I?m a successful federal employee trying to move in a new direction. I?m applying for jobs that I?m well qualified for and though I keep reaching the top three, I haven?t been offered any positions. The problem is that I?m a reformed alcoholic who has been sober for six years. But before that there were ugly episodes of drunkenness, all well known to people in my (small) field of expertise. I am proud of my sobriety and have virtually no chance of regressing. I feel I should share my history with prospective employers, but where does one enter ?reformed alcoholic? on a resume? Under ?hobbies??

Is there a way I can own up to my dark past and show that I have a bright future?

Manager, male, 40s

Lucy?s answer

The place where you really ought to put ?reformed alcoholic? on your CV is in the section where people brag about what outstanding leadership qualities they have. To have stayed off the bottle for six years gives copper-bottomed proof that you are a) determined b) brave c) focused and d) good at overcoming obstacles. It establishes those things more convincingly than ?successfully leading a team through a major global change initiative? – or any of the other twaddle with which people generally pad out CVs.

Your advice

Network via AA

Don?t believe the LinkedIn hype. Alcoholics Anonymous is the best networking tool in the world. Visit groups near your dream employers. You?ll be surprised how many senior staff are recovering as well. Prove yourself to them as a thoughtful mentor and you won?t need a CV or have to explain yourself to the people who hire you.

Director, male, 42

They won?t get it

I, too, am a recovering alcoholic, almost seven years sober. Like you, I am proud of my sobriety, perhaps more than anything else in my life. Like you, I find myself wanting to be up front with potential employers. And yet unless your potential employer is a recovering alcoholic, or happens to know and understand the intricacies of the disease – and the mystery and grace of recovery – trying to explain it can leave you feeling misunderstood and stereotyped. Therefore, you should leave it off of your resume. If you feel inclined to bring it up, keep in mind that you are sharing an asset, not revealing a defect. As you sit in the interview, imagine your fellow recovering alcoholics in there, rooting for you.

Sober alcoholic, female, 39

Always a stigma

Alcoholism carries a stigma no matter how long a person may be sober. For a sober alcoholic, the past is the past and all that matters is today. To avoid negative judgment, it should never be divulged voluntarily to colleges. If someone asks, tell the truth but don?t elaborate.

COO, retired, 72

I recruited one

As an employer, I was faced with that situation and told the applicant outright that I believed she was in the AA. The shock on her face was sufficient for me to offer her a three-week trial period. She stayed in place for nine years till I retired and is still employed having moved to other work.

Retired, male

Better than u

You should feel very good about being a reformed boozer – such people generally do very well once they really quit. They often do far better than functioning alcoholics like the rest of us (except me).

Private equity, male

Do I discuss our intern problem?

I work for a meritocratic company, where promotion strives to be fair and where all of us are encouraged to talk to senior management if we have any ideas on how to do things better. However there is one thing we do which is demonstrably unfair and which no one discusses: take interns who are nearly all friends and relations of senior employees. Even though some are perfectly bright, this seems to undermine our culture of achievement. Would it be a mistake to say something about this to my boss, who I like and respect very much, but whose (mediocre) daughter has just finished a stint in my department?

Consultant, female, 29

? The Financial Times Limited 2011