Jobseeking after ill health

elfieb

I feel so depressed, and worthless today.....this job hunt lark is really getting me down

After a year out of work due to ill health (I was diagnosed with Lupus), I am finding even getting interviews so difficult.

I am looking for work in a secretarial/admin capacity (was a legal secretary before illness), and I beginning to wonder if I will ever get back into paid employment.

I didnt spend the whole year I was unwell totally on my backside, I voluteered for the Citizens Advice, and I was hoping this would be of some advantage when seeking full time paid employment. It appears not.

Dont get me wrong, I have had a much more positive outlook in recent days and weeks, but the last straw has to be a job that I attended an interview for a Monday morning, I could have litteraly done the job standing on my head, and both me and the employer seemed very positive.......the years gap on my CV was then brought up, and after explaining, things seemed to go down hill. They were contacting the sucessful candidate yesterday, and after a day with my phone permantely attached to me, it seems I am once again unlucky

I have signed up with a number of agencies, and the general concensus from them is to lie about my period of illness. I was even suggested by one to tell any employer at interview I have been travelling for a year, as it "looks a lot better on paper".

Feeling so down and running out of ideas.........