What Are the Qualities of a Great Job in Early Recovery?
When I teach about employment in recovery, I use the ABC Employment Path as a template. The “A” in ABC stands for Any Job, meaning that in early recovery, you should be willing to take any job you can get to get used to working again and making money legally. These are also often called “recovery jobs.”
Some characteristics are highly desirable for the Any Job in early recovery:
It’s flexible
Having a flexible work schedule or a supervisor who understands your recovery journey allows you to make recovery the center of your life and plan your job around your recovery activities instead of the other way around.
It’s low stress
Stressful situations are a trigger in early recovery, so work-related stress should be avoided, if possible.
It’s easy to get to
This is especially important if you don’t have a driver’s license or access to a vehicle. Even if you do have a car, finding a job that is geographically close to you will lower the stress associated with traffic or if you run into car trouble.
It’s easy to get
No one hopes or plans to relapse, but it does happen. If you lose an Any Job, you can quickly get another and get yourself back on track. This is why I always recommend that people in early recovery take an Any Job to get their feet under them before looking for a Career position. An Any Job is a buffer against relapse.
Remember, the point of the Any Job in early recovery is to begin to figure out how employment and recovery will fit into your life. It’s not meant to be the last job you’ll ever have, so focus on what it can do for you and your sobriety in the short term.
