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Job interview with my history

  • Thread starter Thread starter nicolabarnett
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nicolabarnett

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Hi all, I am in a quandary. I work for the civil service and been in the same small department for 5 years, a while ago I applied for another job in a different department and today got offered an interview. At the moment I am signed off sick for two weeks, the people I work with know about my eye problems and in a way that only men can be sort of understand. The new job people don't know about my illness and times I am needed to leave early etc, the question is am I better staying on the job I am in rather than inflicting my problems on another department
 
So, what have you got to lose by going for the interview and maybe finding a job you like more?

And it's not "inflicting", it's "making reasonable adjustments under the Equalities Act 2010" and I would imagine that the Civil Service are obliged to be making them.
 
Maybe look beyond your present problems Nicola, appreciate your having issues with diabetic retinopahy at the moment (sorry there may be others I'm not aware of)but your due to see a senior Ophtmologist soon, if they could halt the progression and work with you to improve matters from here-on would that restore some confidence?

I would go for it as the dept will have access to your employments notes and may already be aware of your diabetes and related problems. Good luck.
 
I would definitely go for the interview.......

No harm in having another option which will be better for you in the long term.......

Your medical needs should not effect your application.....;)
 
noblehead said:
Maybe look beyond your present problems Nicola, appreciate your having issues with diabetic retinopahy at the moment (sorry there may be others I'm not aware of)but your due to see a senior Ophtmologist soon, if they could halt the progression and work with you to improve matters from here-on would that restore some confidence?

I would go for it as the dept will have access to your employments notes and may already be aware of your diabetes and related problems. Good luck.
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I know you are right
 
novorapidboi26 said:
I would definitely go for the interview.......

No harm in having another option which will be better for you in the long term.......

Your medical needs should not effect your application.....;)
Click to expand...
I know, I am just thinking better the devil you know ..
 
Agree with the above, go for it and good luck ;)
 
I say go for it... unless you're in my position where I have been put on a partial invalidity pension through my superannuation fund. I'd have to disclose this to any new employer. I'd also have to disclose my limitations which pretty much means I need a job where I am not required to talk and I'm allowed to use the restroom whenever I need to, plus I can sit or stand to do my work. I don't like my chances... I can't even do a job interview to be honest without them noticing I'm sick (I chronically burp as well). I'm pretty sure I lost my last job because of it. I too work for the govt here. I have decided to stay where I am as at least my current employer knows everything about my situation and they have been accommodating. So if you haven't had a significant impact to your current work, there is no reason why you shouldn't try for a new job in my mind.
 
Well my current employers are OK, they know my problems and seem to understand but I work for the RAF as an MOD employee so I am sort of left to my own devices, I do the work plus more that is required from me ....
 
I would go for it Nicola. You may find out when you have the meeting you either really, really want the job, or on the other hand, you may find out it's not for you anyway. That way, you haven't missed any opportunities.

At this stage, I would not consider that HR should be sharing your issues or attendance record with anyone, so I would expect the interviewers will not necessarily know about your current issues. If they do, as @noblehead suggests, it could be transient anyway.

Good luck with it all. I can appreciate how unsettled you could be feeling.
 
Hi @nicolabarnett I also work for the civil service in a similar dept and I moved sections when I was having problems with my eyes (not diabetic related but I spent a lot of time in eye casualty for a couple of years) and I told them before I joined that I had regular eye appointments and may also need some emergency ones. I think provided you tell them and give some information as to how often you may have to visit hospital they will be understanding. Go for it - what have you got to lose?
 
nicolabarnett said:
Well my current employers are OK, they know my problems and seem to understand but I work for the RAF as an MOD employee so I am sort of left to my own devices, I do the work plus more that is required from me ....
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You sound like me... I work best left to my own devices too. I'm only doing a 24 hour week but apparently I do more work than any of their full timers (well so they keep telling me). I know our national managers have been questioning why I do so much work (especially when I just helped them with a project) and my bosses have had to explain that's just how I always work to them. They seem a bit daunted that I go through so much. But I think for me the biggest plus is I am a touch typist and that helps a lot. But when I look back I think it's this work ethic I have that may have contributed to my bad health as I have also been competitive with myself and stats driven, I still am. I worked 10 years in leadership roles and I had a lot more work back then than they seem to have now in the jobs I used to do (the people in them now see me and discuss stuff sometimes, they have a lot less reporting and checks to do than I did). But these days all I can do is process things really.

I just read your comment that you declined the interview... see how you go and if there comes an job opportunity you want to apply for, go for it.
 
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