Applying for a Job

How would I go about letting an employer I am applying to know I cannot work full time due to mental illness such as my schizophrenia without telling them I have mental illness before they hire me?  Everyone says you should never tell them you have mental illness before you are hired and ask for accommodations.  Any answers will be greatly appreciated as I was fired and am in desperate need of a very part time job at least while I wait on my social security to go through.

[ILADVOCATE]

That's a complex question as generally it is of course best not to disclose your disability before you are hired and most jobs have a set number of hours that won't vary. The best thing to do is to specifically seek part time work in general and also to see if any specific service that helps people with disabilities locate jobs could be of help to you.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

Yeah I know it's a complex one, I was really stumped on that one but you gave me an idea of what to do and it helps, thanks a bunch.  Maybe some other people here have ideas as well?  Any ideas are welcome as I need a minor income coming in to make the bills at least.

[Bluetwo]

Don't tell during the interview. Tell after you get a job to HR. Have you checked with Goodwill Industries?

[starbunny]

Hi there, thought I'd share what I did, I got the job I have because it was advertised as part time so I diddn't have to explain why I could not work full time. I did not disclose my mental health problem during the interview and made sure I appeared as positive as possible. After the interview I had to fill in an in-depth medical declaration which was 16 pages long. I made a brief mention of a past depression and played it down on the advice of my CPN. Now I am so glad that I did so because I have witnessed negative attitudes to MH problems in the workplace which would have definately interferred with my relationships.

[Xila31]

There really needs to be types of work that specifically look for people with mental illnesses instead of us trying to hide among the people who think they are "normal." There would probably be a lot less need for disability if there were jobs that worked with us rather than against us. :(

[lindahand]

Are you going to lose your social security benefits if they find out you've been working?

As for applying for work I would go to places like retail where all you can get is part-time hours or good will industries. Here the recycling centre is operated entirely by people with mental health issues, and the pay is pretty decent. If there is a mental health centre where you live you may have access to a job developer who will help you find something suitable to your needs.

Tanya

[Bluetwo]

I was tired of hiding my condition from others. I lost so many jobs by staying in the closet.So it's Catch-22. I found a part-time job as a substitute teacher - 90 day employment.  When I "fell apart" last year I got hold of my social worker and HR to protect my job. The job doesn't pay much but it's really flexible.

I took advantage of ADA because I was getting tired seeing a poor working history and chronic job hopping. When I "fall apart" my work performance suffered and the people in charge thought I was being unproductive. I was not promoted. I was fired or I quit out of frustration.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I haven't got the benefits yet but I was fired due to decompensating which caused me to explode outside of work about work, because of work.  A complicated sentence but that's the way it is.  From what I understand you can work like 20 hours or less a week and still get social security benefits.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I put up with ******** from that job for four or five years and finally just couldn't take it anymore when they ****** my job all up and put me back in a normal work environment and destroyed the special one we had that I could function in.

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

I called a temp agency and arranged an interview for the Monday, then on the Friday just before I spent the day writing up the first draft of my bipolar toolkit which was basically explaining as best as I could about my illness but also the need for a job because of it.  I sent it off to them on the Friday and when we met on Monday the guy said he had read it quite a few times and said it wouldn't be a problem at all and then he started putting me out to jobs.  He didn't mention it to the employer but did set me up in jobs as best he could.  Also because he didn't come across it that often he said I was often top of mind when any jobs came up, it ended up seperating me from the pack a little.  I think the ability to be able to simply have it as a a temp contract helped quite a bit.  I hate my current fulltime job now and just called him again today and he is as usual great. I spoke to him about how I am now getting assistance from the disability employment services here and he has asked me for them to give him a call.  I think I must have just struck the lottery.

If there is a way I can send you an email, I'm more than happy to send through the latest copy of my Bipolar toolkit for Managers for you to have a look at if you like.

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Good luck by the way, I'm really cheering for you :0)

[paranoid_cataclysm]

OK I sent you a message regarding my email address so you can email the thing to me when you have the time.  Thanks.