Interview / Disability History Advice

S.M.B.

I'm looking for a bit of advice and any help would be appreciated!

Between the years of 2002 (when I left my last job) and 2005 I had to deal with a serious physical disability which prevented me from working. I was able to further my education during those years and in early 2005 I was able to find a permanent solution to the problem. I returned to college for a further year just to ensure that the problem wouldn't reoccur 6 months down the line. Now I'm finished and looking for my first skilled job. My CV is now full of first class honours from university but I have NO relevant experience and have quite a few "gaps" scattered throughout my CV.

After attending a few interviews I realised I don't know how to approach questions relating to the gaps in my CV, my lack of experience or my somewhat "over" educated background. Should I be completely upfront about the disability at the beginning of an interview (which I'd rather not do) or should I just try focus on the positives of what I've done?

Thanks in advance for any help!

billy the squid

Better to be up front about it before you get the job. If you keep it to yourself and they find out after they hire you you could be out the door.

If they don't hire you because of a past disability then you are probably better off not working for them.

besides, the fact that you went out and educated yourself rather than sat on your arse will stand in your favour.

Tom Dunne

billy the squid wrote:

Better to be up front about it before you get the job. If you keep it to yourself and they find out after they hire you you could be out the door.

If they don't hire you because of a past disability then you are probably better off not working for them.

By law, they cannot discriminate against you because of a disability.

Explaining gaps in a CV is a minefield. It is however, a minefield that has to be overcome. If you are vague and ambiguous, prospective employers will think you are hiding something. If you are open and honest, I firmly believe it will be to your advantage.

billy the squid wrote:

besides, the fact that you went out and educated yourself rather than sat on your arse will stand in your favour.

I would certainly agree with this statement. Through whatever difficulties you had to endure, you didn't sit around and do nothing. Sounds like you were willing to either overcome, or at least work around whatever disadvantage was thrown at you.

That alone should speak volumes to a prospective employer.

S.M.B.

Thanks for the feedback! Will take it onboard for my next interview on Wednesday!

nesf

tom dunne wrote:

By law, they cannot discriminate against you because of a disability.

True, but in a probation period it's not difficult to get rid of someone.


I'd be upfront about it OP. As Billy said, it's better to find out sooner rather than later whether the company you are interviewing is disability friendly.