Advice on interviews/declaring medical conditions
Hi as I have just been put onto Jobseekers Allowance I am now looking for jobs and sending off my CV. I've never really had a 'proper' interview since I first left school because I stayed in my first job for years then I got a job in a Nursery because my son went to the school and I was in the right place at the right time when a position came up. I am now looking for Admin work since I had to give up my Nursery Assistant job because of a medical condition where I found it too tiring. I now take medication for the condition which means I'm almost as good as I was before :lol: just get a little more tired than I used to. I work voluntarily at the moment a couple of days a week where I am gaining administration experience and I've took a couple of NVQ courses through distance learning in Business Admin and Customer Services so I am now ready to start applying.
Anyway, I'm going to apply for a job in a Children's Centre (this will be a task in itself as it's an online County Council form) I was just wondering if anyone else have had a interview for an Admin job at a Children's centre and if so, what sort of things do they ask you? I'm really worried that If I get an interview (and that's probably a big IF)that I'm make myself look really stupid by not knowing what to say. I'm not the most confident of people as it is!
I would also like other peoples opinions as to whether to disclose the medical condition NOW on the form or wait to see if I get an interview and then disclose it. I've got a heart valve problem which caused me some bother a couple of years ago until they discovered what it was and put me on medication which controls the symptoms I was getting. I just think that I should disclose it now so that if I do get an interview they are aware of the situation. I've already had one experience which I think was affected by my condition but I can't be sure. I took a temporary position last year in a Nursery. It was for 16 hours a week. Before I took the job I checked it was 16 hours a week because this was all I could cope with. They confirmed it was so I took the job. I worked for 5 weeks until they asked me to fill in the medical declaration where I disclosed the condition. The very next week I looked at the rota and I had been given 42 hours! When I questioned it I was told I was supposed to be able to cover other staff and If I couldnt then they would have to find someone else who could!!!! I was gobsmacked. Needless to say I'd rather just get it out in the open straight away then if I don't get an interview I just look elsewhere. Saves me worrying about it.
I'd like to add my best wishes and good luck.
I agree with Louise about reading up about child protection.
Hi Ali D
Yes as Louise says this is a bit of a dilemma. To disclose or not to disclose that is the question?! It really comes down to what you feel happiest with. They are not meant to discriminate on basis of medical conditions so you could wait and ask at interview regarding hours. There is always a section on the application form about whether you consider your self to have a disability so you do have the opportunity to explain about it on there. It depends how much it could affect the work you do?
As for the questions they are likely to ask, it is a good idea to relook at the job description and person specification as the questions they ask should be related to those. Every child matters, child protection, following policies, your skills, what attracted you to the job and what you could bring to it, how you might deal with members of the public coming in to the centre, particulalrly difficult customers. Something along those lines perhaps but it is always really difficult to prepare for. Try to think of personal experiences you have had in the past where things that you did made a difference so to talk about "I did ...." rather than 'we' which takes some getting used to as it can sound a bit big headed!
Good luck
C-L
Hi everyone. I'd just like to update you on my situation. I've been claiming Jobseekers Allowance for nearly 13 weeks (I know this because I've got the dreaded 13 week check the week after next). Every fortnight I have gone down to the Job Centre for my appointment at 4.08 (strange I know), oh except for the times over the last few weeks I've had a call from some nice man there saying I could go earlier as long as it was before 12 or after 1 because of inclement weather. Haha obviously more for the staff than the clients otherwise they would have done it over the phone!
Every time I have written in my diary about the things I have done and the jobs I have applied for. So although I haven't had any interviews at the moment I still have a couple of irons in the fire and I don't think I've done too badly really considering the economical situation. Overall I've applied for about 7 admin jobs. Some sent lovely letters/emails back and some just don't answer, I've finished a college course and updated my CV, asked previous employers about work, look at Internet job sites at least 3 times a day, and generally did as I was asked so although I've had no interviews as yet I'm not giving up hope as I have a couple of irons in the fire, I've got a lovely letter to say I'll be called for an interview when a new office opens near me. This is promising as this has come from a friend of a friend who hasn't advertised the position. I've also been told if funding come through at my volunteer position I'm first in line!
A couple of the jobs have been online applications where it says you have to state medical conditions so obviously I've had to do that. Realistically I don't think I'm ever going to know whether the reason I don't get an interview is the medical condition or because I had a gap in my CV a few years ago because of it, or because I've changed career paths or whether I'm just not what they are looking for.
Can anyone tell me more about the 13 week check. I know I have to take proof of applying for work and I can do that. Do you think the things I have mentioned above is enough for them to think I'm doing alright on my own and I don't need their help. When they step in they give me totally unsuitable jobs as they don't consider anything you tell them at the initial interview. I just feel like I'm doing all I can and I can't do any more.
Hi Ali D
It sounds as if you have been doing far more than most people do who are signing on, however I do not know of the Job Centre's new policies. If I hear anythinng I will get back to you, otherwise, please come back to us and let us know what they said. Good Luck :)
Hi Everyone
Just to let you know that the 13 week check wasn't as daunting as I imagined. The advisor was lovely, helped me to think of another category to put on the job search form and didn't even want to see my 'evidence' of searching!
I also learned something | didn't know before. I can apply for FUTURE JOBS positions because I live in an unemployment blackspot. Anyone who wants to have a look at this here is the link http://campaigns.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/futurejobsfund/index.asp
Basically these are jobs that last at least 6 months, mainly meant for the young, unemployed who have been claiming JSA for a while but a portion of the funding can go to anyone on ANY long term benefit if they are from a deprived area. Organisations who help the community in some way can apply for this funding. Well I did a bit of research when I got home and I found the place that deals with the funding in my town. Because I already work voluntarily for a Charity I thought I'd ask the funding place if my Organisation could get the funding so they could pay me :lol: (well I didn't actually say that last bit). They said the Organisation was eligible for funding and for the Manager to get in touch, needless to say they have set up a meeting on Thursday morning to discuss getting the funding to fund a Future Job's position (for me I hope!).
Obviously this is the wrong way round to do things though and the Job Centre are supposed to tell you about the Future Jobs postions and then you apply for it but what the heck, shy bairns and all that! I know it's only six months work but that's six months where I don't have the Job Centre on my back and hopefully something more permanent may come up in the meantime!
Hope it comes off, I have my fingers crossed.
Thank you for posting about your expereince Ali; you can't begin to imagine how helpful it is to me at this precise moment! I could hug you!
Like you I have a long-standing medical condition. In the 10 years it took to be dignosed I was fit for nothing and even now am still not out of the woods as the medication doesn't seem to be working adequately. I have hypothyroidism (diagnosed), multiple-chemical sensitivity (not formally believed though it affects my daily life significantly) and irreversible hearing loss (I simply went deaf overnight in 2002 and now wear 2 hearing aids). It left a huge hole in my CV, which I sought to fill by doing voluntary work as soon as my thyroid problem was diagnosed and the thyroxine alleviated the chronic exhaustion which had blighted me for a decade. I also felt well enough to apply for work but, alas, although the interviews went reassuringly well, I was unsuccessful in getting a job. The job centre had actually advised me to admit on application forms that I had a disability as employers have disabled quotas to fill and are obliged not to discriminate. As soon as I stopped hiding the disability, I did indeed get interviews for EVERY completed apllication form! Though, as I said, no job.
Last year, unfortunately, my initial elation at finally thinking I was getting back to normal, was rocked. My family was hit by a barrage of unpleasant episodes plus my darling youngest child decided to act up in the final year of primary school resulting in exclusion after exclusion. I had no option but to accept that I needed to be at home, to guide him through what is hopefully a temporary rough period and prevent it from getting worse. The stress caused a major health relapse through which I am still struggling. Now my heart is playing up too. From my other recent posts you may gather that I'm having nightmares over the forthcoming ending of my income support and am trying to go down the ESA route rather than the JSA route.
I'm far too old to be covered by the Future Jobs scheme you mentioned, but it might be something from which my older son could benefit. While we don't like in a proper employement blackspot, we're finding that many of the jobs on offer literally only last a few weeks. He's at that dangerous age where he needs the grounding of a regular paid job before he gets too used to being unemployed. Sometimes I wish I had the wit and know how to start a family business and employ my kids and highly skilled unemployed friends but between us we're pretty clueless about finding a niche which could be successful, or at least pay wages, in the current economic climate. Anyway, I'll tell my voluntary organisation about the Future Jobs scheme as it might help them with funding issues!
You wrote "six months where I don't have the Job Centre on my back". Hmm, having the job centre on my back is the thing which, as a conscientious person with a tendency to worry, I've found the most psychologically painful and even destructive.
What you have managed to do is ever so positive and I keep my fingers crossed that at the end of it you do indeed get a permanent PAID position with hours you can manage!
Hi Ali D and harissa
Thanks for the link Ali D. It is just so great the way this site works so organically and everyone supports everyone else through different issues and stages. This all sounds very positive for the both of you and I wish you both success in geeting it and having a break from the Job Centre hassles.
Cheers C-L
Hi Ali D
That sounds a bit of a dilemma, knowing whether to say about your condition or not. Rather than making a decision now why not wait till you get an interview and when they say "any questions?" ask if there will be a requirement to do extra hours. My guess is the answer is no, with it being a Council job. In which case wait until any medical you have. They cannot discriminate against you for an illness anyway (yes I know that's easier said than done)
As for the questions at the interview, I don't know the answer but have a couple of suggestions. All statutory organisations concerned with children work to a Government agenda called "Every Child Matters" Have a look at this online and see if you can drop in one or two key little phrases in the application/interview. Also I think it is worth being aware of Child Protection matters, which I am guessing you already know about from your previous work. In an admin job you also need to come across as someone methodical and happy to adhere to policies and procedures, whilst having good people skills.
Hope this helps :D