Another question about time lapse between jobs

[Guest guest]

Since December 2004 I have gotten to the point where I feel I could

do the kind of work I did before my nasty three and half years of

hell with constant recurrent acute pancreatits > chronic

pancreatitis > total pancreatectomy. I was a system administrator

and help desk analyst at major university in Ohio. But just as I got

to the point of looking for work our funds were exhausted, my cobra

coverage was up, and I was on the brink of homelessness. I went

without Creon 20 for about two months, lost tons of weight, had

major issues with the lower gi if you know what I mean. I had to

rely on my Dad to let us move in, help us get on our feet and so

forth. Well now we have a cheap apartment, my wife has work again

(not very high paying though, her lapse in work from taking care of

me 24/7 hurt her). But we just scrapping by which really is awesome

compared to homelessness .

I have been looking but I have these 7 years of high tech guru

experience and then a two gap. I am always overqualified for the

entry level jobs (by the way here there is almost no tech job

openings) and I get to interviews and get that question " explain

your time off for the last two years " and I have been brutally

honest, or reasonable false, or flat out lied, I have put the best

spins on it I could. And I always see those eyes droop. Then I don't

get the job. I really do not want to go to fast food. LOL.

I have gone through a lengthy hiring process was the US Postal

Service to be a Data Conversion Technician. Tests, tests, and more

test, all of which I scored what they call high eligible. Finally

today in the mail I got a packet with the offer for the final

interview. It has the tax forms you sign when you get hired and all

that. They made a payment offer, 14.00 an hour which I will gladly

take. But when I get in the interview and they ask about my absence

from the working world, will it all go up in flames? How do I answer

that?

This job is sitting at computer doing encoding and data entry and

minor manipulation. It has periodic breaks. I will be able to do

this even in bad pain because I have done that before for years. In

much worse pain than I am in now. I want this job!!!

Any advice is really appreciated!

Thanks,

Bert

[Guest guest]

Bert, what type of release for a doctor for returning to have you

received? If you did get one you should state that in your response to

the gap question. If not try to get a release to work letter. I am not

sure if this will help but it may?

Walt

[Guest guest]

Hi Bert,

Nice to hear from you again! I haven't been posting much myself

because of my husband's health probs and surgery (prostate cancer)

which may have to be followed by radiotherapy. We find out tomorrow.

I just wanted to wish you the very best of luck with your current

job application. I said what I felt in answer to Chrissy's question

on the same subject. Surely people are allowed to be ill? Can you

have a doctor's note to say you are now fit for work? I have

interviwed scores of people for jobs at my school. We always

appreciate honesty (and can tell if someone is trying to hide the

facts!) but we do recognise that illness is a reality and that

people will usually wish to take up work again once they are better.

ness usually pays off. Pancreatitis is a recognised illness, as

is the treatment you had for it. Countless people work with

diabetes.

I'm not downplaying your problems; just encouraging you to look

forward to success in a job hunt! This one sounds just right but I'm

sure you'll get the one that is meant for you!

I hope and pray that you get this job and that things continue to

improve for you both. I'm so glad your pain tends to be less than it

was before the surgery. It was worth it!

That run-down on pain meds was pretty impressive, by the way!

Take care and good luck again,

Fliss (UK)

[Guest guest]

Bert,

My suggestion may not be the best, so I do hope that someone here

that has worked in an administrative capacity involving interviewing

and hiring personnal will respond.

If it were me, my only answer would be to tell them that a critical

health issue arose that necessitated your having major organ

transplant surgery, and the time absent was time for that surgery and

the necessary lengthly recovery afterward. That the surgery was vital

for your health, and done in order to survive and be able to continue

to work for the remainder of your career. The surgery was successful

and you have a clean bill of health - present a copy of the surgeon's

or doctor's discharge and letter verifying that you are ready and able

to return to work.

I'm afraid that anything less than the truth could bite you back.

Since the position is with a government agency, I think they are much

more sensitive to and adherent of the laws against discrimination and

fair hiring policies....they have to be. They have to be so conscious

of following those hiring policies that I don't see how they would

discrimate against you for your absence due to health complications.

With your background, I think the chances of your getting hired by the

US Postal Service would be easier than being hired by a private

corporate firm. They HAVE to follow the rules and are monitored

constantly. Because of this, I think they would be frightened of a

complaint or legal suit against them if any discrimination was shown.

This is just my personal opinion, though, and I'd love to hear what

someone else has to say about it. I haven't had a chance to read

through any of the messages that may have come in after you posted

this request for comments, so maybe someone else has already given you

better advise.

Just my 2 cents.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Rep., PAI

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should

not be substituted for professional medical consultation.