Returning to work after illness... How?

[Brad]

Anyone been in this situation? After 8 months out of work due to heart problems I have found a job I'm interested in. Ironically it's in the hospital, the same one where I was a patient for the whole of March. I feel about 95% fine now, albeit due to the nine tablets a day I'm on, and this job is only part time anyway. So, how do you go about it? Explain illness on a CV? Covering letter? Will they think I'll get ill again? I have to have an operation, but no idea when so I won't tell them yet, and anyway for any clinics I'd need to go to all I'd need to do is walk downstairs!
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Ta.

[Martin]

Cant say I have any experience or advice in the area, but best of luck in getting back on your feet.

[Joe Public]

In a previous life I delt with "Hiring and firing" and my advice would be - be honest.

For an employer there is nothing worse than finding out 3w after you started that you lied on the application form. They would proberly sack you for that.

If you want the employer to be aware of all the details - on the application next to the time that you were off put "see note" and then include a seperate piece of paper giving all the details.

Use it to your advantage - cos you have spent time in the hospital make a joke at the interview that at least you will know your way around.

I think the message is be positive and honest.

Let us know how you get on.

G

[Katherine]

Use it to your advantage - cos you have spent time in the hospital make a joke at the interview that at least you will know your way around.

I did that when applying for hospital radio! 8)

[Chris]

Use it to your advantage - cos you have spent time in the hospital make a joke at the interview that at least you will know your way around.

I did that when applying for hospital radio! 8)

No offence to anyone that works in hospital radio, but it's question I've been dying to ask for quite a while...

Does the industry take any work experience done at a hospital radio station seriously when applying for jobs?

[James Martin]

Well I personally think they do if your presenting skills are good.

Student radio is taken very seriously by the industry now, and is very much seen as a stepping-stone into the radio industry.

[SteveL]

Student radio is taken very seriously by the industry now...

You just can't resist, can you James.

I can't imagine who told you that, unless it was your own over-inflated ego; but they were lying.

[Pete]

I think it was Kieren Hardcastle, James's *best friend*

[Brad]

Didn't get an interview, not even a look-in.
The British Heart Foundation turned me down for volunteering as well, would you believe?! They've gone right down in my estimations now!

[Brad]

Actually, this is very interesting. When I was admitted to hospital, I was pumped full of diuretics as basically my legs and feet had swollen up like balloons as the heart was pumping downwards instead of round. I thought the swelling would go in a day or so. A fortnight later and I was still swollen, and then on six times the dose I was on to start with. But in my mind I was becoming defeatest in a kind of "these damn things aren't working" frame of mind. I'm still on the same dose to this day!

[Gavin Scott]

Brad, although it may not be the right thing to do, I wouldn't disclose your medical history on your CV.

Like it or not, people will discriminate. It's not down to badness, just the reality of someone being charged with filling a vacant position, and not wanting to hire a 'lemon'. Now the fact is you may be more than able to do the job you applied for, but I suspect you won't get a chance to prove it.

If you did become poorly once employed, you could report it as a 'new' illness. For the most part (like every other employee), I am sure you would be fine and healthy.

9 tablets a day are easier to conceal than you think, and I speak from some experience.

You need to do what is right for you, and sometimes that means not telling.