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Employers -- What do you tell them?

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Posted 7/16/2009 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
I'm about to quit my current job, for mostly fibro reasons but some others also.

When interviewing for a new job, what do you tell your potential employer about fibro? Do you tell them anything?

I know I'll miss more work than most people, and of course that's not going to help a hiring process sad
Posted 7/16/2009 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
hi,

Do you have to leave your current job, can they accomadate you in anyway, so you don't ahve to quit.
what kind of jobs are you going for. Are they ones that you're going to find very hard anyway. can you train to do something that doesn't aggravate your fm.
I never used to say anything about the fibro and tbh the job i'm in now--been there 6 years--don't really know about it. I told them i only have arthritis, it's easier to explain.
There are lifting restritions and health and safety procedures for every job so you always have that to back u up if you're being asked to to things beyond your limits.
I hope you can get something that suits you.
boo

Posted 7/17/2009 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
During a job interview if you mention that you have fibromyalgia the interview will probably be dum founded and go "Oh, so you're not getting enough fibra in your diet"? Seriously, I agree
with boo hang onto the job you have now.
Posted 7/17/2009 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I sort of can't. It's a very small business, so they're not bound by Disability Act. My employer is NOT sympathetic, and I doubt he ever will be.

I'm an IT consultant, so my current duties include going up and down the office's three flights of stairs (no elevator), hauling computers around (sometimes up and down those same stairs), crawling around under people's desks, being on call 24/7 (which is very stressful), dealing with people panicking about their computer issues (also stressful), occasional long LONG days with no warning, a boss who gives me crap each and every time I call in sick.... etc, etc, etc

Since the business is so small, it's also really not fair of me to ask them to let me cut back. I've already asked about fewer hours and it went over like a lead balloon.
Posted 7/17/2009 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
A lot of what you have described will probably happen at your next job....except to try to find a place that has an elevator.  My son is a system's administrator and does a lot of that stuff too and he can have some very long hours, too.

 

This might sound crazy, but could you make a small platform on wheels that you could sit on and roll around under the desks?  (Kind of like they have at car repair garages.)  It would be easier on the muscles and you could still get the job done.  That could help one of the problems.  Finding a job where there is an elevator would help solve another problem.  But, you can't do anything about people panicing about their computers.  We all do that!  smilewinkgrin

 

I know, though, I would definitely find a new job before I left the old one behind.  There are too many people looking for work right now and I don't think you want to be unemployed in this economy.

 

Sherrine

 

Posted 7/17/2009 5:54 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I was considering not taking another IT job, or at least one that's just software/systems administration for a single company.

I do have short term disability coverage, which will keep my bills paid for up to 3 months. I've already started applying for other jobs.

We're kind of lucky up here in Alaska: We're 6 months behind (at least) on just about everything... Including economic issues. We've never had the unemployment rates that places South do. I'm confident I can find *something* within three months. :)
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