Applying for a job while injured

twiggy86

Hi,

I was in a car accident 6 months ago which has left me in quite a lot of pain. So much so that I had to give up my job and move home in the hope that rest would cure me but that hasn't worked. It now seems I could be looking at a few procedures on my hip and spine before I get back to 100%.

My problem is that the perfect job for me has been advertised really close to home. It's quite a niche position which you usually only find advertised roles in Dublin or Belfast. I'm really interested in the role and have every piece of experience they ask for, even down to the system they use. I'm booked in for my first procedure next week and the surgeon has said I could start to feel better within a week so it could be possible for me to start to work in a fortnight.

My question is, how should I approach this with the recruitment company/employer? I'm obviously going to tell them the truth but I don't want to put them off wanting to hire me. I will probably be 100% in a months time but it's an urgent position.

Obviously in an ideal world I'd wait until I'm better before even applying for work but I just can't let this position pass me by without trying.

Eoin

They say it's urgent, but presumably they'll know there's a good chance that they'll have to wait 4 weeks for a successful candidate to work out their notice period?

The recruitment company will want to put forward a strong candidate, so I don't think you need to be too worried about scaring them off by telling them. They might be able to suggest a phone interview first, to buy some time until you're fit to attend the interview in person.

If you're not up to 100% after the procedure, how will that affect your ability to do your job? Is your surgeon happy for you to be going back to work?

twiggy86

Eoin wrote: »

They say it's urgent, but presumably they'll know there's a good chance that they'll have to wait 4 weeks for a successful candidate to work out their notice period?

The recruitment company will want to put forward a strong candidate, so I don't think you need to be too worried about scaring them off by telling them. They might be able to suggest a phone interview first, to buy some time until you're fit to attend the interview in person.

If you're not up to 100% after the procedure, how will that affect your ability to do your job? Is your surgeon happy for you to be going back to work?

I can still function at the moment, I can walk and sit but I'm in constant pain. It's an office job so it's not like I'll be on my feet constantly. So even if I just get a slight bit of relief from this procedure I think I'll be fit to do my job. I'm meeting my doctor on Monday so will ask her but I'm really hopeful. I assume she'll say it's fine as it's not the kind of injury that will be exasperated by sitting in an office chair. It's certainly not getting any better through rest and quite frankly I'm going crazy stuck in the house!!

Eoin

Cool; well as I said, if you're going through an agency, they're going to be keen to work with a candidate who ticks all the boxes. So I doubt they're going to be scared off.

If I was the hiring manager in this situation; I don't think I'd be overly concerned provided that there was as little risk as possible that the op could push out a start date for whatever reason.

Hope everything works out for you.

twiggy86

Eoin wrote: »

Cool; well as I said, if you're going through an agency, they're going to be keen to work with a candidate who ticks all the boxes. So I doubt they're going to be scared off.

If I was the hiring manager in this situation; I don't think I'd be overly concerned provided that there was as little risk as possible that the op could push out a start date for whatever reason.

Hope everything works out for you.

Thanks for your advice Eoin, I've spoken to the recruitment agent and explained the situation. He didn't seem overly put off and almost glossed over it as if it wasn't an issue so I was probably making a bigger deal of it in my head than necessary!

Arbiter of Good Taste

Sorry to hear you're in pain, I've been there.

I agree not to get too uptight about "urgent". Depending on the role, a lot of people have to give at least a month - often longer- notice periods. So you might not be that badly off.

Most importantly though, give yourself sufficient time to get over the procedure and heal properly

AltAccount

Hiring the wrong person, or an under experienced person costs way more than having to wait for the right person. If you're good enough, they'll wait.

I'd agree with Eoin that there might be a fear that the month will come and go with you not improving and not being available. They'll want some sort if reassurance.

Also, I wouldn't be too happy with a recruitment consultant "glossing over" anything. They're a salesperson and you're a commodity at the end of the day. They won't have to be the ones who have to live with a lack of due diligence, foresight or planning.

twiggy86

Thanks for all replies, I hope the interview will take place a good few days/a week after my procedure next week and then I'll be in a much better position to assess whether I am fit to return. It's just my job in the interview to come across so well that they really want to hold the job open for me until I am well (fingers crossed mid Feb)!!!

In terms of the recruitment agent sort of glossing over the injury, I fully intend to have a proper conversation with the employer myself should I get to interview stage. I certainly won't be relying on him to explain the situation in any great detail, as you say, he is trying to sell me so may not go into too much detail. I'd hate to get the job and have the employer think I haven't been entirely truthful.