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HOW SHOULD I EXPLAIN A HISTORY OF ADDICTION?

How should I approach potential employers? What should I expect in terms of their reactions?

NICK'S REPLY

I would not bring up your addiction, nor would I hide it. Let the employer ask what you've been doing for the past year and briefly explain. Do not dwell on it.

I want to emphasize how important your attitude and behavior are. Some employers will hold the past against you more than others. Your job is to influence them. Be candid, but focus on the employer's business, problems and challenges -- and on how you're going to help tackle these. I know that Alcoholics Anonymous teaches "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." But I also believe that a person is defined more by behavior than by constitution. Act like the person you want to be, and others will respond accordingly.

You can influence how people judge you by concentrating on their needs. Keep the discussion on the employer's business problems and on how you can help, and reiterate your commitment to doing the job. In the end, what people notice most is whether we are paying attention to them and whether we make a commitment. That's your challenge.

Disclose your addiction if you are asked, but explain your abilities and make a pledge to do the job without incident. That's how you will be judged. That's why a company will hire you. You will get a lot of no's. Don't ponder that too much. For each failure you experience, remember that you need just one good employer to say yes.

THE HEADHUNTER TIP

The best networking advice I ever got came from my friend Harry, who hired me into the search business. I was fresh out of grad school, where I had been living on a $3,200 annual stipend. Suddenly, I was making real money.

I asked Harry what the secret to the headhunting business was. His answer: "Do favors for people by introducing them to one another. Don't expect anything in return, because that takes care of itself. But you have to be patient, and there is one more thing."

I remember him grinning. "Spend every nickel you make this year taking those people to lunch. Then sit and listen and learn all you can. Don't expect anything. Don't ask for anything. Make friends."

Harry was absolutely right. He was a pure capitalist. No expectation of return -- but invest everything you have. That's how I learned to network successfully.

THE HEADHUNTER CHALLENGE

Your company offered you a new job at headquarters in another city. Human Resources told you to have the lowest-priced of three moving companies bill the company directly and that it would pay three months' rent till you found a new house. A few days before the move, HR says you can't use that moving company and it's paying only two months' rent. What do you do?

POLL

2. Pay for the move yourself and argue with HR later.

3. Schedule a meeting with HR and your boss, and tell them you expect the original deal to be honored.

4. Turn down the new job and stay put.

(Cast your vote for The Headhunter Challenge poll online at (your newspaper Web site here). We'll post the results along with The Headhunter's expert opinion.)

COMMENTARY (FOR PUBLICATION ONLINE)

I would go to the HR person who told you to have the mover bill the company. "I followed your instructions. My move date is in three days. I cannot change that because I will not have a place to live if I move later, and my belongings will have to go into storage, which will cost more money. I followed all the instructions you gave me. How do we proceed?"

Give him a chance to make this right. Often such snafus are not intentional. Don't let this screw up your plans, but don't make it worse by resigning before trying to set it straight.

Then bring up the other issue: "Part of the offer was that I would have three months to find a house, during which time the company would cover temporary housing. I accepted the offer on those terms. How do we proceed?"

In both cases, you should give HR a chance to make good on its promises. If it doesn't, then you ask for a meeting with HR and the hiring manager "to review this and work it out." You must insist on all parties being present. It's HR's job to make this right. If they don't go to bat for you, then you should meet with the manager privately and calmly explain the discrepancy, without blaming anyone. "I'm sure we can work this out. I made a commitment to the company regarding the new job, and I expect the company to hold up its commitment to me."

If everyone balks, that's when you play your cards and tell them you cannot accept the job if the terms have changed. Think this through carefully in advance, because they may close the door on the new job -- or any job. But I think there's a good chance they'll negotiate with you, or give you what they promised originally.

In a situation like this, I'm not very negotiable. I'm willing to walk away with nothing if the other party is not going to honor its original commitment. It's a sign of things to come, one way or the other.

My advice is to play this calmly without making threats. Your real power lies in your willingness to walk away, if that's what it comes down to.

COPYRIGHT 2009 NICK CORCODILOS