got a friend out of work and is a bit down trodden about it, what advice can i give?

nicechap

fitnessguy1 wrote: »

warehouse is what i do. my company isn't recruiting anybody as an operative or general warehouse person at the moment though, which is what he would start as.

he said he would do that, but would a recruitment agency be able to find him work considering his situation?

i know warehouse/factory work is sometimes easier to get into if aren't well qualified (which i wasn't) but i don't know how they would handle his situation.

Of course companies will consider him. You say he is fine now, no longer on meds and is actively thinking about working. Its all a question of how he presents the facts if or when asked at interview/ application. If the job profile or person specification doesn't make mention of any disbarment due to MH, then he should freely apply.


1 in 4 people will be affected by mental health condition at some point in their life. That's everyone from doctors, to bookmakers, candlestick makers and train drivers and all in between.


Make sure he's not put off by other people's prejudices.

lewishardwick

What is his personality like? Is he quiet and keeps himself to himself?

It's easy to come across as introverted and a bit of a 'loner' at interviews and the interviewer will pick up on this.


Also, sorry to be crass to anyone here, a lot of applicants for low paid low skilled work will be those going through 'the motions' to get their JSA and don't really want the job. He needs to ensure he's not giving that impression. This also includes keeping schtum about needing the job. If I had two equally skilled candidates and one didn't really need the job. I know who I'd choose.

Deep_In_Debt

Why doesn't he register with an agency? They may find him temp work which could lead to a permanent role? If he didn't get a perm role through temping, at least he would be able to get a reference from the agency.

JReacher1

nicechap wrote: »

Of course companies will consider him. You say he is fine now, no longer on meds and is actively thinking about working. Its all a question of how he presents the facts if or when asked at interview/ application. If the job profile or person specification doesn't make mention of any disbarment due to MH, then he should freely apply.


1 in 4 people will be affected by mental health condition at some point in their life. That's everyone from doctors, to bookmakers, candlestick makers and train drivers and all in between.


Make sure he's not put off by other people's prejudices.

Obviously it will depend on the nature of the mental health issues as they can be very varied but not many people who have suffered from certain types of mental health issues will be considered for high stress jobs where they can put other lives at risk. After the issue with the German pilot who suffered from depression and killed everyone on his flight people are more careful. If the OP's friend had been suicidal for several years it is unlikely that he would be able to get a position driving a train.

Also not to be blunt but it is incredibly hard to become a train driver as it is a surprisingly highly paid jobs. Any vacancies that are available will receive hundreds of applicants so it would be difficult for someone with no real work history to get a position. I was also chatting to a girl who worked for Virgin and she told me most vacancies are taken by internal staff e.g. the guards, ticket staff etc. That might be a good option for the OP's friend.

sangie595

nicechap wrote: »

Of course companies will consider him. You say he is fine now, no longer on meds and is actively thinking about working. Its all a question of how he presents the facts if or when asked at interview/ application. If the job profile or person specification doesn't make mention of any disbarment due to MH, then he should freely apply.


1 in 4 people will be affected by mental health condition at some point in their life. That's everyone from doctors, to bookmakers, candlestick makers and train drivers and all in between.


Make sure he's not put off by other people's prejudices.

Whilst I totally agree in principle, this isn't actually accurate. Train drivers - an almost impossible profession to get into anyway, and usually only after several years in non driving roles (I have friends in the profession) - are screened for current and previous mental health issues, and it takes more than being off meds and "saying he is fine" to get past the screening process. Train drivers are responsible for hundreds of lives - they are rightly screened for any possible risk to passengers.

Private hire taxi is far more casual, but regulated taxi drivers are also screened for mental health issues, although not as strenuously as train drivers. Again, for very good reason - mental health, including severe anxiety or depression are notifiable health conditions for DVLA. That doesn't mean you can't drive, but DVLA will determine that on individual circumstances. For that reason, taxi drivers are also assessed to ensure safety.

With the greatest of respect, the OPs opinion that his friend is "fine" now and "off meds" is not the same thing as a medical opinion that he is, and will remain, fit for certain occupations.

That said you are quite right about employers prejudices. Which is why someone with a history of mental health issues severe enough to keep him out of employment for years; who had no recent skills, experience or references; and nothing to show for this period in terms of productive activity, really needs to embrace the options to demonstrate their fitness, through things like volunteering, work placements, etc. To be fair, anyone out of work for this period of time would need to be able to show more than doing nothing, mental health condition or not.

fitnessguy1

lewishardwick wrote: »

What is his personality like? Is he quiet and keeps himself to himself?

It's easy to come across as introverted and a bit of a 'loner' at interviews and the interviewer will pick up on this.


Also, sorry to be crass to anyone here, a lot of applicants for low paid low skilled work will be those going through 'the motions' to get their JSA and don't really want the job. He needs to ensure he's not giving that impression. This also includes keeping schtum about needing the job. If I had two equally skilled candidates and one didn't really need the job. I know who I'd choose.

he can certainly be kind of nervy at times and struggle with what to say. there has been times he's met somebody he used to know while i'm out with him and the interaction has been a bit awkward because he doesn't know what to say. i think he's improving, but obviously he isn't as social as he once was.

Casey1709

OP, have you looked at Mind website - https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/


Its great that you want to help your friend. If only more people were supportive.

JReacher1

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

Why doesn't he register with an agency? They may find him temp work which could lead to a permanent role? If he didn't get a perm role through temping, at least he would be able to get a reference from the agency.

This is a great idea. It is a good place for him to start!

nicechap

Sangie, the OP doesn't say what the mental health condition is/ was - and I've no wish to know. It only says he's frustrated about not finding work and feeling down about his chances of finding work - which sounds like many threads on here from "healthy" people.


I agree with you that the most likely factor in not having better luck is the lack of any employment or voluntary experience over the last few years.


Whilst I don't want to side track the discussion into one about train drivers, I would encourage him to apply for any job that he meets the criteria for and allow the employer to decide if his health is relevant. As you say, becoming a train driver is notoriously rare - a quick google found Virgin had 75.000 applications for 76 jobs. But it also turned up train driver forum where it shows the sifting process includes the following tests:
1 , Trainability for Rules and procedures
2 , Tea OCC paper test
3 , ATAVT
4 , The 2hand coordination test
5 , Group Bourdon concentration test
6 , Test of Vigilance ( WAFV )
7 , Written communication test
8 , Colour vision.
Elsewhere on that forum its stated the formal medical includes hearing, blood sugar levels, alcohol and drugs, general fitness, an ECG and your mobility.

So, I'd leave it up to the OP to apply if they think they meet the criteria.