[Closed] Illness on Job Applications?

Perhaps a recruitment agent could advise.

Personally, if I read a CV for a job applicant which said "2 years recovering from an illness"...I wouldn't bat an eyelid and if the person is qualified and with the right experience they'd be in for an interview.

A hiring manager shouldn't ask what the illness was, and I don't think you should have to tell them.

It will obviously put a lot of potential employers off so I can see why to are reticent to put it on there but I think some will see it as a positive. It could be seen that they are getting a better applicant than the job would normally attract if they are happy to work with any issues you may have. Not quite the same thing but I once interviewed a chap with a severe respiratory complaint. It meant he could no longer do the job he was highly qualified and experienced for and was happy with the much smaller role we were offering. Also any company that still considers you is likely to be exactly the sort of people you want to be working for and with.

As above but in reality you'll need to explain the gap and despite what is morally correct and the legislation says many hiring managers would see it as a negative to varying degrees. All i can suggest is be honest about your situation, proper honesty can count in your favour, particularly if the previous interviewee was a BS metchant.

Just keep applying with or without mentioning your condition.

Job application is a probability game, the more you apply the higher the changes of getting one.

If they like you they will take you regardless, if not they will create 1001 reasons to reject you.

🙂

you took some time off to accomodate some childcare didn't you? your wife earns a good crust and you took some time off to persue your hobbies or look into starting your own business, which doesn't sound too far from the truth.

The gap in the CV and the downsizing of jobs I am applying for are not helping

If you are the best person for the job then I personally would prefer recovering from illness to "hate the industry and forced to rejoin"

The trick is to get to the actual interview I think ....so can you not declare the illness specifically but say you were recovering and would be happy to discuss at an interview.

Lying is probably bad... as you are starting on the wrong foot and even if you turn up and say "I just put that but..." it's a bad start... whereas a note at the time saying "the boxes do not cover my illness but I have recovered and would be very happy to discuss" ???

That's just my personal view though.

Never ever mention it.

Memory is hazy but not disclosing illness (assuming it is ongoing, which this is) when filling in a pre-employment questionnaire (assuming you get that far) is I think grounds for dismissal irrespective of if the condition counts as covered by the DDA so be wary.

Would you employ you knowing what you know? If so, that's a good start! Could you formulate a list of adjustments that would need to be made for the roles you are applying for for you to be successful and maintain employment? When looking at that list rationally do they look reasonable and achievable for a potential employer to implement?

If you can do all of the above I would declare your full situation at application time in a covering letter. That includes the reasonable adjustments you feel the employer would need to make for you if you were the successful candidate. Assuming that list was actually reasonable any good employer and one that knows their employment law should look at you beyond this specific issue. If they don't they know they could be in trouble. Let's be honest here - you only want to be employed by an employer with this attitude and the capacity to make the adjustments you need because otherwise you are going to find yourself out of work sooner rather than later and that will do your self esteem no good at all.

I don't have this condition but have worked with folk that have so have a little insight. It's a tough gig - good luck and I wish you every success.

I would go with an 18 month career break followed by running your own business. In my covering letter I would then explain the career break and change in direction without mentioning illness.

Declare it. It will allow you to get support from your employer if it causes you any issues at a later date.

Convert covers it well ignore those telll you never to declare an illness.

In an ideal world, you could mention it and it makes no difference to them, and even gets their support.

In the real world it will put a lot off. You may find some who will have no problem though.

As you say though the gap in the CV is a problem, and probably more so than declaring an illness (is this an illness anyway? Not in my book. A condition, that's all).

Probably need a more direct approach though. Going through agents will just go through filters. Direct may get the right attention and allow you to explain your situation, keenness and attributes for the job.

Networking? People you know, who may know your situation and can talk to their boss (or they are the boss) or knows someone who knows someone etc.

I didn't think you could be discriminated on based on health when applying for jobs? I thought once an offer is made they are then allowed to get personal information but only to ensure the right HR stuff is in place?

probably more so than declaring an illness (is this an illness anyway? Not in my book. A condition, that's all).

It's a mental health illness.

Ah right you mean it's known as a condition rather than an illness. Sorry.

I personally wouldn't declare it, if you feel the need to explain the gap in employment call it a career break or just extend the period of self-employment.

I had a 9 month break after an injury, not an illness a hitting the ground hard related injury – I could see it on their face when I told them about it “what if he does that again” some asked, “you’re not still doing that are you?” and if I said “yes” I might as have well got my coat at that point.

Whitest it's lovely to think you'll find a McHamish who thinks its a non-issue now or a Drac who think it's a reason to offer help and support down the line if it remerges, it's more likely you won't get past whatever stage in the process you'll let them know - it's a competitive world, even if they don't say or even don't think it's the reason if it comes down to other guy and you with the small chance you might need prolonged periods of sick leave, they'll go with the other guy.

Under the [url= https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010 ]Equality Act[/url] bipolar will count as a disability. This means you are entitled to a number of rights in both applying for jobs and within employment, e.g. 'reasonable adjustments' and an guaranteed interview if you meet minimum job requirements.
Thus, I'd declare it. Also, as Drac says, if you don't it may back fire in the future.

There's a big difference between being off for breaking your leg and having a having an illness especially one that is classed as a disability.

Drac - Moderator 
It's a mental health illness.

Ah right you mean it's known as a condition rather than an illness. Sorry.

Yeah, as in it shouldn't always be treated as something wrong with you to be fixed, just a difference, often long term or lifetime.

I feel we all have mental health issues or conditions, at least at one time or another. Illness suggests disease or something you can just take a pill for or be expected to "get better" (or "get over it"). It's more complex than that.

Seen it a bit with autism. More usually considered a condition but some not so aware of it still consider it an illness to be fixed. Family and colleagues I know with it, they're just normal to me. Just different behaviour at times.

I went through this (also bipolar), but didn't have a gap in my cv, just a mahoosive amount of time off sick which is something that was asked about in the application.
I wrestled with my conscience for ages about declaring it, but erred on the side of honesty. What happened in my case was an occupational health rep had a chat with me, nothing else was said about it, and I got the job.

I was mostly worried about discrimination, having been on the recruiting side before I'm well aware of what goes on irrespective of the rules.

I've long since considered myself 'well', my problems were life related I've always disagreed with my diagnosis, but it's surprising how 'being well' isn't reflected in many areas of life - eg. I still cannot get life insurance 10 years beyond diagnosis, and at least 5 in very good health. And I've only recently been able to get a driving licence that didnt need a medical every year. It feels like a permanent disability, which is frankly just shit, especially when you're trying to put it behind you.

I feel we all have mental health issues or conditions, at least at one time or another. Illness suggests disease or something you can just take a pill for or be expected to "get better" (or "get over it"). It's more complex than that.

Yeah I realised that's what you meant just before I went into rant mode.

I was seriously ill when I started a new job. A while into the position they were looking for an excuse to let me go.

When I had to have a chunk of time off due to said illness the first thing they did was check with HR to see if I had declared it whichh I had and they would have booted me for lying on the form otherwise.

Never ends well lying on forms...

I can only say that I'd like to know what was wrong rather than just have a gap; unexplained gaps on a CV are a worry for me. We hired someone a couple of years back who had a career "break" due to a severe back problem which required several months of bed rest and almost a year of physio before he could work. Although he has actually had a recurrence of it since we've had him working with ys (4+ months out of the office), we are happy to have him. If he'd lied either by extending his old work date or just "forgetting" to tell us, I can't imagine I'd have wanted him back.

Thanks for all the answers so far. Interesting to see the difference of opinions and basically sums up a lot of my feelings and the sheer uncertainty that is mental health.

Thinking as an employer I have just started to directly approach companies and being honest with them in the off chance that someone will take a punt!

I have learnt not to be embarrassed about the condition any more and it galls me having to cover it up when I know that I am now more capable than I was before thanks to the medication and understanding of what I have.