I had a job interview for a job I really want and one of the questions I got asked was, well what have you done in your year off. I was really torn between being honest or not. But I figured honesty was not the best policy, so I gave my reheresed answer of reconnecting with family and friends, dealing with some issues I had, and devoting more time to my music. I don't know why I feel bad about not being totaly honest. I know saying rehab and then time in a psych hospital would not likely advance me to the second stage of the interview process. But I felt really bad about it. It was almost like I was negating to myself a year's worth of growth and experience.

The other thing I kind of worry about, is how small the publishing industry is. I mean it took me one e-mail and one phone call to find out all about the person interviewing me. I guess I'm kind of worried about what the grapevine will say about me. After all there are some pretty epic stories floating around about my drinking at sales meetings, and it wouldn't be hard to find out that neither I not my reference were totally honest about why I left my last job.

I know I'm putting the cart before the horse, in worrying about this. I think I did ok on the interview, and the recruiter said I got good feedback. I just wish there wasn't so much stigma attached to alcoholism and mental illness.

--splitimage