How to ask for assistance during job interview

[Shefliesonherownwings]

I have an interview next week for a promotion. It’s a civil service job and I’m an internal candidate.
I had an interview about 6 months ago for the same job which I didn’t get. One of the things I struggled with was the length of the questions, processing them and then thinking of my answer in the allotted timeframe. Asking them to repeat the question fully or in part didn’t really help.

I struggle because I have PTSD following a traumatic event a couple of years ago and it’s affected my cognitive abilities somewhat. Things just take me a bit longer and my memory isn’t very good anymore. It doesn’t stop me being able to do the job but I just need that extra time to process.

The invite to interview refers to emailing HR if you need assistance and this was suggested to me also by a couple of my managers when I had feedback from the last interview. So I want to email HR basically to ask that the interview panel read the questions slowly and in stages so I can write them down which helps me process them and allow me a couple of extra minutes to then think of my answers.

But I’m struggling with how to word the email so I can get my request across clearly without having to explain further about the trauma and PTSD. I’m wondering if this sort of request is reasonable or would it naturally invite more questions about what’s happened to me. I don’t really want to share something very personal with HR or the interview panel if I can help it.

Does that request sound ok and any suggestions for how I word it?

Hi, I work in the civil service and do a lot of interviews. That would be absolutely fine to me. HR don’t need to know the ins and outs, just say that due to your disability you’d appreciate if you could have additional time allowed per question as you need additional time to digest and answer the question. Finish it off saying you’re happy to discuss your requirements in more detail if they wish. They will then contact the hiring manager to advise them what the adjustments are. You’re absolutely entitled to this so do contact them to get this put in place. Best of luck

Use the phrase ‘reasonable adjustment’ when you ask.

I have similar difficulties to you and I ask for (and have had no problem getting) the questions to be in front of me in writing so I don’t have to remember them. (Also CS) Would that help you?

Yes I was going to suggest getting the questions in writing too, or if you prefer to write them down yourself which I do sometimes as I can’t retain the question in my mind and forget it halfway through answering 🙄

Some companies have started to give all interviewees the list of questions before the interview so your reasonable adjustment request should be fine.

One interview I attended gave me the list of questions as soon as I arrived so I could think about how I wanted to answer as I was sitting in the waiting area. The other interview gave me the questions the day before. Both of these interviews took place within the last 6 months in the charity sector.

Thank you all. I emailed HR and asked that the panel read the questions slowly and in stages to give me enough time to write the question down. I also asked for the panel to then give me a few extra minutes to digest the question before I responded. I actually didn’t think of having the questions in writing before but I think me writing it out will help, this is usually how I process things easiest now.

HR emailed back to confirm what I was asking and to ask if I have any day to day reasonable adjustment which I don’t. So I replied and explained that and confirmed what I’d asked for in terms of the interview.

They didn’t come back to me to confirm that was all ok and the interview is Monday morning so I’m hoping I won’t have to make the request during the interview and the panel has been passed this information beforehand. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.