Recovery: Identifying Your Career - Options

Now that you have gotten treatment behind you, and you are working your 12 step program. You probably have asked yourself - this question. What should I do with my life? What direction should I be taking? Why is this so important? As my grandmother use to say, years ago ... an idol mind is the devil's workshop ... literally speaking. If you do not take the initiative to plan and set goals. You could possibly, end up, going from job-to-job. Years could, pass you by and you're still in a job; that's not the right fit for you.

Most treatment programs offer case management that covers most aspects of setting personal goals. However, when I went to treatment many years ago - unfortunately; I honestly don't remember someone seating down with me, and helping me to plan, direction for my life. I learned it along the way. When you're not aware of what your abilities, talents, and gifts are. You go through life without a sense of purpose. You are not happy with work and you begin to dread going. At least, that's what it was for me. Work that had become tedious and mundane.

It wasn't until less than ten years ago, when it hit me, that, I needed to pursue the things that my heart really desired. Which in my case are: communications and community service. After taking several different vocational tests and they all, basically, confirmed my interests , then I knew what direction to go, in preparing myself for a new life. One of the best indicators of what your interests may-be are. What were you interested in as a child? What tasks, skills, etc., have others commented you on? That you do very well.

Are you the type of person that likes working with your hands? Could you be more of a mental person who enjoys working with numbers? Maybe you would enjoy working in the health industry? There are several career occupations to choose from. It's up to you to explore and determine where you would most likely - belong. Skills are very important, always consider - honestly, what jobs would match your skills. The skills you already have or can develop. This is extremely important. Vocational assessments will help you to pinpoint what career options are best for you.

If possible, try to take some type of computer classes; word processing, spreadsheets, etc. Along with mapping out your long term career plans, based on your heart-felt interests and personality.

There is funding available, administered by the U.S. Department of Education, support services to enable people with disabilities to participate in the workforce. Services eligible for funding include substance abuse disorder assessment and treatment, prescription medications, equipment that enables disabled individuals to have access to and function in the workplace such as; wheelchairs, hearing aids, and adapted computers, and transportation. Vocational rehabilitation will also fund training and secondary education, as well as vocational testing and evaluation. Funds are channeled to State agencies with responsibility for vocational rehabilitation. The location of these agencies are in the State government, yet - varies by State.

Something else to consider. Employers who are reluctant to hire people with histories of substance abuse can be even less enthusiastic about substance abusers with criminal records. Ex-offenders may be viewed as unreliable and morally deficient and feared as volatile and dangerous. When this attitude is combined with the lack of marketable skills and scant work experience common to many ex-offenders, there seems to be little to recommend ex-offenders as employees.

Now to inspire you ... focus "only" on occupations and employers who do not bar ex-offenders. A job-seeker with two strikes against him "inexperience and a substance abuse history" should not make his search more difficult by targeting a job for which his criminal history will be a barrier. Always talk with your counselor and set realistic employment seeking -goals. The Department of Labor "Adult Services" section offers information on programs that provide high-quality employment and training services that address the needs of individuals in need of training, retraining, and skill upgrades. Additionally, investments in adult services are targeted to move workers into post-secondary educational pipelines and career pathways to prepare more workers to enter into and advance in good jobs in the high growth and emerging occupations of the global economy.