Relocated, recuperating .long post ..

another_casualty
another_casualty Posts: 6,506 Forumite
First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
edited 4 January 2018 at 5:07PM in Employment, jobseeking & training
Howdy!
I’m in a situation as mentioned above .
I suffer from occular myasthenia gravis . Which is a very annoying condition more than anything . I’ve only had it since 2014. Initially I was misdiagnosed for six months with Bell’s palsy .
I’ll explain more about that later.

Reasons I relocated : debt / Myasthenia as mentioned / left awful employers behind / took the chance to be debt free for the first time in many many years & buy a flat in a cheaper area to be mortgage fee also. Etc etc

This illness I have is annoying . I have put on a huge amount of weight as it is an auto immune condition & motor neurone condition .
Lucky me :) Initially I was snowed under with tablets not knowing what was going on and how it’s gonna plan out. I still take medication obviously . Only 1 steroid ..prednisolone which is a necessary evil.
The positive thing is I’m down to 5 mg , hopefully down to 2.5 and hopefully none by year end . It’s a tiring condition .
What really annoys me is that my friends think I’m being lazy as I’ve been unemployed since Nov 2016. I have not signed on , due to too much money in Acct ( more than £10,000) .

I moved from Greater London to poole in Dorset . I moved to a stop gap posh flat on the pier in November for 13 days before I found a place to rent for 6 months ( Dec_ June 2017) In June I moved into my new permanent Home . In the middle of all this I was breathless and hardly able to move much interms of walking to shops / explore the area etc.

I joined gym in July last year , taking things really slow and starting again . I’ve since been seeing a personal trainer once a week for about 6 weeks and intend to do what it takes to lose the weight and keep fit etc. I’ve got rid of the breathlessness and can walk faster but am still Big .

So this takes me to the important stuff: my cv and and what to tell the agencies.
Left school in 1979 and until this break , have been out of employment around 6 months since leaving school . Initially permanent contracts , but elaborating into temp contracts and gaining permanent roles through that.

The last place of employment was the worst . Unfortunately for me it was a place I didn’t want to be as soon as. I got there. I started off as a temp ,and had a few contracts until I had to stay or go. I stayed because the biggest recession of our times started and i had to pay mortgage and bills etc.
The final straw for me ( bear in mind I take minimal time off sick )was I received a final written warning suspended for 2 years for retaliating against my new boss at the time ( whomis personnel). This was regarding nasty comments and getting me to change hospital appts in my time of suffering . That was In 2015.However i left on good terms , shaking hands with her on my last day . I could only give 2 weeks notice due to the sale of my flat . I saved my holiday for the year but selling my flat took longer than expected due to Brexit and buyers.

So, the questions I have are : How much regarding the illness do I disclose? I was working through the condition at my previous employers , even with only 1 eye functioning for 5be first six months.
I’m only going for part time general office stuff.
Do I have to mention my written warning ?
I do realise you can be more frank with agencies than employers. Ie don’t run down your previous company etc

I’m aiming to be ready for employment around Easter , hopefully giving me time to lose weight and look more presentable .
My friends are pushing me to do thingd straight away. I understand that , but I’m trying not to get stressed out about things and just do things in a calm collected manner

Your thoughts?

Thanks

Happy new year

1 or 2 spellcheck errors and low battery :)
«1

Comments

  • Comms69
    Comms69 Posts: 14,229 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    Howdy!

    <mostly irrelevant to the questions>

    So, the questions I have are : How much regarding the illness do I disclose? - Well your CV will have a massive gap. You need to explain it somehow. An illness which is now under control is better than nothing at all
    I was working through the condition at my previous employers , even with only 1 eye functioning for 5be first six months.
    I’m only going for part time general office stuff. - They still need reliable people. If you come across as that: ie this role is 'only' PT general admin. You wont get the job
    Do I have to mention my written warning ? - if asked. They will presumably get references, do you know what it will say?
    I do realise you can be more frank with agencies than employers. Ie don’t run down your previous company etc - don't with anyone. Agencies become your new 'employers'

    I’m aiming to be ready for employment around Easter , hopefully giving me time to lose weight and look more presentable .
    My friends are pushing me to do thingd straight away. I understand that , but I’m trying not to get stressed out about things and just do things in a calm collected manner

    Your thoughts?

    Thanks

    Happy new year

    1 or 2 spellcheck errors and low battery :)

    I'd start applying now just to get into the habit.
  • Diamandis
    Diamandis Posts: 881 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Name Dropper
    When you've relocated the easiest reason to give for leaving your last job is that you relocated.

    Tell a potential employer as much as you feel comfortable with in regards to your illness but focus on the positives, for example "I would require X adjustment, this would allow mean I'm able to carry out all the tasks required of me".
  • Thanks folks . No idea what the reference will say . TBH , if I stayed the warning would have been served by now and removed from my file .
    I will just say I took time off after relocating . Took an extended holiday.

    I won’t say anything negative about what I want to do. I was just filling you in on here :)

    Regarding my condition :, apart from being Big , my left eye closes slightly when tired . I will probably be asked if I’m on any medication and I think is best to be honest but not go into too much detail and over complicate things .

    Thanks :)
  • sangie595
    sangie595 Posts: 6,092 Forumite
    Thanks folks . No idea what the reference will say . TBH , if I stayed the warning would have been served by now and removed from my file .
    I will just say I took time off after relocating . Took an extended holiday.

    I won’t say anything negative about what I want to do. I was just filling you in on here :)

    Regarding my condition :, apart from being Big , my left eye closes slightly when tired . I will probably be asked if I’m on any medication and I think is best to be honest but not go into too much detail and over complicate things .

    Thanks :)
    I'd suggest not. You are lying when there is no need to! Assuming your prior work record was all ok, here the short version....

    You had an undiagnosed/ misdiagnosed health problem that caused much problems and stress at the time. You decided to downsize and take a slower pace to get yourself right. You did. It worked. Your health is now much improved, and wholly managed, so you are ready for a new challenge. You could even throw in that downsizing allowed you to be self sufficient without benefits - it's always impressive when people have great reasons not to claim!

    If, and it's a big if, any reference mentions the issues (and this much later, it may not) you have already told them about the stress your unknown health issue caused - it was out of character, but you have not lied about it at all, because you said that the health problems were stressing you.

    Job done without a single lie. I'd be more worried, as an employer, about an "extended holiday" - that sounds perfectly like there's something you aren't telling me! I might, in fact, be inclined to ask which HMP it was at???!!!

    Yes, some employers might be put off by your previous sickness. You really don't want to work for them! But now, you are fit, healthy, positive, ready to work, and so why make things harder by trying to cover up stuff that is explainable? It happens. Any half way decent employer would see the positives in your story. You didn't collapse in a heap and claim benefits, sit on the sofa and scream "Oh woe is me". Why act like you did? Your alternative version isn't really believable. Your true version sounds like someone with character and determination who ought to be on "my team"!
  • another_casualty
    another_casualty Posts: 6,506 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    edited 4 January 2018 at 10:30PM
    Wow!
    Thanks for the kind words and great insight sangie .
    I basically had 10 years of total negativity . When I got suspended initially, I was told by the hr guy that I won’t be sacked . He then told me than my boss( personnel ) has complained about my conduct.
    The annoying thing is when I had a few words with her ( yes I was shouting and angry) , I never swore or repeated myself . Yes , I was very angry but it was the final straw after giving my all to the company including running the dept. With 1 eye functioning for 6 weeks while my colleague was away for a knee replacement.
    I played it down , despite the directors and many staff showing concern for me . I just made jokes and got on with it .when I had my conversation in her office I asked if we can put this behind us as colleague /boss. She then stitched me up and the lies and allegations against me were appallingly bad. I was too,I’ll to appeal in the short time that I as given . I decided not to appeal and man up etc .
    My mother died around the time spot my suspension also so I carried on until no more .

    I had to get things in perspective .shorten my life or get too ill to do anything by staying in an awful situation , or take the biggest risk of my life and hope for the best. I was lucky , but now just require a part time job to keep me going and get myself ready to meet new People and hopefully new friends.
    I will avoid h m p though :)
  • I am in a similar position & really empathise.I collapsed in 2016 when a long term health condition got much worse (made worse too by severe anaemia) I finally started treatment in Feb-May this year, it took that long to see specialists and have tests.
    I am on esa until Feb 2019 with pip for 3 years.
    I had to leave my job because it was clear I was unable to give a date when I'd be well enough to return but I know I will get a decent reference.
    I have applied to a training course because I loved the healthcare industry but accept I can't do moving & handling again but I still want to work in the field in a different role(but with patient contact because I like helping people).I have been offered a place & I am very excited.When looking for work,I am going to explain I was ill,got treatment & retrained while recovering so I could return to the field I love. Maybe sometime I can work full time again I hope.
    Is there any course you could do? To refresh your skills for the type of job you are going to do? First Aid at work would be good just as a general one.It would evidence planning for your return.
    I don't think your friends should be pressuring you.For me,if I hadn't collapsed I would still be driving myself too hard.I wanted to start the course in Sept last year but wasn't well enough. My family & friends have been really supportive.
    That's great about the gym & your weight loss.I joined a well known diet club & am making good progress(I wasn't on steroids but my meds had caused me to gain 3 stone) I also joined the gym & they designed a gentle program for me.I don't get there often(once a week) but I feel even that helps, emotionally at least. I figure that as pip is to help with my disability so using it to recover & get taxis to/from college is allowed(it's not too far but my balance & fatigue not great).
    Anyway I just wanted to wish you luck and I'm sure you'll get back into work when the time is right &#55357;&#56842;
  • Edit: I should have said my condition is not likely to go away so I'll have to tell employers I have a disability which I never did before although I'be had it since 2007.I didn't know it was classed as one.
  • Thanks my clever bunnies :)
    I am sorry to hear about your situation . It’s all part of life I guess .
    We just have to make the best of the situation in hand .
    I’m relatively lucky , as my symptoms are mild compared to the initial shock .

    I’ve recently turned 55. I don’t require a huge salary ( not that I ever had one :rotfl:) as I no longer have a mortgage.
    The downside of my employment history , is that I’ve bern doing Postroom / facilities work for 95% of my life. I took what was out there when changing jobs and after a while got pigeon holed .
    I’m open to change and will obviously list that on my covering letter.

    I understand my friend’s concern as they are rightly concerned that I’ll go through my savings . My condition is a tiring one . I get good days and bad days . I need to lose a lot of weight still. I’m worried and apprehensive . Especially now that I’m not in London anymore and work will probably be harder to find in Bournemouth / southampton . We”ll see.
    I did think about retraining , but doubt the gvt will help me .
  • There is a website called My World of Work that lists courses.I reckon you could look on there,then research fees,depending on the level of course there are no fees. Or even contact the college and ask. My friend did some kind of book keeping course with sage.She then worked part time from home while her children were at school.
    I'm ok about my illness,I have had it for long enough that I'm used to it.
    I understand your friends are concerned, I don't really know what to say about that apart from maybe they could help you look for suitable fee free courses.NVQ's have no fees I think. The training provider could give you a reference too. Any kind of work teaches you skills that someone who hasn't done that type of job doesn't have and you already have qualities of positive thinking, planning & reliability.
    This sounds like it could be the start of a brand new happy life for you.I think Bournemouth is by the sea which is lovely.
    Am I allowed to say I am doing weightwatchers flex? I have lost almost 1.5st since October.Its brilliant. My group is so friendly too,I go with a friend but we all get on really well.Lots of new people joined this week.I'm sure you could find one near you. They have an offer on at the moment 3 for 2 months. Sorry admin if I'm not allowed to mention specific companies.Please delete the post if so- I can't edit or delete for some reason!
  • Uh oh,the fees thing.I am lucky enough to live in Scotland where we have the SNP government.So It might be different in England.Its definetely worth looking into though.
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