Interview for new job

FallenAngel2612

Hi all

New here, just after some opinions.  I have worked in NHS for 20 years.  I’ve been looking to get out of my current dept for a few years now, due to a number of issues.  Basically a very toxic environment.  

I’ve always had a good record, good sick record, never any disciplinaries/competency issues etc.

I heard back recently from a company I enquired with a while ago (they didn’t have any particular vacancy at the time so I just sent my info in).  Anyway they contacted me, said they thought they had a position I might be interested in and have set up an interview.  I’m definitely interested but have to weigh up the pros and cons - it’s around the same salary I’m on now initially, but the benefits are not as good.  Leave is considerably less, no sick pay, pension not as good etc.  The advantage is there is some remote work from home involved.

They haven’t asked for any references at this point.  My only area of concern is, if I am successful at interview, despite previous good record - I was involved in a car accident at the beginning of the year which led to some sick leave.  Someone ploughed into me after pulling out at a junction without looking.  Initially, due to adrenaline, I didn’t think I was too badly hurt.  However the next day, I could not Move!  Never had pain like it.  My manager at the time was very understanding but after a week started putting the pressure on me to return to work.  I had problems with my back and shoulder (old shoulder injury - caused flare up). I reluctantly returned and pretty soon realised it was a mistake and I couldn’t cope.  My GP then signed me off but obviously that was now 2 separate absences (even if for the same thing). 

I asked for referral to occupational health as I thought it would be helpful.  It was and I think it got me back to work quicker than I would have otherwise.  Basically, I still have some residual nerve pain with numbness and weakness in my arm but I manage it the best I can and it doesn’t affect ability to do my job.  I’m more than confident I would cope with the new job.  I also had Covid back when my Trust was still saying we had to isolate until two negative tests,  it still went on your sickness though (just didn’t count towards triggers I think).  

Sorry for long winded post - just wondering whether it’s worth going for the interview.  

Marcon

FallenAngel2612 said:

Hi all

New here, just after some opinions.  I have worked in NHS for 20 years.  I’ve been looking to get out of my current dept for a few years now, due to a number of issues.  Basically a very toxic environment.  

I’ve always had a good record, good sick record, never any disciplinaries/competency issues etc.

I heard back recently from a company I enquired with a while ago (they didn’t have any particular vacancy at the time so I just sent my info in).  Anyway they contacted me, said they thought they had a position I might be interested in and have set up an interview.  I’m definitely interested but have to weigh up the pros and cons - it’s around the same salary I’m on now initially, but the benefits are not as good.  Leave is considerably less, no sick pay, pension not as good etc.  The advantage is there is some remote work from home involved.

They haven’t asked for any references at this point.  My only area of concern is, if I am successful at interview, despite previous good record - I was involved in a car accident at the beginning of the year which led to some sick leave.  Someone ploughed into me after pulling out at a junction without looking.  Initially, due to adrenaline, I didn’t think I was too badly hurt.  However the next day, I could not Move!  Never had pain like it.  My manager at the time was very understanding but after a week started putting the pressure on me to return to work.  I had problems with my back and shoulder (old shoulder injury - caused flare up). I reluctantly returned and pretty soon realised it was a mistake and I couldn’t cope.  My GP then signed me off but obviously that was now 2 separate absences (even if for the same thing). 

I asked for referral to occupational health as I thought it would be helpful.  It was and I think it got me back to work quicker than I would have otherwise.  Basically, I still have some residual nerve pain with numbness and weakness in my arm but I manage it the best I can and it doesn’t affect ability to do my job.  I’m more than confident I would cope with the new job.  I also had Covid back when my Trust was still saying we had to isolate until two negative tests,  it still went on your sickness though (just didn’t count towards triggers I think).  

Sorry for long winded post - just wondering whether it’s worth going for the interview.  

What have you got to lose by going for an interview? At worst you get experience, at best you could get a job offer which would enable you to bail out of your current unhappy situation.

I think you're making far too big a deal out of your sickness absences, so suggest you steer well clear of mentioning them unless you are asked a direct question which means not referring to your car accident/the continuing issues could later be seen as deliberately misleading a potential employer. If you do have to refer to the accident, keep it brief - they aren't interested in who was to blame for the accident.

FallenAngel2612

Thanks for your reply Marcon,  

I was wondering whether to briefly mention it at interview, I know the exact details are not relevant to my application (It wasn’t my fault).  I thought it might be better to just be upfront about it in case it does go further and it comes up on references etc, may as well get it out the way so to speak.  If they just get a reference and it states number of days/episodes then there’s no context, on paper it won’t look good.

You are right about getting the interview experience, I do need to build my confidence as it’s a long time since I interviewed for anything.  I will do the interview and see what happens.

Richard1212

It depends if the new job would be better for you overall----only you can decide if that's the case or not. Or do you want a job that you have not yet found and just need to be patient for a while whilst applying for far more interviews ? 

But whichever of the above you consider is best for you, what's the harm in going for the interview and seeing what it's like out there when it comes to interview experience ?

I disagree with the poster who recommended "hiding" your rare sick leave , which has been during the past year and should not affect an overview of 20 years of good attendance and good health. I really don't think it's an issue. But why not write up a CV, explaining all your former posts and departments, your qualifications, your promotions, what aspects of your previous jobs you liked best or were best suited for and that you are looking for a new challenge . Then insert in the CV something like " Health/Sick Leave : only one significant health problem or need for sick leave in the past 20 years ( ligament*** damage after a motorist hit my car last year---but all that has now been resolved and no longer applicable).
*** for you to put in the actual diagnosis.

Good luck---it can be very cathartic to make a change in career half way through your working life. Many people in your situation often lack the strength to move away from a longstanding job, even though they are "burnt out" and fed up with it. I think moving on is a far better option.  

DigSunPap

I think it is definitely worth going for the interview if it is a job that you really want. I don't think you will need to disclose your sickness absences in the interview alone, surely that would only be necessary if you were to be successful in gaining the job. So there should be no harm done and it is good experience anyway at the very least.

FallenAngel2612

Richard1212 said:

It depends if the new job would be better for you overall----only you can decide if that's the case or not. Or do you want a job that you have not yet found and just need to be patient for a while whilst applying for far more interviews ? 

But whichever of the above you consider is best for you, what's the harm in going for the interview and seeing what it's like out there when it comes to interview experience ?

Good luck---it can be very cathartic to make a change in career half way through your working life. Many people in your situation often lack the strength to move away from a longstanding job, even though they are "burnt out" and fed up with it. I think moving on is a far better option.  

Thanks, you have hit the nail on the head here.  Working for such a large organisation for a significant time, you become a bit ‘institutionalised’.  It is a scary thought and there is always the risk that in your desire to make a change and move on, you may make an unwise decision.  

EnPointe

SIck leave  unless you are actually on an Attendance Staged Warning / undergoing capability procedures is only an issue for  a few organisations such as the NHS  and even then  it;s  either as tie break  or becasue of the arrogance of the organisation in question 

FallenAngel2612

EnPointe said:

SIck leave  unless you are actually on an Attendance Staged Warning / undergoing capability procedures is only an issue for  a few organisations such as the NHS  and even then  it;s  either as tie break  or becasue of the arrogance of the organisation in question 

Thanks, my trust triggers on number of days as well as number of episodes, so this let to an informal meeting with my manager and a monitoring period of 12 months in case of further absence.  So I’m still in the ‘monitoring’ phase, not had any HR involvement or anything.  

Marcon

Richard1212 said:

I disagree with the poster who recommended "hiding" your rare sick leave , which has been during the past year and should not affect an overview of 20 years of good attendance and good health. I really don't think it's an issue. But why not write up a CV, explaining all your former posts and departments, your qualifications, your promotions, what aspects of your previous jobs you liked best or were best suited for and that you are looking for a new challenge . Then insert in the CV something like " Health/Sick Leave : only one significant health problem or need for sick leave in the past 20 years ( ligament*** damage after a motorist hit my car last year---but all that has now been resolved and no longer applicable).
*** for you to put in the actual diagnosis.

Re-read my post; not what I said at all. There's a world of difference between deliberately hiding something, and simply not mentioning it because doing so would blow things out of proportion. As for putting it on a cv...that went out with the ark, or at least when so much anti-discrimination legislation came in. You seem to be advocating a very old-fashioned approach to cv writing, so possibly OP would benefit from looking at a more current approach - https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/cv-sections might be helpful, especially the references to brevity!

There's likely to be some sort of health questionnaire if OP is offered the job, and that's the time to refer to the residual problems.

Richard1212

Thanks to Marcon for helpful and friendly post which will no doubt be of great benefit to FallenAngel...........