Tough choices: Lying about illness in a CV or interview

Question_Mark

This is somewhat a touchy topic, at least I imagine it to be.

In know someone (it's not me, not that it would make a difference) who experienced a period of mental illness. I advised her not to divulge this during an interview and to say instead that she had a "personal issue" she had to take care of. Am I giving good advice or is there a better way? It was a 6-month gap of unemployment, and I'm not sure what she should say if pressed. I still think she should avoid telling them, because most recruiters will, when given a huge choice of applicants, put someone like her to the bottom of the list, regardless of whether this is "fair" or not.

What do you think she should say if pressed further, i.e. getting the job is dependent on her being very transparent about the 6 month absence from the job market?

I know a man who has been out of work for two years owing to a brain aneurysm (to be accurate, I don't think it was a typical aneurysm, I believe it had something to do with fluid build up causing brain swelling--something horrible of that nature).
Now, this man can choose to be honest when he returns for interviews, but I'm not convinced this is a good idea. It would create an impression of "fragility", or liability, for want of better words. They would likely choose another candidate, on a pretext of them being a better fit for the company. By all measures he has made a more or less full recovery, though the process was very slow and long.

I'm at a loss, though, to come up with suggestions for ethically evading the question of the two year unemployment gap. Any thoughts?

The way I see it, impressions matter and, truth be told, complete honesty can cost you.

InReality

Id say you were looking for work and not mention illness. dont say personal difficulties for sure.

hmmm

I'd put a brain anuerysm in a different category to something like depression.

I'd have no problem telling an interviewer about #1 because I'd put it in the same category as "was run over by a car and was out for 6 months, it's not likely to happen again".

If it was something like depression, if it was me I think I'd tell them that I had a bout of illness and was out for 6 months, and it isn't something you expect will reoccur. That won't work in a job where your medical history is important of course, you'll have to be very clear and open.

Lux23

I would say I was on a career breaking taking care of someone, not technically a lie either.

Gone West

Just tell them she took time off to help out with family stuff, give a knowing, but sad nod, and they won't dig any deeper. No drama. Don't go telling them you have personal issues or mental health stuff as it can only harm your chances. At some point in the future, this situation will reverse, but for now it's still taboo for most people. Unfortunately not everyone is enlightened. I'd have no more problem hiring somebody if they said they had mental health issues, than if they had physical health issues.

Achtung Maybe

Mark,

That is a question close to my heart as I have an inoperable brain tumour. I have been for interviews where the minute I refer to the tumour my chances of getting the role evaporate in front of me (despite me being an ideal candidate - in terms of experience) for the role.

I would approach it (in your case) in a more generic manner along the lines of "took a career break" you don't need to expand on that. Unlike my case (where I am bald from chemo etc) having depression is not visible from your appearance so the "career break" response should suffice.

Irrespective of all this I wish you the very best of luck from a work perspective but also in your battle with depression

Rubberchikken

i personally wouldn't give any detailed information. a 'career break', 'taking care of someone' general comment would be better.

in my eyes mental illness is something people have and can and is treatable, in the eyes of a prospective employer it can look like an issue too far.

tbh most people interviewing someone will back away from candidates who are truthful about mental health issues/obviously pregnant/disabled etc if for no other reason than to make life that bit easier for them. it's just human nature.
best of luck to your friend.

king2

I dont think you're really expected to tell the truth in interviews anyway. For example, if you inform the interviewer of a health issue, he probably has no choice but to reject your application. If they gave you the job and a problem arose due to the condition you told them about then its their ass on the line because they knew about it. If the hirer doesnt know and hires you and there is a problem later, they are in the clear because they didnt know about it.So I suppose what I am saying is no one really cares as long as their own ass is covered!

Jadaol

I would stick as close to the truth as possible. A close family member became extremely ill unexpectedly and you took time off to help them as you were in a position to do so. Thankfully they made a full recovery

No need to know it was your friend and they were helping out themselves!

braddun

don't say personal issue

big red flag

B.A._Baracus

Tell her not to mention it and to be creative. She didnt have a 6 month break on her CV because of mental issues because she 'took a 6 month break' due to family issues.... or she had a health scare .... or she was in Brazil sightseeing. Be creative.

Sure there are people out there who are very understanding but alot of people are not. The current jobs market is very competitive because it's an employers market. So let's just forget mental issues for a second... A person could say something stupid in an interview and from that they don't get the job.

Question_Mark

Thank you for the thoughtful and interesting replies.

@ Achtung Maybe: my sympathies for your health issues, that's very difficult for any person to deal with and I wish you the best of luck. (May I also say very cool username;-)
(I should add that the people referred to aren't me, though it wouldn't really matter for the purposes of this thread in getting information out there)

P_Cash

Ahh. Visited a friend in America or Australia

The_Conductor

If you're creative like most posters here are suggesting- and its a recurrent issue- which does re-arise, and you have not disclosed it- it is a valid reason for terminating an employment. In the public sector- you cannot be discriminated against at interview for declaring a chronic condition- your application can however be forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer- for evaluation, and will be subject to minimal sick leave typically for the first 2 years of the post, if you succeed at interview.

Mrs OBumble

The_Conductor wrote: »

If you're creative like most posters here are suggesting- and its a recurrent issue- which does re-arise, and you have not disclosed it- it is a valid reason for terminating an employment.

That's true if you were explicitly asked about it, as in "Do you have any health conditions that may affect your ability to do the job?" or similar.

If you just say "Caring for a family member", and they don't ask about your health, then I doubt that it could be used.

The_Conductor

In the Public sector- they are not allowed ask you- you are supposed to self declare- and if you go over a certain number of sick days related to the condition in your first two years of employment- you are shown the door. If it is deemed to have been a non-disclosed chronic condition- you would have been referred to the Chief Medical Officer in the first instance- before any decision was made to offer you the post- subsequent to this- its a summary termination of your probation (including the second year, which is no longer considered probationary in many instances).

Policies in the private sector may differ- depending on the company.

Gone West

The_Conductor wrote: »

In the Public sector- they are not allowed ask you- you are supposed to self declare- and if you go over a certain number of sick days related to the condition in your first two years of employment- you are shown the door. If it is deemed to have been a non-disclosed chronic condition- you would have been referred to the Chief Medical Officer in the first instance- before any decision was made to offer you the post- subsequent to this- its a summary termination of your probation (including the second year, which is no longer considered probationary in many instances).

Policies in the private sector may differ- depending on the company.

Right, but you're posting about your interpretation of specific rules in the public sector for some reason, rather than giving the OP reasonable, measured advice.

In the real world, you don't mention any mental health condition in an interview.
The stigma is a pity, but we do in fact live in the real world.

The_Conductor

If the OP could give some sort of an indication what field the interview is for- we might be better able to offer advice?

pauliebdub

Id be very wary of giving out information regarding illness at an interview, i think you will find it much more difficult to find work as employers are risk averse and will not be willing to employ someone who might be a risk. Can you say you went travelling or something?

Question_Mark

The_Conductor wrote: »

If the OP could give some sort of an indication what field the interview is for- we might be better able to offer advice?

Apologies, you're right about that. I don't really know the specifics. I can find out, but to the best of my knowledge, the fields are quite standard private sector office jobs, like credit services for a company

Mint Aero

If it was me I'd say I was volunteering for 6 months.

Mrs OBumble

Whatever you say, you need to be able to tell a credible story about it.

Travelling in Australia - be ready to talk about where you stayed, what you did etc. Volunteering - doing what for who, and do you have a reference from them?

The only one you are unlikely to be pushed much on is caring for a sick family member.