when i go for an interview should i...

OK im currently looking for a job,but im afraid to answer when they ask if i have any disability's or anything that might hold me back from work,even though i feel fine now but what would happen god forbid i got a shock and end up in the hospital or something an employer is aware that this can happen,what should i say when they ask? i don't like lying =/ should i just say straight out i have a icd/pm? have any of u guys experienced this?

7 Comments

not sure... but...

by Loopy Lou - 2009-01-23 04:01:41

Hello!

In the UK during a job interview, there are certain questions they can't ask you. For example, regarding childcare whilst you are at work and health issues.

But if you are offered a job here you will no doubt be asked to fill in a health questionaire - but ONLY when you have been offered the position. Then you HAVE to be honest.

I think it's wrong if they ask during the interview because it could persuade them to employ someone else.

If it was me I wouldn't offer the information during the interview - see if you are offered the job first - and if I was taken ill once I was employed, I would make up any lost time for free! They can't sack you then!

Let's see what everyone else thinks!

what kind of job?

by Tracey_E - 2009-01-23 06:01:16

Unless it has a direct impact on your ability to do your job, it's your business and they don't have the right to ask you health questions.

based on my question

by cristalh - 2009-01-23 10:01:06

The reason why i ask,im sorry i didnt specify that in my topic,is because ive been asked before in interviews if there is anyhting that can limit my ability to work,etc so i dont want to lie and then have the company take some legal acction against me..i am a minority

Job Interview

by SMITTY - 2009-01-23 10:01:49


Hello,

As they say in the military don't volunteer for nothing.

Assuming you are applying for a job where your physical history is not a necessary become part of your employment record, let me ask you a question. If you didn't have that pacemaker what would your heart situation be? Would you be having a slow heart rate and possibly passing out at times. In that case would you volunteer that passing out is a possibility because of a low heart rate.

Well, from where I sit, of course you would not tell any such thing, But because you have a pacemaker passing out (or whatever problem the pacemaker solved for you) is no longer something you have to consider so why bring it up" I see a pacemaker as an aid to my heart, not a replacement for anything. Like an artificial knee. If I were on a job interview and had an artificial knee I wouldn't feel obligated to tell about that. Same with my pacemaker, or any of the meds I take, unless I'm asked the specific question I wouldn't tell.

There is one thing for certain, when you tell someone you have a pacemaker you are abut 99% certain to become tainted goods. That is because few people that don't have a pacemaker know that a pacemaker is not what keeps my heart beating, it just helps out when necessary.

Now I know any for of you that are 100% pacemaker dependant that may read this, that last statement does not apply. However, I will say I don't think it should be necessary for you to volunteer the information either because that man made pacemaker gives you a better heart rhythm than the hearts natural PM was doing, or you wouldn't have a PM.

I just saw your last post so I'll add this. I don' think the pacemaker will limit you in doing anything that the reason you got the PM would not have done. The one exception is if you are applying for a job that would have you in the vicinity of strong magnetic fields, such as big electric generating stations or performing MRI on patients, to name a couple.

Good luck on the job interviews,

Smitty

I'd say no

by Tracey_E - 2009-01-23 11:01:09

If the pm fixes your problem, you do not have any physical limitations that will keep you from doing your job. It's no different than being on meds for high blood pressure or diabetes- it's a medical situation that's under control. You didn't say what type of work you are applying for, there are some exceptions like firefighters, cops, military where being very fit is a requirement for the job, in that case you'd need to tell them more, but for your average desk job it's none of their business and discriminatory to ask.

If you're ever in a situation where you think an employer is taking action against you unfairly, pick up the phone! EEOC protects against race/religious discrimination and ADA will protect you against discrimination because of your health. If you are willing and able to do your job, they can't let you go because of your health or race.

Good luck in the job hunt!

no and yes

by third1 - 2009-01-23 12:01:28

I was just in a very similar situation i was looking at a job and they asked in the interview if there was anything that stop me from preforming my job, and i said no there isn't except nature. and the interviewer laughed and said you are right. cause here's my reasoning, you never know when somethings gonna happen, why worry for something that may never happen right??? but i did tell them after the interview before i started the job that i do have a prob and like i said during the interview unless nature takes a course of action ill be able to handle the job.

Ps btw that was a job as an EMT. so its pretty physical compared to an office gig.

You don't have a disability

by vbilbrey - 2009-01-28 11:01:22

First I'd like to ask what job you're applying for? Unless it's a job that would alter the strength of the PM, you are fully able to do the job. Don't ever think of having a PM as a disability. We can do the same work as anyone else who doesn't have one with the same or better quality. When I go on interviews I NEVER mention it. It's even very rare that I will tell anyone even after I've been hired. I can only think of three people I've told that I had one since I've worked where I am now, which will be three years this year, and that's only because it came up in conversation or b/c I had my PM replacement and I had to tell. Even then I didn't have to tell them why I was requesting sick leave but I did anyway. In the end it's none of their business.

Second what does you being a minority have to do with anything? They shouldn't take legal action against you unless you signed a contract that they could if you gave false information or if you're involved in some confidential work that it would severely impact you or other people. And if they did take legal action they shouldn't discriminate b/c you're a minority. There are others who have been fired and such who are not minorities.

Well I hope your search goes well. God bless.

You know you're wired when...

The dog’s invisible fence prevents you from leaving the backyard.

Member Quotes

Without this little machine, we would not be here.