commentator
Senior Member
Yes, being without a job is sad. But come on. In today's economy, there are a lot of jobs out there. And you have applied for one in thousands of these jobs where this sort of thing, if it comes up, might very reasonably be a thing that would be disqualifying. It sounds like you have excellent qualifications. You have no felonies to report, nothing that would come out in most job seeking activities.
Just myself, if it came up and I was making the hiring decisions, would probably tend to look at this issue and decide not to hire you. I likely wouldn't tell you why I wasn't hiring you was directly related to your past history of drug abuse. This person must feel confident they can do so without repercussions from the EEOC .
But this is what I have learned, based on life experiences. People doing drugs are apt to make very poor decisions. They have one priority, and one priority only, and they can do terrible things to service that priority, though they are not really terrible people. People who have been addicted to drugs are sometimes/very often apt to relapse. They will be, for the rest of their lives, just one mistake away from starting it all back up again. As they tell you, you are dealing with a cunning vicious enemy, which is your addiction. Would I let you be in a position of great responsibility regarding direct contact with children's information and my security information system? A position that requires a lie detector test as a pre hiring screener? I doubt it.
But then, being jobless isn't brought about by your having a history of drug abuse. You just didn't get this one particular job because of your past history. You can camp here, and make it a sad story that gives you lots of excuses, or you can move quickly on to the next job which may not have this sort of requirement pre hiring, get it, and demonstrate your credibility for the rest of time.
Just myself, if it came up and I was making the hiring decisions, would probably tend to look at this issue and decide not to hire you. I likely wouldn't tell you why I wasn't hiring you was directly related to your past history of drug abuse. This person must feel confident they can do so without repercussions from the EEOC .
But this is what I have learned, based on life experiences. People doing drugs are apt to make very poor decisions. They have one priority, and one priority only, and they can do terrible things to service that priority, though they are not really terrible people. People who have been addicted to drugs are sometimes/very often apt to relapse. They will be, for the rest of their lives, just one mistake away from starting it all back up again. As they tell you, you are dealing with a cunning vicious enemy, which is your addiction. Would I let you be in a position of great responsibility regarding direct contact with children's information and my security information system? A position that requires a lie detector test as a pre hiring screener? I doubt it.
But then, being jobless isn't brought about by your having a history of drug abuse. You just didn't get this one particular job because of your past history. You can camp here, and make it a sad story that gives you lots of excuses, or you can move quickly on to the next job which may not have this sort of requirement pre hiring, get it, and demonstrate your credibility for the rest of time.
