Time for a new job but what now that I know I'm Bipolar

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Hi Everyone,

I'm temping at the moment but will need to start a new job some time in the new year. I also want to be open about being bipolar.

I don't want to go back to study as one of my habits being bipolar is to change tack, start again, and restudy all the time and quite frankly I'm sick of the study. I have two degree's a bunch of diploma's but my CV looks like crap because I either resigned or was let go over 5 times in the past year or so. I was a junior financial planner and a good one, but since the GFC all the standards were raised and I always missed out on the good jobs due to lack of experience.

I've since learnt the hard way the only jobs available were for dodgy firms and so I'd either have to quit or they would fire me for not selling dodgy products to clients.

The sad thing is now I'm starting to realize if I want to be open about being bipolar, the likely hood of me being able to build a customer base would be very very tough at best. Yet I honestly only have a clients needs at heart, and also let's not forget my ability to hyperfocus and creative mind allows me to tie often unlikely linked topics together to the point where I am really good at stock picking. Last time I checked  I outperformed the Aussie stockmarket by 40 percent against benchmarket. The whole way through the GFC each financial year my stock portfolio has been higher than the year before, and I even predicted  the GFC was going to happen two years prior.  But none of this will count the moment I mention I'm bipolar.

I want to be open about being bipolar as I have mixed episodes and worse, read the stats on suicide during mixed episode periods when I was in a mixed episode.  Now whenever I have one I can't help but think about the stats which scares the crap out of me.  Yet I've never been suicidal.  I want to be open though so people can help keep an eye on me.

Anyway I've gotten of topic, I'm just trying to work out what to do next. I have an undergrad in industrial chemistry and an MBA that was voted the best in Asia (double major marketing and Finance). I've also got an advanced diploma in Financial Planning. I hope I don't sound like a w@nker as that's not what I'm trying to do at all I'm just so confused. I'm really good at sales so long as I believe in the company and the product
I'm selling.  I've worked in Media, industrial chemical sales as well as financial planning.

Not sure what to do gang, any advice would be much appreciated.

[Flora_p]

WoRk To your strengths. If being open about your BP either go work for a large government organisation where there are existing procedures in place, or try out a small happy firm who are mre likely to see you as a person not just a number. I can understand the need to be open, but I'd still wait until you have both developed trust and the employer has had the chance to witness yor valuable strengths before you disclose a potential weakness.

Good luck and be open minded about the opportunities ahead!

[lindahand]

I would not tell a potential employer about your diagnosis and I would only, after much much thought, tell them once hired. Once established then if you feel like you want to disclose you can.

There is one exception. If you want to work at a major bank some of them have disability hiring incentives so it may actually be better if you claimed disability. I wouldn't say what disability until they asked you. At least that way you should be able to get an interview.

I did the financial planning thing for a while, although I hold none of the credentials you do. I found the variation in hours wasn't particularily healthy for me. I left just before I would have gotten fired.

[rBoulet]

I don't tell mine, all he knows is that once a month I need to leave early to see my doctor. He's very accepting of that, but I think it might be because it doesn't matter when I work, as long as project X gets done by date Y with less than Z hours worked on it.
I have a new manager now though so we'll see how nice he is about my doctor stuff.

[Athena_M]

I think everyone here has great advice about not telling your employer.  For myself I don't tell people for maybe about a year after knowing or working with them.  

[mags22]

I don't recommend disclosing, unless it becomes necessary.  i disclosed to my boss, and now am in a real mess with bullying, discrimination and having to fight for an accommodation.  I have proven him wrong a couple of times, and he has been forced to accommodate a need I had, but has made the environment so bitter that I am no longer working, I am on medical leave.  I am fortunate to be in a company with comprehensive benefits, and I hopefully will be transferred to work under a new supervisor in a different building once my complaints through my union and HR are investigated.

[happymama1817]

I have a always managed large groups of people in my past and have had a few tell me about their mental health issues. I was very understanding when they needed to step out for a moment or would need to go to doc appts. BUT companies have rules about how much work an employee can miss until they get written up and eventually fired. I recommend looking into FMLA but you need to be at a job for 12 months to qualify. So that may not be an option for you. I took FMLA leave from my job in CA, but I was not able to return which I was kind of happy about because of the stigmatism of having a disability. Not everyone is understanding or forgiving like we all would be.

[Xila31]

It think the truth is that if you have a disability, 99% of the time you will get descriminated against, especially if you have a mental disability because no one can see what's going on. They don't understand things like forgetfulness, disorganization of thoughts, lack of focus, and moodiness are actually symptoms of an illness and not just an attitude problem or you just don't care or aren't trying. >.<

I think we have a long way to go before the world accepts that illness can be in your brain and not just in your body.

[paranoid_cataclysm]

I would not tell my employers unless I absolutely had to.  I told my last one I have schizophrenia thinking they would be understanding of my difficulties but they don't even understand what it is at all and the way they treated me when I was fired was absolutely awful due to preconceived stereotypes and now I think they tell potential employers when I apply and the potential employers call the place asking about me because I haven't been able to find even a temporary job in almost a year.  I don't know, maybe it's the economy but I was told by a reliable source my old boss really doesn't like me and talked about me behind my back especially after they found out I have schizophrenia.

[ProudMumToBe]

I would wait it until building a relationship with Your manager and employees before mentioning it.

[Xila31]

Well, in my experience it is holding down jobs for long periods that companies are interested in. They want you to be loyal to them or know you're going to be there. Sadly, we live in a box world. Either you fit into the box or you make yourself fit. If any of your corners stick out, then people turn on you.

Maybe that's cynical. But that's how it seems a lot of the time. :(

I wish there was a database or a list or something that listed all the companies that hire and work toward being good companies for people with disabilities, or companies that look to hire people with disabilities to further the community as a whole.

I'm very careful who I tell. I only disclosed at work because I was struggling and I thought disclosing would make things easier. Instead I just feel like now there's an agenda. That's why I wish there was a place where people with disabilities could go look for jobs that embrace people with disabilities instead of how it really is in the real world.