[splitimage]

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

[Raynaadi]

I think its in "The Rock" where they say "you're on a need to know basis, and you don't need to know."

Split, you're sober now. So does the past drinking really matter in the current situation? Yes, you lost your last job because you were a drinker. WERE a drinker. Wouldn't it more dishonest if they had in their head that you are a problem drinker? Now, if you still drank, then yes, it would be dishonest not to clue them into why you lost your last job. But you're a different person. There was the person who drank, and now the person who is sober. So does it matter that they don't know you used to drink?

I'm in the same boat. My job knows nothing about my multiple sclerosis. When asked what I did with my time off, I said I took care of Grandma, which is true. Yes, I was also disabled at the time, but I'm not any more, so they don't need to know that. My MS is in remission, just like our alcoholism.

Stigmas suck, yes. Unfortunately we're powerless over that. Your higher power wants you to be employed and happy. So the words came out of your mouth that were supposed to come out of your mouth.

You're no longer a problem drinker. Thats the main point here. These people have met the sober you and thats what matters. The past is the past. We don't regret it or shut the door on it, but we don't have to scream it from the rafters either. Thats for meetings and time with friends.

So don't look at it as dishonesty. You just omitted something that's no one's damn business.

Good luck to you! I hope you get it!

[StarPonysMama]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Raynaadi said:
I think its in "The Rock" where they say "you're on a need to know basis, and you don't need to know."

You're no longer a problem drinker. Thats the main point here. These people have met the sober you and thats what matters. The past is the past. We don't regret it or shut the door on it, but we don't have to scream it from the rafters either. Thats for meetings and time with friends.

So don't look at it as dishonesty. You just omitted something that's no one's damn business.

Good luck to you! I hope you get it!

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[youOme]

You did the right thing..

It's not lie lying, it's more submissive, but for the right reasons obviously. It's not their concern anyway, they just want to make sure your answers are cool and collected and the answer you gave was perfect.

Don't feel bad for protecting your privacy and doing what you got to do to get a job...there's nothing wrong with what you did.