Anxiety & Depression and the job hunt
Many people who've taken time out of the workforce to recover from depression or anxiety are unsure what to say at a job interview. This week I'll share some reader stories and next week some advice from the experts.
Dr Highet believes disclosure is up to each individual but says prejudice is a real risk. For example, Beyond Blue ran a focus group amongst people who had told their employer about their illness. Many believed they had been demoted or denied career opportunities as a result. Separate research amongst GPs found many were advising patients not to disclose their illness at work for fear for fear their patient would be somehow penalised.
Anna Kouloubos is the coordinator of the Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria (
www.adavic.org
) Ms Kouloubos agrees with Dr Highet that disclosure is up to each individual to consider. "However, I know what members of our support groups would say about their own experiences - 'don't disclose'," she said.
I agree. Many people are ignorant about anxiety disorders and depression and ignorance usually equals prejudice. That is not to say candidates should lie. People I know have said they took time out to make a full recovery from an illness without saying what it was. Others said the time was used to pursue a personal goal (their health). My advice would be to discuss your options with a specialist organisation, support group or GP.
By Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au
Reader A had a nervous breakdown and took 18-months to recover from depression. A well qualified candidate, he tried various methods of explaining his career break during job interviews. Eventually he gave total honesty a whirl. "I could feel the interest in me drain from the room," he wrote.
Reader B didn't disclose a history of panic attacks at a job interview. He landed the job but then started focusing on the fact he did not disclose his condition. "I worried daily about having a panic attack and then being asked why I didn't say anything," he wrote. He did have an attack and claims he was fired for not disclosing his medical history. This sounded very suspect to me so I referred him on to a legal advice centre.
Reader C did not disclose her anxiety at a job interview. She landed a customer service job. A year and a bit into the job she had a panic attack at work. "Both HR and my manager were really good but I did feel awkward around my colleagues who were there at the time." She's now been in the job two years.
Reader D was out of the workforce for a year due to depression. She landed a job after a round of interviews. "I didn't say anything and I was never once questioned about the year gap in my resume." According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in any given year, almost 800,000 people will experience a depressive illness. The incidence of anxiety disorders is also signficant.
Should candidates who have taken time out to recover depression or anxiety tell a potential employer what has been going on? Dr Nicole Highet is deputy CEO of Beyond Blue (
www.beyondblue.org/
), a national organisation providing resources and support to people with depression and anxiety. Beyond Blue also provides public leadership on these issues and is doing a lot of work with employers on what they can do to help staff.