Has anyone here started working after time off for a medical condition? I could use some advice.

[BelgianMadCow]

I am having a hard time deciding how to handle the blank space (1,5 year in my case) on my resume. Also, employers can't ask you about health issues but not proactively addressing their concern would be leaving too much "risk" in their assessment of my eventual candidacy. Inventing something besides sickness would be revealed in statements by your past employer you have to present to your new employer (after getting the job, but still).

I'm afraid being totally open is dangerous - I am bipolar and think that kind of illness will not go over well.

I would appreciate hearing about your experience, also in case you had/have a different condition of course.

regards and thank you in advance
bmc

[angstlessk]

1. whenever I have had a break in employment I called it 'domestic engineer'

I am a woman..but more men are being drafted into careing for the family because of more jobs for women than for men? just a suggestion?

on edit: you did NOT do nothing..you were doing something even if it was just counciling...aka 'social engineering'?

[BelgianMadCow]

6. Good one. I will highlight taking up more responsabilities at home

and that's no lie, since our second is just over a year old. Actually, being able to pick the oldest up at school is something I will miss dearly.

I am an engineer actually :-)
thanks

[blondeatlast]

18. Agreed--it tales a lot of work to run a home well. I am in the middle of

changing careers and also have had to leave due to medical problems and that's how I intend to handle it.

[vanbean]

2. Simple. Just tell the truth.

[angstlessk]

3. vanbean..the truth can be told in many ways...being creative is the best way to tell the truth

sorry...the 'bare truth' will get you nowhere...the 'creative truth' will get you everywhere!

[noiretextatique]

4. 'consulting'

is often a synonym for unemployed.

[imdjh]

11. artist, realtor, they're all good

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. Extended unemployment here

for non-medical reasons - but I still have that big gap on my resume. I focus on what I did during that time period: caregiver for aging family members, learned to do glasswork and metalsmithing, wrote a book for which I am seeking publication, travel, member and officer in various community groups, various career related continuing education, and some career reassessment. Truth is I would have preferred to have been employed during that gap but saying so sounds like I'm whining. I try to put a positive spin on it and make it as positive as I possibly can.

[BelgianMadCow]

20. positive spin and filling in the blank with such activities

I will do - rather in an interview than upfront. Continued education and (social) political activism are things I can mention and I wouldn't have though of straight away.

thank you
bmc

[Tab]

7. Just say you took some time off for personal reasons

No need to elaborate.

[BelgianMadCow]

10. that is what I would prefer - but they WILL eventually see those reasons were medical

and maybe feel I was dishonest.

of course, there is no real contradiction between "personal reasons" and a MEDICAL personal reason, good point.

[REP]

13. Why? Will you be working for doctors who can diagnose you?

[BelgianMadCow]

19. No but a new employer requires a form about holidays the past year

and they will see where my "pay" has been coming from - one of the organisations responsible for doling out sickness pay (kind of disability check).

[Tab]

24. I can't tell you what the laws are in Belgium

If you were taking a position in the States, it'd be very different, but I can't give you advice on the laws over there.

Sorry about that.

- Tab

[DemBones DemBones]

8. If you were a celebrity, you could say you

had suffered from "exhaustion." Since you're not, I think you have to tell the truth. Presumably you are controlling the disease with medication so be sure to say that, maybe explain that it's a genetic disorder, especially if you have relatives who are also bipolar. Some employers may not want you but do YOU want to work for troglodytes?

[REP]

12. Actually, no, no one has to disclose medical information unless it effects job duties

Someone with nacrolepsy applying to be a trucker will have to disclose that. Otherwise, medical information is private under Federal and State laws.

[BelgianMadCow]

16. Same is true here in Belgium

bipolar will probably effect me much less than in the past, what with at least being diagnosed and treated in the past couple years.
It has in the past made me lose jobs - purely for being absent (and stupid about it). Treatment should take care of that performance irregularity but atm the end result is unsure. The doctor from the institution that hands out the disablity check actually said I should wait for certainty on my "final state" but that's real hard.

[BelgianMadCow]

14. well, about working for troglodytes

I am kind of turning away from the relatively big money I could earn with a large corporation, and have an interview with a vzw (cooperation without the goal of profit) in the field of green energy later this week. I re-evaluated needs and wants and we found we CAN make do with 1500 euro/month less, so I'm less inclined to look for a technical-commercial job in B2B which is what I've done.

It will be my first interview. Especially the idea of working "for the greater good" motivates me in this particular case.

[librechik]

9. past employers can only say whether you worked there or not

unless they want to get sued.

They especially can't discriminate over something like an issue.

Say you took some time off for personal development, spent some time traveling and studying.

Don't hide anything, but put forward the stuff you do want to get attention.

A year and a half is nothing. I had a 10 year work gap.

[imdjh]

15. I'd like to think that people are getting better about this.

The bottom line is that being honest with people is always the best policy. I know it's hard to be rejected for being honest, but not nearly as hard as having to deal with someone who feels deceived.

[doodadem]

17. Time off for personal reasons

I'd recommend saying that, as a recruiter, who quite coincidentally, is also bipolar! You could also add that you took classes, did personal study, whatever, during that time to keep up to speed in your field.

When I'm prep'ing candidates for an interview, I tell them to always answer positively if they get any questions like, "how's your health?", without going overboard.

When's your interview? If you want to email me privately, I'd be glad to send you my interview preparation material--tried and true over 20 years in this biz.

[BelgianMadCow]

22. You've got a PM :-)

kind of you

[BelgianMadCow]

21. Thanks to all that posted - useful tips!

:hi:
bmc

[KatyaR]

23. I once had to take FMLA after being hospitalized for almost a month for depression.

I ended up not going back to my job because I didn't feel it would be healthy for me, so I ended up being unemployed for several months. All I've ever had to say was that I had a health issue which didn't allow me to return to my job, and no one has asked any more, but I think I've been lucky.

I will caution you in being too truthful. Unfortunately there still a lot of people who think that mental illness is nothing more than an excuse to be lazy. You and I both know that this isn't true, but even if you were to be hired after disclosing your situation, it could come back and bite you in the butt.

Good luck--I hope things turn out well for you!