How can I explain gaps in my work history?

daniel1986

I have twice had long stays (3/4 months) in psychiatric hospital, and in total was off work for about 1 year both times.

How can I explain this on my CV or at interview? I have a mental illness but am capable of working. I want to work. I am 24 but I because of my problems I already have big gaps to explain (including 2 years at uni before I became unwell) and I don't know how to. I don't want a fancy job; data entry would be perfect, if such jobs exist. But I feel I am having to be defensive right from the start.

SarEl

Explain it with the truth. It's the only way. Most people are rubbish at lying, and if you lied about it, you'd loose any protections you might have under the Disability Discrimination Act. I'd suggest contacing the Disability Advisor at the JobCentre, or ask around local mental health charities if any of them have an employment adviser (quite a few do). They can help you with how to explain things, and often have contacts and knowledge about employers who are likely to be more sympathetic. Good luck.

Uncertain

I hate to put it this way and please don't take offence....

I would apply to the more "politically correct" type of employer - Universities, Local Authorities. charities etc.

Often they ask if you consider yourself disabled on the application forms.

They tend to interview those that say yes so that at least gets your foot in the door.

Best of luck

SarEl

Uncertain wrote: »

I would apply to the more "politically correct" type of employer - Universities, Local Authorities. charities etc.

Normally I would agree with you. But, just to clarify - you mean the sorts of public sector employers who have almost total recruitment freezes and are shedding thousands of jobs due to government cuts? The way things are going, when recruiting now, they are dumping political correctness out the window in favour of people who can be relied on not to take enormous amounts of sick leave. Many of them are shedding any staff who have high sickness levels. Capability procedures are going through the roof throughout the public sector, and managing sickness policies are being strictly enforced. I'm afraid that the days when the public sector propped up the governments "social legislation" is well and truly at an end.

marydot

Being honest is the best policy. I had a year gap in my CV due to being unemployed.When i went to interviews they asked why such a long gap, I said was unemployed for a year due to the recession. Any employer can understand this.

I would not put this on your CV as it will get you less interviews, if you do get interviews its a private matter that should be disscused at the interviews.

I'm not sure what to advise really as its a tricky situation. Just keep on trying for jobs as this will give you more confidence.

Good luck

Googlewhacker

See this is the type of situation that my idea would work.

My idea is that if someone has had a long period of work due to an illness/disability then there should be a ruling that an employer can hire the person but there are strings attached. if the employee is off more than 3 x the national average then the employer has the right to simply give notice to the employee.

This works in a few ways, it means that employees that really want there chance to prove that they are capable are more likely to get a job because the employer knows that they have that safety net incase the employee relapses and goes of on the long term sick but also in my mind 3 x the national average (so about 19.5 days total sickness) is more than a reasonable adjustment for the person.

This would apply for 2 years if I could decide the rules and after that the employee has proven their capability and would get the normal rights of the employee.

It is totally understandable why employers don't employ people who have had long term sick because of the greater potential for long term sick later on compared to someone who hasn't.

Most businesses are there to make money and to do this they need reliable employees so they have to hedge their bets at the moment but under my new rule more (not all) employers would be more welcoming in giving more chances for long term sick peope to prove themselves.

Who would I write this idea to anyway?

daniel1986

My CV looks very empty for someone my age. I don't get interviews even for jobs in Tesco etc. - the sort of jobs that "anyone can get". I think not explaining the gaps at the application stage puts employers off even inviting me for interviews.

EDIT I don't feel comfortable ticking the "I consider myself to have a disability" box because that isn't what I feel.

paulwf

Could you start off by doing some volunteering?

Also, have you had a chat with any mental health charities? This must be a situation that they come across regularly and they may be able to offer advice, perhaps from first hand experience.

My concern about covering up your past health is that with the recession many workforces have shrunk so the expected productivity rates have gone sky high. If stress could trigger your problems then you are going to have to be careful, and if you don't tell your employers they won't be able to adapt your workload for you.

heretolearn_2

Googlewacker, what you've suggested is pretty much possible.

We took on someone with a mental health problem. As a small firm, we were naturally a bit concerned about this. So we got in touch with the new Equality thingy for advice. They said it was perfectly ok to agree the 'reasonable adjustments' we could make in writing with the new employee, and that it was ok to put a limit on sick leave in this, and if we then had to dismiss because of their illness we wouldn't get done for discrimination. All's gone well, the person has flexible hours and we allow a bit extra sicl leave (unpaid), in return we've got a very good employee. But without that advice we probably wouldn't have taken the risk.

Googlewhacker

heretolearn wrote: »

Googlewacker, what you've suggested is pretty much possible.

We took on someone with a mental health problem. As a small firm, we were naturally a bit concerned about this. So we got in touch with the new Equality thingy for advice. They said it was perfectly ok to agree the 'reasonable adjustments' we could make in writing with the new employee, and that it was ok to put a limit on sick leave in this, and if we then had to dismiss because of their illness we wouldn't get done for discrimination. All's gone well, the person has flexible hours and we allow a bit extra sicl leave (unpaid), in return we've got a very good employee. But without that advice we probably wouldn't have taken the risk.

That is interesting to know and good to hear. I feel this is the fairest way for both parties

Uncertain

daniel1986 wrote: »

EDIT I don't feel comfortable ticking the "I consider myself to have a disability" box because that isn't what I feel.

I fully understand how you feel and I hate the way that question tends to be worded.

I would read it as "do you have a disability in the legal / employment sense of the word". If so, then in one sense it is truthful to answer yes to "I consider myself...." if only because a doctor has said so.

Ultimately you need to give yourself the best chance of being offerd the job. Only then can you prove to both the employer and yourself what you CAN do.