Depression - How To Tell Potential Employer

[evedawn]

HI many of you know i have been struggling BIG BIG time with depression and have been off work for 6 weeks. This is getting better*slowly* and is forcing me to re evaluate things. A big part of why I succumbed is that my current job was just not the right fit and although there are other aspects as to why I am depressed it was the JOB that was the main catalyst - the final straw sort of thing anyway - long story short.....I have a telephone interview today for a part time job which i (and everyone who kows me!) thinks will be a better fit ....Im wanting to do my best but....How do I tell the interviewer I am off with depression if he asks how many days I have had off? I do need to be honest and anyway IF i got the job they would write to my employer to query ayway I guess. Im no longer (as ) ashamed of being depressed - why should I be - but want to let my potential future employer know that this is not the only part of me....I've worked for 21 years without a break in employment and this is the first time Ive been off with depression. I know I simply will not be able to go back to my previous job too....I've learnt my lesson about trying to do the impossible in such a bad office enironment.

[jakep]

A difficult one evedawn. I do believe that honesty is best and also that there is nothing to be ashamed about.
Those of us who have had to give in to the depression are probably the tip of a very big iceberg. Many more don't feel strong enough to take time out and heal.
I don't have a helpful answer but would wonder if your current employer were 'allowed' to release the details of your sick leave.
Your record speaks for itself and a calm explanation will hopefully bring a new employer onside. Also you never know that they may have experienced this illness at close quarters themselves.

[evedawn]

Thanks Annie - hmm its a tough one! I don't htink my employer cold legally give the reason why I am off (I'm still boooked off by psychiatrist but am getting better) but when they write for ref'sthe employer would normally say ....this person has been off for X amount of weeks etc... I don;t want to fall at the last hurdle. Thats of course hoping I even get that far with the intervierwe today. My confidence has taken such a nosedive with this depression. Still I/m thinking (hoping) it may be a (weird) in the long run as it may mean that I can help / understand someone on a simialr situation in future. I would NEVER have understood how debilitating it is to be clinically depressed. Are YOU better now? OR do you stills truggle?

[AlwaysConfused]

Treat it like any other health issue, and, when questioned explain that you experienced depression during that time, which consequently affected your performance and/or absence rate. I sincerely hope you get the job and that it will give you the fresh start that you need

[VHG]

I have suffered from depression and find if you tell people they often clam up and dont know what to say. It still has a certain stigma.

Why not say you are off with "stress" which is a sort of catch all phrase to cover lots of things.

Personally I would not mention "depression" during the interview at all.

[WELSHYORKIE]

Hi, evedawn. Be honest if you are the question but also mention, like you did in the question, that your job was the main contributing cause of the depression. I disagree with what VHG says - companies these days are 'switched on' to illnessess like depression and stress and there is no longer the stigma that there used to be. Finally, good luck - hope you get the job.

[jakep]

I am better in that I am off all medication, but I do still struggle. There are things happening at the moment that are very challenging - Mum in hospital for nearly 2 wks now and found out yesterday that one of our cats has cancer. In a way I take a step back and tell myself to cope as I really don't want to be that ill again.
My very best wishes to you for your interview. Play it by ear but maybe try and mention something along the lines of how it was that particular environment that caused your illness and that everything else in your life is stable and that you are ready now for a new chapter.

[evedawn]

Thank you ALL of you for your advice. Much appreciated. Part of this depression melarky is that I find decision making etc throws me into turmoil. So your advice of what to potentially say helped. The telephine isn't went well and they said I will now get a 2nd interview in a week or two. I hope it works out as it will be anew start. Annibar - I good ur mum will be okay? And Of course u will be sad about your cat too :(
"Try" stay strong ... Like u said u can't get ill again :(

[evedawn]

Excuse typos ...big fingers + small iPhone :)

[jakep]

Thank you.
Glad it went well today. Please let us know how you get on.

[boxtops]

Just seen this, eve - all you can do is be honest and say that your illness was brought about by the circumstances you found yourself in. NHS references can usually only say how many days off you had in the last 12 months, they can't say the cause - so if you pre-empt that by telling your interviewers straight up that you are in recovery, and their job sounds just right for you and shouldn't cause any such problems to you, I hope that they will appreciate your honesty. Good luck!