Gaps in CV due to Mental Illness?

Dreaming~Lilly

andygb wrote: »

The bit in bold is not true unfortunately, because I have applied for jobs which involve divulging ALL information regarding work history for the past ten years, including any gaps (they must be fully explained) must be explained/described/accounted for.
Please read up on Kroll background checks.
I was working in finance in the South East and Kent, and after submitting the information requred was not taken on.

Thank you. I will read about that. I'm just not sure what to put on the CV at the moment.

MacMickster wrote: »

It doesn't sound as if the OP would be applying for the type of job where such checks would be likely. I would imagine part-time shop work may be the kind of thing that would be more appropriate.

A period volunteering in a charity shop may help the OP to a) find out if they could cope with this type of job, b) get something current to add to their CV and c) hopefully build their self-confidence somewhat.

Yes I wouldn't be applying for top jobs. I've done nursing home work, production, cleaning etc. I have been thinking of voluntary work but not sure if I could cope with shop work, so not really sure what to look for there.

motorguy

Dreaming~Lilly wrote: »

I've just made a thread tonight on another part of this forum which I can't link to because this is a new account, but that mainly says it all.

Briefly though, I've had mental health issues all my life, social anxiety and generalised anxiety. Had medication, CBT etc no help.

Am in a real mess right now, no money, never claimed benefits, always get into major arguments over it all, I don't want to carry on being a burden on everyone around me, I've always hated it and always go without everything because of it, I won't ask for anything.

So my CV, I have forced myself into a few job years ago, like the last one was probably six years ago, the anxiety never seemed to go down which made it hard to keep up.

I'm so sick of having nothing, and bringing others down with me. I want to give my family things and I can't unless I do something, but I don't know what.

If I tried to get benefits that wouldn't be a great deal I imagine and it would be very very stressful as I know they're not really always sympathetic of mental illness.

I don't know whether to try for benefits or try and just force myself to apply for jobs again as close to home as possible and see what happens now?

If the latter, then I'm really not sure what to do about my CV. I have been looking after a relative as well over the years but never got carers allowance so can't prove that. I have tried to work online but never made much.

I'm not sure what I should put. If I should put caring for relative and freelancing online over the years and if I did would they want proof of those two?

I just really want to be able to live normally and have some money, it's just all so difficult when mental health is in the mix as well.

Thank you for reading.

I really think you need to try to get (more) help dealing with your mental issues otherwise you'll quickly spiral downwards once you do get a job, which isnt going to help anyone.

If you're on medication it sounds like it isnt working?

GlasweJen

Dreaming~Lilly wrote: »

No I don't have any kids yet. And am single now as well. I do however still houseshare with my ex from years ago due to financial reasons. So I'm not sure as well how that would work with everything as I'm still on the council tax and rent agreements of this house, but I just stay here now that's it, and sometimes I go between here and my parents as well when my dad can come and get me. The whole thing is a real mess. And things in this house are really bad financially, rent struggling to be paid and it's because I'm an idiot with this anxiety and not being able to live and do things that most people don't even think about. I hate it.

How are you supporting yourself at the moment? Do you have an income or are you living off savings or are your parents or ex supporting you? You can claim in your current circumstances but the government will want to make sure you're definitely not a couple trying to get away with claiming to be single to get extra benefits. The DWP or your local authority may send someone round to check that you're not living together as husband and wife which basically means you have your own space, pay for your own food, pay your contribution towards the bills etc.

You're not going to get a job tomorrow, that will take time. I think your best course of action would be to visit your GP and explain that you're wanting to claim ESA and PIP and ask if they will write a letter of support (and sign you off as being sick for ESA). I'd then apply for ESA online and phone to apply for PIP.

This doesn't mean you need to be on ESA forever, think of it as a stepping stone to get back into work. You'll be able to speak to advisors at the job centre and get help with things like writing your CV and applying for suitable jobs.

If you are successful in claiming PIP you'll be able to keep it when you start work though you'll need to keep them updated if you start to get better.

You might be better writing a post on the benefits and tax credits forum.

sortofwinning

I've had severe mental health issues in the past and have large gaps on my CV.


First of all, only put the last ten years of jobs on your CV. It's mostly what employers are looking for anyway, and it means you can at least leave out the older gaps.


Secondly, the advice on getting voluntary work is sound. You should try and get some kind of voluntary work asap. You can still put that on your CV and it means you don't have a gap. I too love animals but really you would be better taking whatever voluntary work you can get, so just take anything at all, and even if it's only five hours a week, you still have bridged a gap on your CV. Do anything at all to avoid a gap, it has been my experience that employers really don't like them.


Even though I've had severe mental health issues, I can't take any medication because part of my mental health issues arise from feeling guilty about taking tablets tested on animals. So I use a method instead called Emotional Freedom Technique. It doesn't work so well for severe mental illness like psychosis, but it does work extremely well for anxiety. Three rules: firstly, persist, persist, persist. Secondly, tap whatever comes up (as you are tapping on thing X, you'll find your self thinking about thing Y. Note down thing Y because it could be very relevant). Thirdly, be very, very specific. Website www.emofree.com and click on gold standard EFT, plus look at EFT videos on youtube. It looks insane but I've been using it for twelve years and it absolutely works.


I'm hopefully starting a part time cleaning job on Monday. I don't have to interact with anyone and it will ease me into the job market, so you could do either cleaning or the voluntary work before looking for a full time job.

[Deleted User]

Please stop running yourself down.

Time to start listing what you are good at

You've held a relationship
You can communicate
Looked after a parent
and so on

How have you managed in previous years? - is it the breakup that has caused a rupture? Are you living in a situation which is hampering you? All the more reason to find out what help there is.

I wasn't sure whether to continue posting here (as going off topic for employment) or your other thread which maybe should be merged.

I lost something the other day, after searching as much I could I've had to put it to the back of my mind, box it as to keep thinking/mulling over would just eat me alive.

Take care xx

summerlady_2

Sorry if it's already been mentioned, but off out so no time to check.


When you speak to IAPT ask for a referral to the Richmond Fellowship - they support people with MH issues through the job seeking process and also help people to keep their jobs.


Best of luck

fluffyfox

Maybe make an appoint with Citizens Advice? about where to start with benefits, it maybe that your more suitable to the ESA work related activity group if your anxiety/depression has made things this bad. Its not fair that your going without any money for so long because you are scared of the benefits system. If you claimed JSA (job seekers allowance or it might be Universal Credit now) You just need to apply to x number of jobs per week, and they will log your applications online.

Mojisola

Dreaming~Lilly wrote: »

I have been caring on and off for my mum for years now just never got carers allowance for it.

If you are still caring for your Mum for 35 hours a week and she is on the relevant benefits, why don't you start by claiming Carer's Allowance? That will be less stressful than going through the ESA or PIP claim system.

Once you get some help with your health issues, you could then see if you can get some part-time caring work as well - you can earn up to £110 a week without it affecting CA.

Dreaming~Lilly

Thank you all for your replies, I really do appreciate it, I will try and answer all questions here instead of quoting and getting it all over the place.

My ex is supporting me at the moment which totally isn't fair I know. I hate it and racked with guilt over it. The car has broken down today and we've had another argument him saying he works full time and has nothing to show for it and can't even afford the basic things and it's all my fault. I'm making his life hell, no matter what he's done to me in the past he doesn't deserve living like this because of me. Stressing this much and having nothing. The car needs fixing now, tax, insurance soon and MOT, he's saying it's gone now because he can't afford it.

I really feel on the verge of a panic attack, feel like I can't breathe properly.

I need to do something, I'm sitting here with my CV out and really not knowing if I should just send it off to some jobs online, care jobs etc, the situation is that desperate and I'm not helping it at all, yes I'm not doing it on purpose like he thinks I am, if I could turn the anxiety off I would in a second, but still it's all because of me.

If I put freelanced on my CV as well as caring for my mum, would they ask to see any proof of that the freelancing I mean?


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Me and him are not together anymore no, haven't been for years now, just carry on living like this, my name is on the rent and council tax hasn't changed from years ago.

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Thank you I will look at the emotional freedom information and I hope that your job goes well for you.

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I always run myself down because I've been useless at life, useless at making money and dragging my ex down as well. He thinks I happily sit back and watch him have to struggle with bills and rent when he doesn't earn enough, I'm stressed every single second of the day over it all. I hate my life. I just want to make some money and give it to him for the car to be fixed and to help with house costs as well.

I've always been like this, I have worked but it was hard to keep up as the anxiety is constant. But now I'm so low that I'm not sure if I'd be able to stick it because this is the other option and it's sinking faster than anything, the rent won't be able to be paid pretty soon, he's in his overdraft again, it's a nightmare.

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Thank you I will look at information about the Richmond Fellowship, I'd never heard of them before.

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Thank you, I'm just so scared of the benefits system, I know they're hard on you sometimes and I can't take being interrogated.

I'm sitting here crying right now over it all. I really need to make money now, maybe it's not a case of my mental health well being anymore, it's a case of I'm bringing others down as low as me and that's not fair at all.
And I can't not care about what I'm doing to others lives, even though I'm not doing it on purpose it's still because of me.
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I do stay at my mums a few days per week when my dad comes and takes me there, then he brings me back here and while I'm there I do care for my mum yes. I'm just to the point where I need real money and not just a bit, I need full time wage to sort out the mess I've made of everything, and pay my ex back for all he's done and make his life better and my parents, maybe as I said above it isn't what's best for me anymore, I can't do this to others.

So I'm sitting here doing my CV, if I put freelancing online down as what I've been doing as well as the caring the past few years will they want proof of this?

or wouldn't they care because it's caring jobs I'm thinking of at the moment, because there's one or two in a twenty minute walk from where I live.

if they wanted proof of me caring for mum that could only be done by a reference from my parents stating it.

Also what would I put on the CV in regards to references? I've got one typed up short reference from my last job in 2010 but I know that's old. I could get personal references not sure if anyone would want those.

Really want to get the CV sent out tonight before I have time to think about it too much and talk myself out of it.

Dreaming~Lilly

Ok, I've finished doing my CV.

I've found a few jobs to try and apply to. They say either email or phone, which is better? Phoning them tomorrow morning or sending my CV via email now?

Thank you for any replies.