What to say regarding drug history

[DrFaroohk]

I applied for a job a while ago and got the job, but failed the drug test because I was smoking weed. I was told I could reapply in a year. It's been over a year, and now that I'm clean I want to apply again. I'm reasonably sure I'll get at least another interview considering how well I nailed them the last time around, they were really eager to hire me until the drug test.

However, it's probably gonna come up. "So you failed the drug test."

What do I tell them? I mean...I could just lie and say "No idea what happened. Contaminated sample maybe?" And while that sounds pretty lame...it's sort of like it's such a lame excuse no one would ever use it, so it must be true? Or at the very least, it's something that no one can really dispute. And if I go this route, it was never ever really confirmed that I was using drugs.

Or I could just go the honesty route - Let them know I used to smoke pot and now I don't and will take the test to prove it. Maybe make a positive thing about, brag about how I'm clean now and stuff...but that's still admitting that I at least DID have a "drug problem", which means I have an addictive personality, and if I did it once I might do it again, and if I used to use drugs then who knows what i'll do next? I might bring a gun to work and kill people!

So if you were interviewing me, which would you rather hear? A negative truth or a positive lie?

[Jack]

Of course people will say that they want to hear the truth, but honestly, it's probably much better for the hiring manager to hear "I have some friends who smoke weed. I don't like drugs myself, but I don't mind what others do. I was hanging out with them while they were smoking and I must have got enough residual smoke to pop on the drug test." than to have an applicant who used to have a "drug problem" (as they may well see it). I've never actually hired anyone or dealt with this situation so I can't be sure though.

[Frantic Freddie]

I'm on the "Be Honest" side,we all make mistakes.Fer crissakes,the President's admitted he did pot & cocaine.

[DrFaroohk]

Yeah one of the lies I was thinking of was that the week before the test I'd been at a skynyrd concert...lol....

I'm leaning towards the honesty though. It's one of those things where I hope the points I get for being honest outweigh the points I lose for being a "junkie".

[Whiskey]

From what I recall, I may be wrong, but you can't test positive for pot if you were just "in the area" no matter how dense the smoke. (i've passed drug tests after shotgunning a couple hits a few days before but maybe I'm lucky). I hope your hiring manager doesn't know/believe that.

Just tell him you smoked weed previously, but have since stopped completely. Its weed, not heroin.

edit: I've also never met an AM/Manager that didn't smoke weed in retail (unless they were a lifer)

[Andara Bledin]

My vote is to tell the truth.

Just say that you used to smoke, which is why it showed up on the test before, but since that made it obvious that it was hindering your goals, you gave it up so that you could further your career.

You get the idea.

^-.-^

[bainsidhe]

I'm gonna say this is one of those things you need to be honest about. They already know you failed once and their BS detector will be set high. Be honest, downplay it as former stupidity and that you've now taken control of your life and well-being and wanting to focus on your family/career/whatever.

You don't mention what type of job this is, but if you're allowed to try for rehire after a year, my guess is that management has seen it all before. It is a black mark, but management will probably be more interested in hearing why you came back and what you plan to bring to the company. Show that you honestly admit your mistakes and that you're serious about your future. Good luck!

[Pimento]

Go buy some magic drink form a hemp shop and never have this issue again, has saved my butt many a time lol

[draftermatt]

I'd go the honesty route.

But don't be so sure you'll get a 2nd chance, they may have no desire to talk to you again considering.

[bendertiger]

I am training myself to become a cop....and doing quite well at it.

I have one policy, be honest and I show extreme leniency. Lie and I will ream you as hard as I can.

They are obviously aware you've had 'drug issues'. What would you rather, hire someone who has the balls to lie to your face or someone who is willing to be the better man, admit it, admit it is in their past and have shown signs that they are now doing the right thing?

[draco664]

My vote is to tell the truth.

Just say that you used to smoke, which is why it showed up on the test before, but since that made it obvious that it was hindering your goals, you gave it up so that you could further your career.

You get the idea.

^-.-^

This. If I were hiring, this is what I'd want to hear.

[Pimento]

My last welding job:

Manager Interviewing me: So, can you pass a pee test?

Me: Not right now i cant

Manager: Ok, well i will give you lots of notice before sending you out on those jobs then. Start monday

[scruff]

it's also a useful test of your potential new boss/company.
If they can accept an honest 'I made a mistake, I understand what I did and why it was a bad idea and I'll not make the same mistake again', or better words to that effect, (I love the 'realising it's holding me back from my goals' description from earlier), that's cool, and useful to know they'll be prepared to give people second chances providing they show they'll learn from errors. Everyone makes errors, before they get the job and after, and it's good to know they'll let you try again after a year.

[ArcticChicken]

I think Andara put it perfectly, and I'll give you another reason.

If you lie, and they find out you were lying, you are waaaay more fucked than if you tell the truth and they don't like it.

[Plaidman]

Tell the truth, and be sure to read the policies on drug testing. If it states they can drug test you at anytime, I'd suggest really quit smoking weed, rather then just quiting until you got the job before you restart. That would be bad if you got the job, then failed a drug test while at work.

Yeah, your very likely to be one of those few people who don't smoke weed before work or during work, but doesn't mean you have protection for it.

BTW Whiskey? I was in mangement, and I only smoked weed like, twice in my entire life. Both times I didn't get high at all, and only one of those times did I do it while having a job.