person in recovery with a record can get a job if they use networking skills, and are able to explain their life changes to someone making a hiring decision.
Our state is one that is following a trend across the nation to "ban the box". No longer can an application have a line that asks the question "have you ever been convicted of crime" on the initial application. Now, before you get all worked up this doesn't mean employers aren't going to be able to do background checks, or, even ask the question. What it means is that it won't be allowed on the initial application. What does this do? It helps the person in recovery get face to face with a hiring manager or business owner to get to know them and explain their scenario. It's a beautiful thing for the over 24 million people in recovery who have changed their lives and are productive members of society, but, might have a record due to past issues due to substance use and behavior that followed.
One other thing to note is many convictions, if they are not violent crimes, can be vacated/expunged from your record. I was able to go back to the courts in 2010 and have my felonies vacated from my record. I can't tell you how amazing it felt to be able to stand in front of a judge in the same courtroom where I was convicted to be able to have those convictions wiped clear. This one act opened up many doors for me from that point to this very day. I LOVE having background checks done on me today! No longer do I have to say the words I used to have attached to my name....convicted felon. Gone!
There is hope, it is possible, you can do amazing things as a person in recovery in the working world. Myself and many others just like me have done it.
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