Following a new medical treatment, Louise felt better and was eager to get back to her career.

She wasn’t planning on disclosing her illness to her new employer, but the industry she worked in was a small one so her prospective boss was already aware she had a medical condition.

“We understand you have had some personal challenges in the past year,” said the interviewer. “This job is a senior position and we want to make sure our candidates can fulfill their obligations over the long term without long periods of absence. Are you confident you can do this job?”

Louise was taken aback by the question. She rambled a bit about the unpredictable nature of her illness and the fact that, while her new treatment was working well for now, its long-term effectiveness was not known.

By being unprepared for this question, Louise lost the opportunity to portray the type of confident attitude the company wanted to see before they hired her.

Ultimately, she knew she could handle the job the way she was currently feeling, but was unsure about the long term.

“What should I have said?” she asked me. “I feel like I’m making a promise when I answer that question. The truth is I can’t predict my disease. I could have a relapse in 2 years, 5 years or 10 years – I don’t know. Who can guarantee their future health?”

Louise was right. A debilitating illness or accident can strike anyone at any age and are much more common than most people realize.

Should the possibility of future ill health destroy your ambitions?

On one hand, Louise understood that every organization wanted managers who could reliably do the job. On the other hand, just because she had been sick once and might possibly get sick sometime in the future, shouldn’t mean she should give up her ambitions. After a brief discussion we hit upon an answer. If her health condition was brought up again and she was asked about her ability to perform her duties she would say:

Of course, no one can guarantee what their health will be like in the future, and I am no different. However, I understand your expectations and am confident I can do the job.

This answer works well because it is concise, positive, and unambiguous. In Louise’s case, it would show she was confident in her abilities and her present health while at the same time reminding the employer that no single person can make guarantees about the future.

This is also an excellent answer for anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation. While chronic illness is inherently unpredictable, we can usually take a good guess about how we will feel in the next six months to a year.

Bottom Line

If our short-term prognosis is stable then we should approach our job search with confidence, knowing that any prediction beyond that time-frame is actually unrealistic for anyone to make.

About the author…

Jason Reid runs Sick with Success®, an organization committed to helping people with chronic illness, and their employers, become more productive. Jason’s success as both a manager and a person with chronic illness gives him a unique perspective on how chronic health conditions affect organizations and their people. An award-winning former television news director, Jason is also a professionally trained coach and speaker. Jason is the author of Thriving in the Age of Chronic Illness – his new book, which is a guide for both employees with chronic health conditions and their managers. Follow Jason at SickWithSuccess.com.

The post How to Answer the Tough Question: Can You Do This Job with Your Chronic Illness? appeared first on Job-Hunt.

This is the stage where managers and HR people are actively looking for reasons, big or small, to reject people, in order to make that massive stack of papers more manageable.

Don’t give them a reason to put your resume in the “do not call” pile.

Too much information or manipulation?

The second reason why you shouldn’t mention your chronic illness in a cover letter or resume is simple – it’s too much information too soon.

To make an analogy, it’s like offering someone an engagement ring before the first date.

You are putting the manager or HR person on the spot.

There may be many reasons, beyond your health challenges, why you are not the best person for the job.

But if the manager rejects your resume after you have told them that you are sick, they run the risk of seeming intolerant or insensitive.

They may feel you are trying to manipulate them or make them hire you out of guilt. You need to approach a prospective employer from a position of strength, not weakness.

Your resume and cover letter are your selling tools – think of them as an advertising brochure. These brochures describe the features of the product, and the high quality of the materials. They generally don’t cover how often you’ll have to clean it or how expensive the replacement parts are. They leave that for the after-sale.

But what if my illness is relevant to the job?

Some people who are applying for certain jobs in the health care or non-profit fields may believe that their chronic health condition is relevant to their job.  However, before you go throwing that information into your resume package think about whether this is really the right time to disclose your illness.  Perhaps it would be more appropriate to bring up during the interview process.

If you do feel that disclosing your illness off the bat will increase your chances at the job, I suggest you do it in the cover letter rather than the resume if you can.

You’ll also want to highlight the reason for your disclosure in a positive way. Remember, your illness itself is rarely a selling point. However, your positive reaction to the challenges that your illness brings might be relevant in a specific way (if you are applying to be a chronic illness counselor or coach for example).

As for other jobs, you will likely want to leave any discussion about your health for a more appropriate time.

Bottom Line

If our short-term prognosis is stable then we should approach our job search with confidence, knowing that any prediction beyond that time-frame is actually unrealistic for anyone to make.

More Information About Cover Letters

• Are Cover Letters a Waste of Time in a Job Search?
• Executive Briefing Cover Letters
• Supercharge Your Resume and Cover Letter with These Keywords
• Cover Letter Tips for IT Professionals

About the author…

Jason Reid runs Sick with Success®, an organization committed to helping people with chronic illness, and their employers, become more productive. Jason’s success as both a manager and a person with chronic illness gives him a unique perspective on how chronic health conditions affect organizations and their people. An award-winning former television news director, Jason is also a professionally trained coach and speaker. Jason is the author of Thriving in the Age of Chronic Illness – his new book, which is a guide for both employees with chronic health conditions and their managers. Follow Jason at SickWithSuccess.com.

The post When and How to Disclose Your Illness in Your Resume or Cover Letter appeared first on Job-Hunt.

A couple of years ago I was asked to speak to a group of dynamic and ambitious university students who were all challenged by various chronic health conditions. I spent some time talking to them individually to understand their problems and concerns.

Should You Change Your Career Goals Because of Your Illness?

Most of these students stated that their immediate support network (parents, counselors, and medical professionals) were advising them to tame their ambitions before joining the workforce.

They were being told to look for simple process-oriented jobs that offered security, strong benefits, and a highly structured work environment (such as those in government or other large bureaucratic organizations).

They were discouraged from taking jobs in dynamic or cutting edge fields, because of the possibility they could not keep up with the pace.

This seems like good advice on the surface. However, the advice has at least one major flaw – it does not take into account the personality of the job hunter.

Some people like highly structured and secure jobs. They like things to be process driven. It suits their personality. Others love achieving new goals. They like to lead and explore new territory. They get their energy by being in a workplace where people are action-oriented and driven by results. For these people, a process driven and bureaucratic workplace may frustrate them and sap their energy.

Why an energizing work environment is crucial for people with chronic illness

Finding a workplace that is energizing is important for people who have reduced energy due to chronic health problems.

This may seem counter-intuitive to seek out a high energy, results-driven organization when you have issues with fatigue, but if you enjoy that type of work environment, you will be surprised how much that energy will rub off on you.

I know this from experience. I struggled with many jobs due to my own health issues until I went back to my first love – television journalism. The high-energy atmosphere of both my environment and my co-workers did wonders to make me feel re-energized and re-engaged. In the course of a few years I went from considering long term disability to becoming an award-winning television news director responsible for a million-dollar budget and dozens of employees – all because I ditched the stereotypes and pursued a job and industry I loved and was suited to my personality.

If a process-oriented desk job is heaven for you, by all means pursue it. There is a lot of important and fulfilling work to be done in many of these jobs. But, if you want to live on the edge and break new ground, or just be surrounded by goal-oriented achievers, don’t ditch your dream workplace just because you are sick. Being in a workplace you love is the key to having sustainable energy.

How you can find the most energizing workplace and job for you.

Ask yourself these questions:

• If I weren’t sick what type of job would I want?
• What kind of people do I want to work with?
• What type of industry do I want to work in?
• How would I want to spend a typical day?

While doing what you love is important, we also know how important it is to be realistic as well. Sometimes you may have a health condition that makes it extremely difficult or impossible to do an integral part of your dream job.

For instance, my restricted diet and need for nearby washrooms made a job as a foreign news correspondent out of the question. In fact, I realized I needed to be in a fairly controlled environment to be healthy and happy. Thankfully, my journalism background and people skills made me an ideal candidate to be a TV news producer and eventually a news director. The things I really enjoyed (writing and working on news stories as part of a high-energy team) were all things I could do in these new jobs.

If you feel your chronic health condition is holding you back from your ideal job, it doesn’t mean you have to give up your dream workplace. Ask yourself:

• What specific requirement of the job is difficult/impossible for me to fulfill due to my health?
• Are there other jobs in the same industry that do not have this requirement?
• Are there other jobs in a similar industry that will allow me to use my skills and be around the type of people I like?

You may not have the physical ability to be a professional athlete, but if you love athletics you can still be a sports writer or work at the stadium if you have the right skills. Depending on your condition, a career as pilot may be out, but there are other great jobs in the aviation industry – some of them can even get you up in the air on a regular basis.

Bottom Line

The key is to think creatively and let your heart guide you. If you ask the questions above and find yourself excited about a new idea or opportunity that might work for you, you will soon find you have more energy than you first thought.

About the author…

Jason Reid runs Sick with Success®, an organization committed to helping people with chronic illness, and their employers, become more productive. Jason’s success as both a manager and a person with chronic illness gives him a unique perspective on how chronic health conditions affect organizations and their people. An award-winning former television news director, Jason is also a professionally trained coach and speaker. Jason is the author of Thriving in the Age of Chronic Illness – his new book, which is a guide for both employees with chronic health conditions and their managers. Follow Jason at SickWithSuccess.com.

The post How to Find an Energizing Workplace When You Have a Chronic Illness appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Your Value Proposition

Rather than focusing on how you will benefit from having the job, it is important to realize that jobs are really about providing value to an organization and their customers.  Going into a job interview with this mindset – how you will provide value to the organization – benefits you in many ways.

More Confidence

Many people with chronic health conditions are already lacking in confidence due to their physical limitations. When financial pressure and unpaid bills are added to the mixture, desperation ensues.

The more desperate you are for work, the more intimidated you may become during the job interview. You may feel like you are asking for something you need, rather than offering the use of your skills.

Desperation is not a positive feeling, and it affects how you come across to your prospective employer.

As a former manager, I can say for certain that signs of desperation in a prospective employee is the kiss of death. Desperate people are inherently unpredictable, and no manager wants to hire an unpredictable employee.

How do you avoid coming across as desperate?

Look at employment as an equal partnership. In this partnership, you exchange your skills and energy for wages, benefits, and opportunities.

That sounds more powerful than asking for a job, doesn’t it? You may be surprised at the newfound confidence you have gained just by making this simple distinction. Moreover, it starts you thinking about what you can offer the organization as opposed to what they can offer you.

Better Preparation

The more you understand how your skills will benefit your prospective employer, the more chance you have of impressing your interviewer.

You will soon realize that the way to confidence is to do a bit of research about the company and the job you are applying for.

What is this company known for that resonates with you?  Is it: 

• the goods or services they produce?
• the way they treat their employees?
• their dedication to an idea or a corporate culture?
• something else?

Companies are populated by people. These people have identities that are often tied to their company culture.

By doing a bit of research beforehand, you can touch on the important elements of their corporate identity. This immediately puts you ahead of others who are just simply looking for a job.

Impressive Answers

One of the most deceptive questions in an interview is, “Why do you want this job?”

Many folks will ramble on about how they need the money to pay overdue bills, want better medical benefits, or even talk about how close the job is to their home.

In most cases, this is not what the interviewer wants to hear – as these answers are about your needs, not theirs. They are thinking “What’s in it for me?” (me = the employer).

If you have done some research about the organization, you can talk about how your skills or your personality is a good fit with this particular job and their particular brand.

“ABC company has a great reputation for customer service. I think my positive outlook and desire to help people would be a good fit. I have a feeling my skills would be valued here.”

This type of response is like hitting a grand slam. You are knocking in four runs with one answer:

1. You are giving them an answer specific to their organization and acknowledging their corporate culture.
2. You are describing specific skills you have to offer and how those skills will benefit them.
3. You mention the importance of a “good fit.” This is what all managers want when they fill a job. Someone who will fit in quickly, and with ease.
4. You sound confident and professional. By suggesting they will appreciate your skills, you imply you have something of value to offer them.

The best thing about this answer is that it’s about them, as much as you.

Remember you are applying for a job at their company, not just any company. Stress why you are right for them!

Remember that the first interview is a test to see if the prospective employee and employer are a good fit. Now is not necessarily the time to talk about issues related to your illness, unless there are specific circumstances that require it. This first interview is about your strengths – save the discussion of your needs until the company decides you are right for the job. 

Bottom Line

By taking this new approach to the job interview you will come across confident, professional and thoughtful. Who doesn’t want to hire an employee like that?

About the author…

Jason Reid runs Sick with Success®, an organization committed to helping people with chronic illness, and their employers, become more productive. Jason’s success as both a manager and a person with chronic illness gives him a unique perspective on how chronic health conditions affect organizations and their people. An award-winning former television news director, Jason is also a professionally trained coach and speaker. Jason is the author of Thriving in the Age of Chronic Illness – his new book, which is a guide for both employees with chronic health conditions and their managers. Follow Jason at SickWithSuccess.com.

The post The Right Mindset for Your Job Interview appeared first on Job-Hunt.

This ensures the swimmer won’t endure a shock by throwing themselves into water that is colder than they’re prepared for.

Avoid the Sink-or-Swim Situation

In the same way swimmers test the waters before jumping into the pool, some individuals with chronic health conditions may feel the need to test the waters of employment before they dive right in to a new job or career. This ensures they’re not shocked or overwhelmed by the demands of a regular job.

These type of people include:

• Students with chronic health conditions who are looking for their first job.
• Individuals who have been sick for a long period due to a chronic illness flare-up, but who are now entering a remission phase.
• Individuals who have been forced to leave jobs involving physical labor due to illness or injury.

Often, people with chronic health conditions are unsure of how their unpredictable illness will affect their ability to work a regular job. They may be uncertain about the effects that chronic pain or fatigue will have on their performance, or how many hours they can comfortably work without it impacting negatively on their health or job.

One low-risk, high-benefit way of testing the employment waters is seeking out volunteer opportunities. Non-profit organizations in particular use volunteer workers for variety of positions at various skill levels.

While volunteer jobs are by their nature unpaid, they are often easier to find and sometimes less stressful than a paid job. Volunteer positions may also be more flexible in terms of time commitments.

Benefits of Volunteering:

1. Gaining experience and developing skills

Developing skills and gaining experience are wonderful benefits that come with a volunteer position. In order to keep your energy level up, it is important to find a job that you have an interest in learning or pursuing. Working for a cause that you are passionate about will also make it easier to find the energy you need.

Organizations often have volunteer positions in areas such as fundraising, marketing, accounting, and public relations. If you have interest in these types of jobs, this may be an ideal opportunity for you to gain experience. If you already have expertise in these areas, a volunteer job can allow you to keep your skills and resume up-to-date.

If you spend enough time in the organization you may be asked to sit on a board of directors where you can learn basic meeting procedures and rules of order.

2. Gathering information about yourself.

One of the main reasons for “testing the waters” is to determine how much you can handle. The information you learn about yourself will be crucial in eventually finding the right fit with a paid employer. For instance, some of my clients learn that they handle afternoon or evening work schedules better than those which start early in the morning. Others find that leading a team is more energizing than they originally thought. You can take what you have learned about yourself and better identify paying jobs that are right for you.

3.  Increasing stamina.

If your illness has kept you off your feet for any length of time you may need to build some stamina. Just because you’re feeling weak and lethargic now doesn’t mean your energy level will never improve. You may want to start off slow (volunteering a couple days a month for instance) and gradually build your workload as you gain more strength.

4. Building confidence.

As you build stamina and successfully complete projects, you will find your confidence rises, and the uncertainty and fear you may have felt before the volunteer job will lessen. Confidence in your abilities will pay off during the interview process and make the experience of finding paid employment more positive and exciting.

5. Meeting the right people – networking.

Entrepreneurs and sales-people know that the key to success is meeting the right people. This is often the key to landing the right job as well.

By taking a volunteer position, you increase your circle of influence. Many of your co-volunteers may have other jobs or even run businesses when they’re not volunteering.

Bottom Line

Organizations prefer to work with people they know – or at least those who come recommended by a good employee. By demonstrating your abilities to others and getting to know them, you increase your chances of both finding, and getting, the type of paid employment you are looking for.

More About Volunteering

• Career Building Through Volunteering
• Volunteering to a Lifestyle-Friendly Career in Non-Profit
• [Political] Party Your Way to a New Job

About the author…

Jason Reid runs Sick with Success®, an organization committed to helping people with chronic illness, and their employers, become more productive. Jason’s success as both a manager and a person with chronic illness gives him a unique perspective on how chronic health conditions affect organizations and their people. An award-winning former television news director, Jason is also a professionally trained coach and speaker. Jason is the author of Thriving in the Age of Chronic Illness – his new book, which is a guide for both employees with chronic health conditions and their managers. Follow Jason at SickWithSuccess.com.

The post “Test the Waters” as a Volunteer appeared first on Job-Hunt.