How to approach long-term sickness when applying for new job

[yasminejobadvice]

I was just hoping for some advice on how to approach a long-term absence in my recent employment history.

I was off work for almost a year due to mental health issues. I’ve recovered and want to get back to work, but not to my current place of employment as that place and the people were a huge contributor to the issues I had. I’ve handed in my notice and started applying for other jobs, but I know I’m going to have problems and am not sure how to approach it.

I can be totally upfront and honest about my long-term absence and explain the situation at the interview stage. I feel that if I can explain the specific circumstances of the situation and explain how I’ve now turned things around and am confident I’m going to be okay going forward, maybe it will make the absence seem like slightly less of a deal-breaker. But then the drawback is, there’s a 100% chance of the details being on the table, and I could lose opportunities because of this.

Alternatively, I could not mention it at interview. But then if I get made a job offer, I might have to complete occ. health forms and they might request sickness history from my last employer. If they do this and are then made aware of the long-term absence, the offer could be withdrawn without me having the opportunity to explain my circumstances; details which I believe may make a difference to how they feel about hiring me despite my sickness record.

I don’t know what to do. If I bring it up voluntarily, I can guarantee myself the chance to explain, but I’m giving them a big reason to say no. If I don’t bring it up voluntarily, I might get lucky and it might not actually come up. But if it does, I think I have a higher chance of losing the offer as I may not get chance to explain myself. It's a difficult situation, so I was just hoping for some advice on what might be the best way to approach it.

The best approach is to apply for jobs, go along to any interviews you are asked to attend and try to get the job you want.

Bear in mind you need to be honest with yourself about the type of work that is right for you after what you've been through so that you set yourself up for success.

As regards your MH and past absence. Recruiters are not permitted by law, to ask about MH at the interview stage. This is due to the Equality Act and giving everyone a level playing field.

if you are offered a job and they take up your references, it may or may not come up. Often companies give dates of employment. If the new company doesn't specifically ask about attendance, then you don't need to say anything. If they do you can explain your circumstances and that keeps you in control.

Main thing is to look forward to the future positively and try to make a fresh start x

In short, don't feel you have to discuss your absence voluntarily. You are not obliged to. They will focus primarily on whether you are the right candidate, and if you can impress them you will hopefully find them to be trying to keep you not lose you.

I am also interested in people's thoughts on this. A very nasty situation in my place of work has resulted in me now being off almost three months.....I'm looking for another job but will probably be off another couple of months, and I too am worried how this looks to future employers. OP, nothing useful to add except to say good luck, and no doubt there are many people in a similar situation. Look after yourself x

I changed jobs after two periods of long term absence for stress in my previous role. I didn't say anything at interview - there was a bit of a delay between the interview and being offered the job during which time I had been signed off work again (horrific work situation). When I was offered the job it was my new manager who had called me. I accepted the offer and explained that I was currently off sick and a few of the details around why (scope of job, organisational pressures specific to my current role etc).

It helped that I was completely hanging organisation, into a more specialist role without the particular responsibility that had in part caused my work related stress. I did have an OH assessment before starting my new job but it was fine because it was so obvious the new job didn't have the same stressors as the old one.

Good luck in your job hunt.