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Trading off income for job security and benefits might be a good move. Something that should be prioritized is being able to file for disability if you need to

by vba616 5y ago

Trading off income for job security and benefits might be a good move. Something that should be prioritized is being able to file for disability if you need to someday. I think you have to have a certain number of credits with Social Security for that - it is a concern if you haven't spent much time in the workforce. A job with a FAANG, or a government contractor, would probably be the most stressful options. A nonprofit or government agency will probably be the most tolerant of disabilities - but I still wouldn't formally ask for accommodations if it required sharing medical details. Definitely not unless protected by a union. If you need time off for medical appointments, because you just feel terrible on a particular day, or even hospitalization, then don't act ashamed, but don't share any details. Lots of people have lots of different kinds of disabilities, and if you are able to function within your allotted leave and get your work done, then nobody has a right to complain. In terms of interviews, if you have not been able to work in the past, the key to resume gaps is to make it clear that the circumstances have changed, and there is obvious evidence of that. The only reason people care about gaps is they worry you might be flat out unemployable. "After dropping out of college several years ago due to a health condition, I was able to return and get my degree, and since then I've been volunteering at ... and writing code in ... in my spare time..." Why were you able to return? New treatment, medication, doctor...

pyuser583 5y ago
It’s extremely hard to find employers friendly to mental illness. My experience is that being a valued employee in the private sector is more secure than being a “protected” employee in the public sector. Public sector employees who abuse job security are treated like crap by the people who pick up the slack. Understandably, but not justifiably. Find a smaller employer and make yourself essential. Focus on finding a place where you are happy. Also make sure you have good insurance. I don’t know about working from home. Many mentally ill people (OK, my family which has a big stretch of mental illness) find the idea of working at home terrifying because work is the only social outlet.
- vba616 5y ago
  >Public sector employees who abuse job security are treated like crap by the people who pick up the slack. Understandably, but not justifiably. If you're seriously considering a job with a FAANG, you should be a highly valuable employee elsewhere. I was assuming I was addressing someone who is capable of sheer talent and productivity for a high paying job, but instinctively knows that in an interview they will seem "off" and if they are lucky enough to get the job, worry about maintaining a good relationship with their manager. >Find a smaller employer and make yourself essential. I disagree, although I'm no authority as I've mostly avoided them. The smaller a company is, the more it's like a family, and the more family-style dysfunction there is. A job in government or with a big company can allow you to transfer somewhere else if things don't work out in one department. And people are less personally invested.
  - nerdyadventurer 5y ago
    > The smaller a company is, the more it's like a family, and the more family-style dysfunction there is Why do you say so? I thought startup family like culture is better than cooperate culture?
    - vba616 5y ago
      HN style startups I don't know about. Nobody ever offered me stock in my employer. The overarching theme, I think, is that small businesses are more vulnerable, so there's more pressure on everyone, and fewer rules that matter. Small companies, or sole proprietors, in my experience, like to pretend people are contractors. Woe unto you if you're 17 and naive enough to question the legality. When I think of small businesses, I think of people demanding personal loyalty, lack of respect for the law and safety, and favoritism. I think of cult-like indoctrination. Bosses/owners who think it's ok to demand the same sacrifices of employees that they make to run the company. Lack of internal controls over financial matters, discrimination, or harassment. Besides my general sense of the world, this is founded on my first couple of jobs after high school and before college, and experiences of relatives that ended up in odd places because they were really smart but didn't have a marketable degree.
nerdyadventurer 5y ago
> In terms of interviews, if you have not been able to work in the past, the key to resume gaps is to make it clear that the circumstances have changed, and there is obvious evidence of that. How do you suggest one do that?
- vba616 5y ago
  I described it immediately after the quoted sentence. Only meant as an example. I think it's situation dependent. If you have recently been hospitalized, and started new medication, that is an opportunity to separate your future from your past. Otherwise, whatever has changed for you, but demonstrated in actions and hard facts. The truth works. Whatever convinces you will convince others. It just has to be phrased carefully, without sharing any information or connotations that are unnecessary. If what you're doing isn't working, don't keep doing it, but set your sights lower. Temp agencies have saved me more than once in the past.

by vba616 5y ago

pyuser583 5y ago

It’s extremely hard to find employers friendly to mental illness. My experience is that being a valued employee in the private sector is more secure than being a “protected” employee in the public sector. Public sector employees who abuse job security are treated like crap by the people who pick up the slack. Understandably, but not justifiably. Find a smaller employer and make yourself essential. Focus on finding a place where you are happy. Also make sure you have good insurance. I don’t know about working from home. Many mentally ill people (OK, my family which has a big stretch of mental illness) find the idea of working at home terrifying because work is the only social outlet.

vba616 5y ago
>Public sector employees who abuse job security are treated like crap by the people who pick up the slack. Understandably, but not justifiably. If you're seriously considering a job with a FAANG, you should be a highly valuable employee elsewhere. I was assuming I was addressing someone who is capable of sheer talent and productivity for a high paying job, but instinctively knows that in an interview they will seem "off" and if they are lucky enough to get the job, worry about maintaining a good relationship with their manager. >Find a smaller employer and make yourself essential. I disagree, although I'm no authority as I've mostly avoided them. The smaller a company is, the more it's like a family, and the more family-style dysfunction there is. A job in government or with a big company can allow you to transfer somewhere else if things don't work out in one department. And people are less personally invested.
- nerdyadventurer 5y ago
  > The smaller a company is, the more it's like a family, and the more family-style dysfunction there is Why do you say so? I thought startup family like culture is better than cooperate culture?
  - vba616 5y ago
    HN style startups I don't know about. Nobody ever offered me stock in my employer. The overarching theme, I think, is that small businesses are more vulnerable, so there's more pressure on everyone, and fewer rules that matter. Small companies, or sole proprietors, in my experience, like to pretend people are contractors. Woe unto you if you're 17 and naive enough to question the legality. When I think of small businesses, I think of people demanding personal loyalty, lack of respect for the law and safety, and favoritism. I think of cult-like indoctrination. Bosses/owners who think it's ok to demand the same sacrifices of employees that they make to run the company. Lack of internal controls over financial matters, discrimination, or harassment. Besides my general sense of the world, this is founded on my first couple of jobs after high school and before college, and experiences of relatives that ended up in odd places because they were really smart but didn't have a marketable degree.

nerdyadventurer 5y ago

> In terms of interviews, if you have not been able to work in the past, the key to resume gaps is to make it clear that the circumstances have changed, and there is obvious evidence of that. How do you suggest one do that?

vba616 5y ago
I described it immediately after the quoted sentence. Only meant as an example. I think it's situation dependent. If you have recently been hospitalized, and started new medication, that is an opportunity to separate your future from your past. Otherwise, whatever has changed for you, but demonstrated in actions and hard facts. The truth works. Whatever convinces you will convince others. It just has to be phrased carefully, without sharing any information or connotations that are unnecessary. If what you're doing isn't working, don't keep doing it, but set your sights lower. Temp agencies have saved me more than once in the past.