4 ms·
Ask HN: How do I explain gap after college due to health/family issues?
I graduated in December 2017 in CS program, after that I went for a couple of interviews, but I had intention to do something of my own, I did try some ideas, some failed, some got abandoned due to health issue which I will explain later.
I was diagnosed with OCD in 2010, even thought I had been suffering with symptom from 2008,currently I take Fluoxetine daily to control symptoms. Furthermore, I was depressed in 2010 after OCD diagnosis. After graduating college I was trying hard to keep working on my app idea, I have done considerable amount of work, but I kept procrastinating doing other work (volunteering, helping relatives, neighbors, helping my father's farming work), time to time I muster courage to work on my app by summoning my will power, but it only last for about a week, I have read/watch many science based articles./videos for battling procrastinating, but I stil could work for a week by using up willpower. Due to my this chronic procrastination I was blaming myself for years, until this year I decide to learn more about ADHD even though I have heard of it before, after knowing about ADHD, I grasp what is going on with me (executive dis-functioning) which explained by knowing lot and failing execute, time blindness, clouded mind, distractability etc. So I went to meet my psychiatrist, and he prescribed me Atomoxitine, in the first days Atomoxitine regardless of its strong side effects, I felt my mind was clam, I was able to very quickly (ex: tasks that took me a day were done in hour), this remembered me what my mind was used to be like a decade ago, which was quiet and how much benefit those neurotypicals had over me all those years, with medication I was hopeful. After the use of Atomoxitine for first two days quietness of the mind reduced, but I have the ability to keep on working regularly on my projects with Atomoxitine (do not have to use up my will power all the time) which was quite useful, I am thinking of trying other stimulant medication in the future.
During those years I had work on some small freelance projects for friends in React and Android and currently working fully fledge ecommerce site for my cousin as business partners.
I have to keep eye on my parents since my mom is suffering from Parkinson's for years, she needs help with daily activities, sometimes get delusional and suicidal, dad also have high blood pressure time to time, issue in prostate (getting ready for operation later this year). My dad is farmer since he is old and have health issues sometimes I have to look into his farming duties.
So now to my question, recent months I was thinking for applying for job as SE, since I am having hard time with economic crisis and structured environment like company help me to work/learn easily, in the meantime gain career capital. But I do not know how could I explain my 6-year gap of unemployment, whether they will hire me due to my health conditions?
Any advice highly appreciated!
- mattlondon 4y agoI don't think you mention where you live, but in many western countries prospective employers cannot ask about these sorts of health issues and you do not need to tell them either (unless you need reasonable adjustments made etc). Obviously it varies a bit between countries but I think they are largely similar. I'd just not mention it at all. If asked you can tell them the truth that you were trying out some of your own business ideas and doing some freelance but then got unwell. Don't go into detail about the illness or other family stuff. If they specifically ask and press you about your health after saying that then they are probably breaking the law if you are in a western country. If they ask you could just say something like "I don't really want to go into it all - suffice to say that I'm all better now and excited to get back to work" etc. A good interviewer should just skip over the health issue and hopefully say something like "Sorry to hear about your illness, but hey I'd love to hear about those business ideas you were working on! Tell me more!" Etc. It might be worth trying to pick up some more freelance stuff now for a couple of reasons: ease back into a working life on your own terms, and also to have some more recent work experience to demonstrate to prospective employers. Good luck.
- ljf 4y agoThis - draw out a list of everything you have done, then for each job you go for pull out the things that are most relevant. Even the farming might be relevant for budgeting, supplier management, time management etc. But build up the list of things you want to talk about and are proud of, and keep your responses to them. No need to talk about the other stuff.
- frontman1988 4y agoTell them you were a fulltime crypto trader and are now looking for secure job since market crashed. Throw in a few crypto bro words like decentralised exchange arbitrage and it will be fully believable.
- aaaaaaaaata 4y agoThis is bordering on an obsession that this community really needs to let go of — especially in the face of the last tech-stocks bubble, which, frankly, looked exactly the same, just denominated in USD, not BTC/satoshis.