Recovery from Abusive Groups Page 21
overwhelmed trying to work through my feelings. If I had had a demanding job
at the same time, it would have been too much stress for me. Later, as I healed
and began to acquire good thinking skills, I was able to plan my career and my
personal goals to provide more challenge and excitement.
The retired elderly who have left abusive groups may find volunteer work a
helpful way to make friends. It will also provide structure.
Interviews and Resumes
What do you say when the interviewer asks: "How do you account for this gap
in employment?" Depending on your assessment of the interviewer, you can
either talk around the cult experience or talk to it. I've given several different
answers to this question, such as:
• I was in a cult. Usually not a very good response.
• I was off trying to save the world, but it didn't work (laugh, laugh). If
delivered well this can be effective.
• I was implementing training programs for a religious group I worked for.
This was often the best choice.
An employer is usually looking for an honest, reliable, stable, and hardworking
employee, who can get along with the rest of the department. Everyone gets
kicked down in life sooner or later and a good employer knows and accepts this.
An employer is often more concerned with how well you handled the problem
and how you are doing now.
How do you rewrite your resume? Here's what I've done:
TRAINER, Therapy, Inc., Goingnowhere Town, State Implemented religious
training programs of varying length and complexity to audiences throughout the
U.S., involving multimedia formats designed to teach religious issues and
leadership development. Graduated from a leadership development program
and provided counseling to devotees.
Exercise- Job Interview Skills
Practice the interview process with a family member or friend. Try role playing
and try both roles. See if you can get a feel for what the interviewer might want
in a candidate by learning about the company, their product's), and their
competition. Write down some questions you think you might be asked and
work out answers to those questions. Present yourself favorably. You should feel
good about yourself, because you are handling a tough recovery problem well.
Talking about the Cult at Work
It can be confusing trying to figure out whom you should or can talk to about
the cult experience. In the cult you had to confess all and not keep anything to
yourself. If you did hold something back, you were shamed and considered
deceitful and disloyal. This technique was used to reinforce your dependence on
the group. Now, you do not have to tell everyone everything. You do not have
overwhelmed trying to work through my feelings. If I had had a demanding job
at the same time, it would have been too much stress for me. Later, as I healed
and began to acquire good thinking skills, I was able to plan my career and my
personal goals to provide more challenge and excitement.
The retired elderly who have left abusive groups may find volunteer work a
helpful way to make friends. It will also provide structure.
Interviews and Resumes
What do you say when the interviewer asks: "How do you account for this gap
in employment?" Depending on your assessment of the interviewer, you can
either talk around the cult experience or talk to it. I've given several different
answers to this question, such as:
• I was in a cult. Usually not a very good response.
• I was off trying to save the world, but it didn't work (laugh, laugh). If
delivered well this can be effective.
• I was implementing training programs for a religious group I worked for.
This was often the best choice.
An employer is usually looking for an honest, reliable, stable, and hardworking
employee, who can get along with the rest of the department. Everyone gets
kicked down in life sooner or later and a good employer knows and accepts this.
An employer is often more concerned with how well you handled the problem
and how you are doing now.
How do you rewrite your resume? Here's what I've done:
TRAINER, Therapy, Inc., Goingnowhere Town, State Implemented religious
training programs of varying length and complexity to audiences throughout the
U.S., involving multimedia formats designed to teach religious issues and
leadership development. Graduated from a leadership development program
and provided counseling to devotees.
Exercise- Job Interview Skills
Practice the interview process with a family member or friend. Try role playing
and try both roles. See if you can get a feel for what the interviewer might want
in a candidate by learning about the company, their product's), and their
competition. Write down some questions you think you might be asked and
work out answers to those questions. Present yourself favorably. You should feel
good about yourself, because you are handling a tough recovery problem well.
Talking about the Cult at Work
It can be confusing trying to figure out whom you should or can talk to about
the cult experience. In the cult you had to confess all and not keep anything to
yourself. If you did hold something back, you were shamed and considered
deceitful and disloyal. This technique was used to reinforce your dependence on
the group. Now, you do not have to tell everyone everything. You do not have
