Do you announce your disease on an interview?

[ibdoer]

I am going on an interview in a few days. Its actually a pharmaceutical sales position for Asacol....LOL I was wondering if anyone would share their disease info, regardless of job position. Thanks!

 

[Crohn's 35]

Wow a question hard to answer. If you do tell them , they may not hire you because they are knowing you could be taking time off..but the other hand if you are on Asacol and you are going well on it, they could hire you. I would wait til you got hired, only my opinion tho, sometimes you can feel out the interview and you may know if it is the right time. Good luck with your interview. I assume you are in the US? Let us know how it goes!

 

[ruth]

through personal experience I wouldnt mention my disease........apparently according to the court of human rights, you are not at liberty to divulge that kind or personal information........especially when its not a contagious disease. Its up to you but I think if I was you, Id be tempted to see how the interview goes and if you get the job and settled in, then id probably mention something.


Ruth

 

[rygon]

Yeh unless asked about it (ie health) then i wouldnt tell them

 

[TMos]

I wouldn't volunteer that info.

 

[dreamintwilight]

I struggled with this same predicament recently as I went on my first professional interview. I talked a lot to my husband about if and how I should bring it up because it explains part of the reason why I'm not in school right now. Well, I decided I was just going to keep it simple and say "I got sick and took the semester off and realized in that time I wanted to switch my area of study." That way, it's vague and doesn't necessarily point to a scary disease, but still gets my point across. It's all about reframing your answers.

Well, I'm in the interview and I get asked the question about school and I start out, "Well, I got sick last semester..." but before I could finish my statement one of the interviewers says, "You don't have to tell us that!!" Haha!

And I just finished up my statement saying I took the semester off and ya da ya da. I think Ruth is right in what she said. At least in the interview process, the employer doesn't want to be put into a position where they could be accused of asking about your sickness (which they are not allowed to do). So, don't feel bad about not being more upfront about it.

Once hired, then that would be something you could discuss with your boss and possibly HR so they can accommodate your condition, as necessary.

Good luck with your interview!

 

[Jer's Girl]

I would not mention it. I think it is better to disclose that information once they get to know you and know the kind of work you do so that they can judge you on that and not your disease. I am very open about my disease and even my stoma at work, BUT my boss and my colleges already know me and know that I am a hard worker and good at my job.

Unfortunately, I have had long periods of time when I had to take work off for my disease and eventual surgery. I am lucky that I have an understanding work environment. I don’t think I would have been hired if they had known that this was coming, but since they know me and know that I want to be there when ever I can be, it makes a big difference.

Good luck in the interview!

 

[Rebecca85]

How come they are not allowed to ask about sickness? Whenever I fill out an application form for a school job, I have to declare how many days sick I took in the past 2 years, so I would want the chance to explain why it is so high!

 

[Jer's Girl]

They are not allowed to ask because some employers might discriminate against someone and not hire them because of their illness and that isn’t right. That does not mean you are not allowed to tell them.

 

[bethyd78]

I do not think it should be mentioned in the interview process
Bethy

 

[Rebecca85]

So how come in the UK schools are allowed to ask?? So not fair!

 

[seaofdreams]

I don't think it's necessary to let a potential employer know about your medical history until after the interviewing process is over. In saying that, I work for a government department that deals with disability and in the interviewing stage, there was a question regarding illness and disability and I told them that I had Crohn's. I only did so because I knew that it wouldn't impact on my chances of getting the job but every employer will be different. Best of luck with the interview! Let us know how it goes

 

[Lulu]

I have also recently been through this. By the way Seaofdreams why do you put Crohn's as a disability on APS forms. I havent as I dont consider my 'condition' to be a disability.

I didnt start out with the intention of telling a potential employer about my condition but was prepared that they would ask why I was leaving the defence force. As soon as I say it is due to a medical discharge they straight away ask if it is due to injury or illness without actually asking what it is (as they are not allowed to). I just say it is a 'condition' that precludes me from being deplolyed and therefore I am not allowed to remain in the defence force. Nothing more was said at the interview.
I did have one employer ring me that night and ask if I would mind telling me what the 'conditon' is as they just wanted to make sure I was physically able to perform the duties involved. I did disclose at that stage I had crohn's but was 'in excellent clinical health' (to quote my GI) but used the opportunity to state that I would require time off to attend appointments, have blood tests etc.
I was offered the job on the spot. Sometimes it does pay to be upfront, employers will appreciate your honesty, if not, then maybe they were not the person you should be working for anyway as they may not understand if you do become sick.

Seaofdreams: with APS, how do you go with the medicals? Will you pass a medical if you are otherwise fit & healthy even though you do have crohn's?

 

[seaofdreams]

I put it as a disability because I was on disability pension payments at the time and I wanted to "justify" that and give an explaination as to why I wasn't currently working. I passed a medical fine, they're more focused on general health eg. I have good hearing, I can sit at a desk for prolonged periods of time.

 

[Lulu]

Seaofdreams,

thanks for that, was wondering how I would go with a medical.
At the moment I am not 'sick' enough to get any centrelink benefits, cant get humira either as I dont qualify as not sick even though I need it.

 

[reidyjo81]

I wouldn't give that information unless they ask. Obviously if you have to go for a medical which i have had to in the past then you have to tell them, I have found this has never caused a problem. Good luck

 

[braveheart]

Shhhh! :wink:

 

[mom5272]

No, No and NOOOOOO! As a prior manager, I know Managers will discriminate.

 

[seaofdreams]

Seaofdreams,

thanks for that, was wondering how I would go with a medical.
At the moment I am not 'sick' enough to get any centrelink benefits, cant get humira either as I dont qualify as not sick even though I need it.

The rings you have to jump through to get onto biological medications are ridiculous. My GI has told me that we can't even start looking into Remicade or Humira until I stop responding to the Methotrexate or have a bad reaction to it. I think they need to try the top-down method rather than working up the ladder, it seems to be so much more effective from what I've found in my research over the last year or so.

 

[D Bergy]

Not unless you think that will help you, and it usually will not. I say that as an employer and an employee. I am both.

Dan

 

[kenny]

I am about to send out some more resume and have thought about this again. I will put down the six months medical leave for surgery on my chronology on the front page. But I will leave off any specifics about it and only discuss it in person at an interview. After the first year back to work I know it is going to effect my productivity and result in some absenteeism. But I hope when they look at me and see a healthy strong happy person across the desk they will be willing to overlook it.

 

[Heb]

If you go for a medical in the mines and have to do any work underground then it is an issue as I know someone in that position.

 

[Lucy]

I would never tell a potential employer. If it's a small business they are not going to want those medical bills. Just my opinion.

 

[woops!]

I usualy tell my employer after I have been on the job for a while. Assuming that I'm not having any problems. I usualy bring it up at luch time.... kinda like.... (oh no thanks I don't want to eat a cheeseburger, I have a stomach condition) This way I can get a feel if they want me to explain more, or if they just don't care.
On the interview.....no.

 

[Crohn's 35]

If you go for a medical in the mines and have to do any work underground then it is an issue as I know someone in that position.

Yes, this is true, my hubby is in a Major Mining company and their policies are you must have a physical and other policies before you get the interview. But most Crohnies couldnt handle a job like that if they are flaring. Not an easy job. My hubby did it for 30 years, now is a supervisor. :wink:

Welcome to the forum btw!!!

 

[beth]

I've been thinking about this somewhat as I'm revising what the hell it is I used to do - I'm a software hacker. I was made redundant a couple of months after I got ill, the company closed the office I was in. However that was 2.5 years ago. Such a big gap is going to be an unavoidable topic of conversation. My thinking is I'm happy for it to come out I've got Crohn's and if a potential employer goes off me because of it, well that's too bad for them. After all, anyone can drop down with an illness at any time, just like that <clicks fingers>. Like my Hubby who woke up in hospital and didn't remember the stroke that put him there.

 

[acg101]

I wouldnt mention my disease at first. I have had long periods of time when I had to take work off for my CD disease and eventual surgery. I have had a highly demanding job that not always was an understanding work environment.
Good luck with the Job!

 

[joe1984]

There is a time and place for everything and an interview is not the place to describe abything. I would also wait past the 90 day probationary period that they can get rid of you for any reason. Good luck with the interview.

 

[redstar3313]

I have a huge gap on my resume as I was diagnosed right after graduating from university.

It's basically unavoidable for me, so I just try to be vague and say "I had to take some time off for personal health reasons but I'm ok now"

 

[Jennjenn]

I would never say this to a potential employer untill I am in lol.....
My last job I worked in a lab and we did testing on clinical research studies. Some trialswere on potential Crohns meds to one day maybe come out! If they knew before I got a definite hire, I would not have gotten the job. They were on a skeleton crew half the time and needed dependable employees.
After I was in months later (after they got to like me!) I brought up awareness for crohns and told them that it only looks better for clients if they get involved with more than just the breast cancer walks each year. One HR lady hated me then because I went over her head when she said no to be involved. Her boss loved the idea and many employees came forward to want to be involved because of themselves being Dx or someone they knew or just for the cause. Two weeks before the walk I wound up in the hospital for a week and had to be out of work the following week of the walk. I told them their captian would still be there but I would just sit while they walked. The HR lady who did not like me very much after going over her head and getting the walk for the company to be bigger than expected told me I was not allowed to go because I missed work and was taking sick days.....Once again I went over her head and was allowed to because I was still employed and had rights..... After the walk I was just about to go back to work and had a blockage two days before my return date....There was nothing but headaches with the HR lady who did not like me. I even had to say at one point harassment from her and she was not allowed to talk to me unless I wanted her to. I stayed with the company for another 5 months after and had to resign after being with them for almost 2 years because I started to go downhill again. I got approved for disability and have been on it for 2 years now. I still have difficulties.

My point is do not tell them because there is discrimination for people with medical conditions.....When they discriminate they will give any other excuse not to hire you but the truth. They want a dependable employee, and with crohns, many have high chances of missing time at work. If that HR lady knew before she would have never hired me. I remember they gave someone who was in a wheel chair a tour for his 3rd interview and my manager saw that he would need accomodations.....We never saw him again.

I know this was long and I am sorry for rambling! Every year at the Crohns walk it is always nice to smile at that nice lol HR lady and wave hello!

 

[Alycat]

Up until very recently I worked as an Employment Specialist. I would not recommend discussing an illness at an interview. It is not anyone's business and it will be used against you when it comes to selection process. Any chronic issues can be discussed after you have signed the paperwork for the position.

Wishing you the best,

 

[effdee]

It'll only be used against you if you tell them. You don't really have a way of proving the reason they didn't hire you was because of knowing about your illness.