Be honest -you wouldn't employ a person with certain mental health issues, would you?

[sportmax]

That's ludicrous- if they're competent and fit for the job - of course I would. That's what I imagine most people would say.
But I don't think people are really being honest with themselves.

What if the person had a mental health issue like social anxiety, would you still want to hire them? Probably not.

I think in an ideal world employers would never have an issue with employing anyone with a long term illness or disability, but in the real world employers don’t think like that.

The fact that over 50% of the disabled public are out of work is not down to coincidence. And I’m not just talking MH - I’m talking any kind of disability.

I have a different kind of disability as well as a life limiting illness and as things currently stand applying for work would be pointless as no-one would employ me with my illness. I’m currently in a position where I’m hoping to go back to work as I’ve had some treatment which will hopefully improve my quality of life, but in that event the disability I have has the highest unemployment rate in the country at a staggering 87% of people being out of work.

I’ve certainly worked for inclusive employers in the past and have always tried to take the view that in some instances I wouldn’t have been employed because there was someone more suited for the role regardless of disability, but discrimination most definitely exists and the person saying that this is going to make people with MH anxious about applying for work have clearly never had anything which leaves them open to discrimination because the truth is that it exists and people need to be able to guard against it where need be.

I have social anxiety but it has never affected whether or not I have got a job. I work with a number of other people with anxiety. Might your lack of success in interviews be due to interview skills rather than anything else? It might be worth working on them for a while?

Anxiety is self-diagnosed now by so many people who are feeling a bit unsociable or worried about one or two things going on that I’m afraid it’s hard to take seriously as an illness these days.

Even on here people post about their anxiety and I just roll my eyes at the dramatics.

If it’s diagnosed, that’s obviously different.

If people are telling you that you seem to nervous, have you gone in and told them you have social anxiety??

I’m afraid that would make me notice every twitch, ever stutter IYSWIM. Whereas if I didn’t know about it, I’d put it down to regular nerves.

So maybe don’t mention it? Also, as PP said, three interviews isn’t that many!

I've been to 3 interviews in the past month and the feedback is you're too nervous, not what type of personality you're looking for, we want an outgoing, confident person. It's my social anxiety. People don't want to know me. I can do the jobs but they can't see that.

I had a great lady work for me, but she was so nervous. When she moved on I called her potential employer and said "Just giving you the heads up, she is fantastic at her job, but she interviews really badly because she suffers with nerves" - and they said "Gotcha! your reference was so good, we gave her the job anyway - and yes she did have dreadful nerves" . I’m so glad I did that, even though she got the job anyway!

But cases of social anxiety aren’t really what we are talking about when we mean 'certain mental health issues' because the press stereotypes certain illnesses including autism or Asperger’s, schizophrenia, bi polar, psychopathy, depression which may well impact depending on the role.

@Giraffeinabox How did you arrive at your conclusion from the OP? .

I don't think you're wrong OP.

There was a thread recently about an "over sensitive" employee who, although good at her job when there, seemed to spend an awful lot of time off sick, crying in the toilets or going home crying. The general consensus there was "get rid" (she'd been there less than 2 years). Main reasons were the negative affect she was having on everybody else's mental well-being as they were picking up the slack.

While there are many who keep it in check there are many that don't and any company has to look at the bigger picture.

I would never declare my MH issues at interview.

Just to give you hope, OP.

My DD has social anxiety. She's employed in a position where she can choose to deal with people or not, and how she does it (ie, through email, etc). It's a slightly unusual job, but it suits her perfectly - so there are jobs and understanding firms out there.

Most employers don't interview people they don't think are capable of doing the job - and interviews are about finding the right fit. You also don't always go into interview with an even chance of getting the job, there might be an internal candidate who was always more likely to get the job, for example.

I do think employers discriminate though of course it's impossible to proove! Many employers will be worried about you going long term sick in the future, for example. Of course this isn't fair or right but I'm sure it happens.

the feedback is you're too nervous, not what type of personality you're looking for, we want an outgoing, confident person
I’ve had this response from every single interview for eight years. They word it slightly differently but the underlying meaning is the same: You wasted your time and money getting qualifications because you’re not extroverted enough. I can only get minimum wage jobs where they’d hire anyone who was breathing. It’s devastating because after all that hard work you’re scuppered by factors beyond your control. People who suggest applying for different jobs or just trying to be more friendly have never experienced this sort of discrimination and have no idea what it’s like.

🤔 A job interview is your opportunity to sell yourself to a company. Generally you get an interview based on your qualifications/experience ticking all the boxes but once you’re at interview stage it’s almost 100% based on what they see of you on the day.

Unless you work is an VERY niche area then everyone who interviews for a job expects to have stiff competition - it’s a buyers market right now. I’m not sure what you expect to happen, they interviewed you so they MUST hire you? 🤔

Maybe somebody else with the same level of qualification and experience was just better on the day. I have severe anxiety but even I can pull it out for an interview. If you can’t muster a bit of a confidence for one hour it’s not wrong for them to wonder if you’ll be ok in the job.

My company would. And do.
We hired a receptionist with marked social anxiety.
It took a while for her to settle in, but she was soon the most reliable member of staff in the place.
If you asked her to do something, it was done properly and on time, and the next time, you didnt even have to ask.
Her anxiety made some things hard for her, but her manager (not me) was fantastic, supportive and caring and they found ways round it.
It was a third sector organisation.
My experience is that they are often more willing to invest the time. And from a business point of view it has been well worth it as we have an excellent member of staff who is likely to stay a long time.
Having said that, without lying, be careful how much you disclose. If they dont ask I wouldnt tell.

In some situations though social anxiety/obvious nervousness really will affect your ability to do certain jobs. I remember in year 11 at school we had a nqt who's timidity really showed and he was basically eaten alive by the kids. The poor guy may have had a wonderful knowledge base and great knowledge of teaching methods but he had no authority or control and consequently he had no chance of getting teenagers to behave or listen!

i think it depends on the role and the condition.
eg. my role, a dispatcher for the police involves reading a lot of very distressing logs for up to 12 hours a day. domestics, car accidents, people self harming, all sorts. colleagues have taken calls from people actively committing suicide and one of our newbies the other week heard the sound of the man as he hung himself. i would be very wary about how someone with certain MH illnesses would be able to cope with that sort of content although one of my colleagues has anxiety and depression and manages ok

@sportmax do you tell them that you have social anxiety? Do you talk about your coping mechanisms with them during interview stage?

@MrFlibblesEyes

We had a newly qualified teacher at one of my kid's schools.

For the first 2 years she spent every break in the toilet crying.

She had zero classroom presence and the kids, including mine, made her life a misery.

She is the deputy head now. She wised up after a while, so you can't say for definite its not the career for them.

the feedback is you're too nervous, not what type of personality you're looking for, we want an outgoing, confident person. It's my social anxiety. People don't want to know me. I can do the jobs but they can't see that

What sort of roles are you applying for? I don't think it is wrong of them to want to employ an outgoing, confident person who may have to give presentations to customers, deal with clients or work as a receptionist. It's unfortunate if you are coming across really nervous in an interview. Others will have applied and been very confident and given a better impression.
Can you get some kind of interview training to help you with this?

Do you have diagnosed social anxiety? And are you receiving some kind of help for this or can you discuss this interview issue with your doctor?

It is a really difficult issue. I do believe that almost everyone with a mental health condition is able to work at something - but the role must be suited to their strengths for their benefit and their employer.

OP I don't know if your experience is a mental health issue to them

I think there's a very annoying thing now that all jobs ask for an extrovert and outgoing personality, annoys me muchly.

The world is set up for extroverts. If you don't like people randomly dropping round to your desk instead of emailing you, constant chitchat, team building days, open plan offices, endless meetings and calls and being a 'red' person then you don't get ahead. It's annoying because I find the socially anxious introverts tend to be better at their jobs than the outgoing ones who cover up a lack of ability with noise and bluster and 'confidence' which is usually just bulldozering over those around you.

(Can you tell I'm a socially anxious introvert with a hideous extrovert boss and a chip on my shoulder?)

What if the person had a mental health issue like social anxiety, would you still want to hire them?

I have social anxiety and incredibly shy and quiet. I've been continually employed for the last 36 years and now run my own business.

I would never apply to any firm that appeared "trendy" or in any that required lots of teamwork, presentations, etc., or any of the big national firms, in the first place. I've always applied (and been generally successful) with smaller/private firms where you're more likely to be interviewed by the owner rather than a professional HR manager or be forced to engage with group interviews etc which I know damn well I'd be useless at.

Now with my own business, I have never "done" the business networking meetings, nor pitching to larger businesses. I've always been very clear in targetting similar sized, small, owner managed businesses, who, by and large, turn out very similar to me in terms of personality etc - i.e. small firms are often owned by shy/quiet kinds of people.

So, OP, try changing the kind of job/employer you're looking for. Like attracts like. You're never going to succeed as a square peg in a round hole, so target potential jobs/employers that look to be a square peg too!

I'm torn on this- I wholeheartedly support equal opportunities but I am also realistic about the ability of smaller businesses to take the risk with someone who presents poorly at interview. I think larger companies should offer programmes and workschemes and there should be more government subsidised charities too. Also, a realistic path into employment is necessary - some jobs are simply not going to be suitable until MH issues are sorted etc.

I think there's a very annoying thing now that all jobs ask for an extrovert and outgoing personality, annoys me muchly.

Yeah.. that and "resistant to stress" or "resilient" - ie. we are going to treat you like shit and expect you to put up with it rather than considering the mental/physical health of employees and how to keep them fit, healthy and motivated for as long as possible so we don't have to keep training up new cannon-fodder.
Put the blame on the employees - they weren't "stress-resistant" enough

My DD has social anxiety. She's employed in a position where she can choose to deal with people or not, and how she does it (ie, through email, etc). It's a slightly unusual job, but it suits her perfectly - so there are jobs and understanding firms out there.

That's exactly what I mean - I set my own business up around internet/email communications with clients, so I can go several weeks without having to meet a client face to face and can go several days without a phone call. It's bliss! To the OP, don't give up, just concentrate your efforts on thinking about more suitable jobs/employers for your skill set -just avoid those that attract the extroverts!

Depends entirely on the job. For example DP employed a programmer for many years who wouldn't talk to people in the phone or anyone really. He preferred to sit in the corner, accept all instructions by email and get in with his job. He didn't even have a phone on his desk.. he had a panic attack on his first day when he saw one there!!

It was removed and he spent the next 15 years producing brilliant work and barely communicating except in writing. He was headhunted to another position and as far as I know still wont see client or use a phone.

If on the other hand he were employing a receptionist severe social anxiety may make us think twice

On the other side, there have been times when I've interviewed and employed people (both when working for others and for my own business), and I've "discriminated" the other way, i.e. any applicants who were clearly extrovert didn't get the job as they'd be too exhausting for me to manage - I've always employed more introverted people. But my profession is accountancy, so is generally a more of a "loner"/"quiet" type of job.

I would think that there are quite a lot of jobs well-suited to one with social anxiety.

Obviously the more severe the metal health issues, the more limiting they are.