Interviewing for drug and alcohol jobs can be stressful and the best way to combat that is to be as prepared as possible.  To do this, take the time to research common interview questions and consider how you would answer them.  You’ll also want to take some time and practice out loud as well.  Here are some common interview questions that you are likely to encounter and examples of great answers to those questions:

1. “Tell me about yourself.”  Now, before you launch into your “story”, consider what the person is really asking here.  Brevity is key.  What you want to do is give about a one minute synopsis of your career and emphasize your strengths as they relate to the position that you are interviewing for.  This doesn’t have anything to do with your personal life and all details of that sort should be omitted.

Sample Answer:  I have spent the past 10 years working in the substance abuse field with several different drug and alcohol rehabs.  My first position was as a tech as I worked on my substance abuse counselor degree and certifications and I have held several more rewarding positions, with increasing responsibilities, since.  My most recent position was a Certified Peer Support Specialist with a local rehab and I am now looking to become a substance abuse counselor since completing my studies and internships.

2. “What is your greatest strength?” This sounds like a great opportunity for you to toot your own horn, and it is, but it needs to be in a way that ties back to the position that you are applying for.  The key is that all of these answers to these questions do and that is why you should put some thought into this beforehand.  Consider and strength (and weakness) that you can point to that will make you the strongest candidate for the position.

Sample Answer:   I have excellent time management skills and am simply incapable of missing a deadline if it is within my power.  When I am working on any sort of project, I don’t just hit deadlines, I complete things well ahead of schedule.

3. “What is your greatest weakness?” We should all know by now that any “weakness” can be turned into a “strength” if only viewed from a different angle.  That’s all you’re doing here.  Find one here and re-frame it into a positive.

Sample Answer:   I have learned that I am a perfectionist and can sometimes spend more time than necessary on a task.  However, I also know that when something is done, it is done correctly and I never miss deadlines.  My perfectionism has pushed me to learn how to delegate more as I’ve learned that I can’t do and take on everything myself.

4. “What is your biggest professional accomplishment to date?”  Here is your opportunity to really shine and show that you are ready to take on this position.  Give an example that shows your growth in your profession and, hopefully, one that relates to the position that you are interviewing for.

Sample Answer:  While working for a smaller start-up rehab center as a tech, it became clear that trained staff was an issue and would probably continue to be one.  I took upon myself to become one of the first Certified Peer Support Specialists in the area, which brought me advancement in my job and the ability to the help the organization with staffing and training of new people.

5.  “How would people you have worked with describe you?”  This deals with how well you play (work) with others, or how well you perceive you do anyway.  Unless you have these people listed as references, you can say anything you want here but it’s suggested that you really take some time to think about this one and understand why the question is being asked. As always, you’ll want to give examples of working with others if you can.

Sample Answer:  My superiors would describe me as a “self-starter” and someone that doesn’t need hand-holding or a lot of direction on projects or day-to-day operations.   We recently moved to a new facility and I was in charge of coordinating the move.  This took several months, with weekly staff update meetings, and I was praised for my initiative, calm, and organization skills throughout the process.

The above are just a few of the common drug and alcohol jobs interview questions and sample answers that you may run across.  You can do a search online and find many more.  The key is to be prepared and to tailor your answers to be both positive and relate to the position that you are applying for.

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