Time lapse between jobs. Also..Thank you!!

[Guest guest]

Hi again!

First I'd like to thank everyone who has shared my relief, at least

for the moment, about my husband's all-clear from his prostate cancer.

I value your comments so much, as I valued your support through my own

diagnosis and following months with CP and through Jim's.

Now to thoughts about time lapse between jobs. Of course I know

nothing of the legal situation in the USA. I have, however,

interviewed scores of people over the years for jobs in my school. As

deputy head, I have interviwed usually as part of a panel or just

along with the headteacher.

I've already posted about this but I'd like to echo what Heidi says

about this matter. Honesty is the best policy. People are ALLOWED to

be ill. Especially when there has been surgery, there can be no doubt

about the genuineness of the illness! If it was found out that someone

had kept quiet about surgery/illness etc, then it would surely come to

be known. One is ALWAYS more unwilling to emply someone who might not

be being candid about an absence from work than someone who simply

gives the facts as they are. Employers and interviewers appreciate

honesty. This does not mean that there are no employers who would be

influenced against an applicant who had a known illness but you will

find reasonable people who will take you!

Of course, it is helpful if one has references from an employer or

line-manager from before the illness who can say vouch for good

attendance then. It is also helpful to have medical reassurance that

one is fit for work.

At my school we recently interviwed one such applicant. We had no

worries about inviting her for interview. In the end, one of the other

candidates got the job but it had NOTHING to do with the first

candidate's absence from work but was related to more relevant

qualifications and experience, answers at interview etc. It was a

close thing anyway.

There have been times when we have been positively keen to give

someone an opportunity to work again when they have had a problem such

as illness which has kept them away from work.

Good luck to all of you who are looking for work. I wish you

satisfactory health to allow you to do the work you want and good

employers too!

Fliss (UK)