Go to the company you formerly worked for and ask them about what they would pass on as a reference. In particular, talk to the HR person in charge of referrals. They may be breaking some company or state or federal regs by telling inquiries that you showed up drunk. Also, be sure that you were terminated for being still drunk rather than being downsized due to the economy or other reasons.

Very often a company won't give that information out to the public if there's any leeway at all. They don't want you to starve, they just don't want you there.

This is a terrible time to be unemployed. Start looking beyond your comfort zone and see what may be there. For example, the companies that own and operate the cargo barges on the Mississippi River and Intercoastal Canal are screaming for workers. The main kicker is the stupid homeland security background check which for some damnfool reason decided that workers with years of experience couldn't work any more due to traffic offenses, lateness in paying child support and DWI'S.

Look for construction jobs and medical positions such as orderlies and aides. Try temp farm work and working the big truck stops as a truck washer or driveway hand.

You may not be earning what you made before, but there is work of a different sort out there.

I wish you luck.

Without being too specific and still being honest could you say something like, "I had some personal issues that needed my full attention and I was unable to work for a while." I think personal issues sounds better than medical issues because it can be anything. You could have been caring for a sick relative, you could have been going through a bad break up, or you could have been doing exactly what you were doing- taking care of yourself by going to rehab.

You might have luck applying for a job with an agency that does drug and alcohol treatment,or mental health treatment. Your experience might actually be a plus. You most likely have great organization and research skills, these could translate well into an office setting. I would think people in these settings would be more likely to believe in the ability of people to change their lives and the importance of giving them a second chance.

Employer: So why did you leave your previous job?

You: I went through a rough period in my life and had to enter a treatment program.

Whenever you're in a "first interview" situation, whether it's meeting an employer, meeting a date, meeting your partner's family, etc. the trick to avoiding giving uncomfortable answers is to give as much as you can, as honestly as you can, before you are asked a question that you can't answer well without lying.

By saying "I had to enter a treatment program" you volunteer the truth, without leaving those big question marks that, as Cary pointed out, make you look like you are covering something up. You explain things in a way that doesn't require further questions, while avoiding saying the one thing that will get you denied: "I was fired because I did a bad job".

I'm sure others will have better ideas for specific things to say, but just in terms of overall strategy I think you should:

* consider the matter in advance (maybe even role-play with a friend)

* consider how you can get to the "wrong questions", the ones you can't answer well without lying; try to determine what you can say before hand to prevent these questions

* give as much information as you possibly can

* give the appearance that you have/are willing to answer any of the interviewer's questions

* remind yourself that "everyone lies in interviews", but at the same time go in with the mindset that you're going to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth (you're just going to carefully prevent questions you don't want to answer)

That's my two cents.

LW, I don't know how old you are. I know that when I had to explain the reason for leaving my job a few years ago, I smiled and said, "I had a midlife crisis. I highly recommend it."

The questions that followed were already predisposed to amusement, and then I mentioned that I explored my artistic interests, which was true, and that I could not make a living at any of them, which was also true.

The questioning about that job change would usually shift into those artistic interests, and the interview would just flow from there. I now have a job I really love. The issue of any other reasons for the previous job change would never come up. And now, they really don't matter. And I didn't lie.

If you're at an age for a "midlife crisis," and if you can describe any of what you did during your downtime as artistic or creative (or just self-exploration and contemplation), you wouldn't be lying. You'd just be leaving out a detail that is not really necessary to volunteer.

Say that although you regret the fact that you were fired, you had an alcohol problem and them firing you was what finally got you to rehab, and for that you're eternally grateful. That is the truth, right?

In this day and age, so many people have been through rehab or have a friend or relative who has. I can't see why you would feel so embarrassed about it. It's really not in the league with a medical problem, and to phrase it that way seems a little disingenuous. My experience with recovering addicts is that you've got to face your past head-on, 100% and not pull any punches with other people about it.

I vote for full-on honesty, not only with your future employers but with everyone.

Do *not* say that you entered a "treatment program". You will be crossed off the list immediately as much for poor boundaries as as anything else. Nobody needs to know these details, and under the law (Hippa) you are entitled to keep this sort of thing to yourself.

"I had some personal issues that needed my full attention and I was unable to work for a while" is just fine. It happens to be true for starters. The key word is "personal". Once you drop that word, that's as far as it goes. You don't have to lie, but you also don't have to shoot yourself in the foot. As was mentioned earlier, "personal issues" can mean anything. The real question is, can you honestly say *to yourself* that the issue has been taken care of? Well then keep it to yourself and do what you need to do to get yourself back in the door. The import thing here, interview wise, is to *immediately* without too much of a pause launch into something positive and proactive that will reinforce why you are perfect for the job.

Regarding references: Most employers will not disclose why you were terminated or even that you were terminated. They will typically just give your dates of employment and nothing more. There are legal reasons for this. HR in my office will even refuse to answer questions like "Would you hire her again?" because they can be sued for doing so. Your best bet: Try to find someone you worked with, even a colleague who will talk about what you did well. Nobody will ask further questions as long as you have *some* reference.

I was sacked once by the way and my explanation was simply to smile and say that I left my job to hop on the dot com bandwagon-- which was true in a sense; it just wasn't voluntary. I passed "Go" and collected my $200.

Good luck to you!