And I have about a 10 year gap in my employment.
Can anyone think of a reasonable diagnosis to be on ssdi for 10 years, then Magically return to normal?
The best thing I can come up with is that I have bipolar and new meds have come out and My pdoc cleared me to work.
I would say you were caring for a sick family member. You aren’t really lying. It’s just it was you.
Thanks for the input.
But I’m a terrible bullshitter and I think I’d screw that one up.
Is that what your going to use if it comes up?
I covered my tracks differently. I wasn’t out of the workforce very long and most of the time I was in school so I just say I was a student.
On my resume I don’t list the 7 jobs I burned through when I got sick. I just say I was in the Marine Corps two years longer that I was. I was temporarily retired in 2012 and that’s when I left active duty but then in 2014 I was permanently retired so I just say I was still in the Marines until then. No ones ever called me on it.
I am working again already.
I just got a job, but wasn’t asked about my gap in work history. But I think I would have told them “health reasons” if asked about the gap. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with telling an employer you have a disability. Whether or not you wanna disclose that the disability is “schizophrenia” or whatever, is up to you.
I am right now in the process of looking for work and I have an 8 year gap to explain. I plan on being honest about the gap and my disability. I hope that you will do the same. Lying is wrong. If an employer doesn’t want you because you are disabled maybe they aren’t who you want to be working for. I plan on going to therapy every week and pdoc every month. They need to know up front that I will be asking for this accommodation and flexibility in my work schedule. Maybe I won’t be able to find a job, I don’t know, but if I can’t find a job that will accommodate my disability then I guess I won’t go back to work.
You may want to rethink that.
I’m also a shitty liar. Which if it comes down to it I’ll tell them I’m bipolar, but with the new medication their coming out with now I don’t have any problems.
But I would be driving an 18 wheeler so o won’t be around anyone that can tell anything is wrong… which is kind of a problem actually.
I went schizophrenic at 23, but didn’t start meds until 30. And I was driving a truck from 25 - 29 years old as an Unmedicated schizophrenic. That’s kind of why I’m so fried out now, because I went too long before starting meds.
I also worry about getting wrapped up in work/life and not paying attention to managing symptoms. I worry something could happen and someone could get hurt. Driving an 80,000 pound rig is kind of a lot of responsibility…
But I can’t work around people and I don’t know any other job like it
I’ve always fancied myself as an honest and brave person and I’m not going to stop being that way now. My last job knew I was disabled and hired me anyway and I worked for them for 4 years and was a very good employee for them and they would hire me back anytime according to them. I think I’ll stick with my plan. But everyone has to do it the way they are comfortable. I’m not afraid to say I have sza. I don’t mind explaining it. And I don’t care if someone judges me. That’s on their karma if they do. Plus the kinds of jobs I’m looking at are cashiering and clerical so that makes a difference I think.
Well it’s worth a try
Employment gaps are tricky. I have a friend who used a bankrupt company as the place he worked during a 4-year gap, and their defunct phone number as a reference, for a sysadmin job. Background check passed him.
The wishful thinking part of me wants to say “just be honest about your unemployment and mental illness” but you will get so little traction like that.
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