Should I lie & not tell people I'm epileptic just to get a job!!

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I'm sorta at a loss for what to do. I've been unemployed and on Canadian EI (assistance) since December '06. That runs out in February '08. Thing is, I have a university education & 9 years experience in technology - the field I used to work in. Basically, where I used to work transferred me to marketing because to much travel was needed in the other department & I can't drive. Well, I hated working in marketing, slowly my 'stats' sucked, so that job ended - I was going to start looking for something new in January '07 & leave - they just sorta forced me to quit & processed paperwork as 'mutual agreement' in December instead. Since I get all kinds of interviews for jobs where I'm over qualified & jobs where they'd be a match. The problem always seems to be one of 2 things - Travel! or Hours! Travel - well, not having a license. Hours - In order to prevent seizures I need a pretty consistent life, and can't really work until 2am. Thing is, as soon as I tell people that medical comes first & well, as long as travel isn't by car I'm okay to travel anywhere they don't like that. And for some jobs, if I say I want to be home by 10pm, but I'm more than willing to work from home, they don't like that! What am I supposed to do, lie & put employment ahead of health?? My doctors would kill me, not to mention my boyfriend, family & friends. Any ideas how to get it through to employers that "driving" isn't the only way to travel & that it is possible to work from home after 'standard hours'?? I'm freaked I won't have a job by the time my EI runs out & if that happens essentially then I'm living off a line of credit or something. Thanks.

Comments

Re: Should I lie & not tell people I'm epileptic just to get a j

Submitted by quirky on Mon, 2007-07-09 - 09:10

Hi GodivaGirl, Should you tell them in the interview that you have E? Hmmm...personally I would say no. That is not exactly lying either. Just haven't told them everything about yourself, that's all. At the end of the day, what counts is that you can perform the job that you are going for. Which means it's up to what job you want to go for that you know you are capable of doing, without having E interfering with it. Obviously there are days when when we get stressed out at work or have to work long hours now and then and this does not help, but the general picture of the description of the job should match your capabilities. I had a bad experience a few years ago with a company when I was working on a contract basis only with them. I was working very hard and very long hours, and was very stressed out with the work load. I ended up having loads of seizures, and had to take a week off work, go to the doc, get a sick note for work and a month later I was given my months notice to finish up because they thought the job was too stressful for my condition! Yep, that's right...when the solution would have been to have more people on the job rather than me doing all the work! It was a rubbish company...a blessing in disguise really. I learned my lesson. If I had been permanent staff with them, they would not have been able to do that to me in the first place. Where I am now, I di not tell them about my E when I was going for the job. I decided to wait until my 6 months probation would be over. Then I would be permanent. I am good at what I do and when I was permanent, and had to go and see my neuro, I told my boss. all is hunky dory! My boss and a couple of work collegues know of my condition, I had to take time off a few months ago for my VEEG, and they now know I have a few more tests this summer to do now that I'm a candidate for surgery. they have nothing against me, they know I'm good at my job, they know I cant drive, I travel by train every day to get to work. i'm up at 6am every morning to get in for 8.30am, and I dont get home til at least 6.45pm earliest. Life is not easy, but I would suggest telling them later if you can. If you are good at your job, then that is what matters!

Re: Re: Should I lie & not tell people I'm epileptic just to get

Submitted by itsmyeviltwin on Mon, 2007-07-09 - 13:18

Just want to say I admire all of your tenacity and courage at trying to find work despite the odds out there, and wish you all the very best. Best wishes for GOOD job offers and continued optimum health for all here...keep in touch! Deb

Re: Re: Re: Should I lie & not tell people I'm epileptic just to

Submitted by GodivaGirl on Tue, 2007-07-10 - 10:45

Thanks! And hey, think I found another decent answer to solve things. If they have headhunters where you live, level with a "headhunter" or job recruiter that you have epilepsy - they won't hold it against you, they find the right words to say if they think you're qualified. After all, they get paid by getting you hired, so it's in their best interests as well. A great guy from Spherion must have found the right words to say, all this company wanted to know is what I've been up to since December. He liked my answer to that, so odds are I meet with the company next week :)