Should mentally ill people reveal their mental illness on a resume, in a job interview, or hide it ?

Question

Recently, I have gone to several job interviews, but I don't get hired. I think it's because I am mentally ill, and they do not think I fit into the "company culture". It seems like most employers want to hire someone who is like them. They want a friend, a lunch buddy, someone who fits within the existing team.

Mental illness has caused me to get terminated from many positions, quit one position, do inappropriate things, and pursue activities that were not aligned with my true motivations.

How do mentally ill people explain this in a job interview? I usually act like I am not mentally ill, and the interviewer detects that I am mentally ill at the job interview. If the interviewer is mentally ill or has mentally ill co-workers then I get hired. If not, then I don't get hired.

If you are curious, then I have ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) and aspects of other disorders. My ASD causes me to behave and speak differently. My disorder causes me to have speech peculiarities.

Answer 1

It's illegal for employeers to require you to devulge confidental medical information, so it's just a matter of whether or not it's in your best interest to tell them. I'd say that it's generally best to tell them, but to avoid making a big deal of it. There are advantages and disadvantages either way, but I'd say that it's generally better for them to know.

For one thing, as you've noticed, they'll usually pick up on the disorder in an interview. But they won't necessarily get that you have ASD specifically, just that you seem "different" or "weird." For whatever reason, "weird" behaviors, speech, etc. tend to bother people less if they have a reason to attribute it to. That's definitely not always true, and the reverse can happen as well, but in my experience, people are overall more sympathetic to differences when they can think of them as being a symptom of a disorder, rather than just a personality trait (I don't think it should make any difference whether it's called a disorder or not, but for a lot of people it does).

If a prospective employeer refuses to hire you because of your disability, it's discrimiation, and they can face a major lawsuit. Obviously it's difficult to prove why they didn't hire you, but it's also difficult for them to prove it wasn't about the disability. So if your skills and background are kind of at the border where you're just barely qualified and they may or may not decide to higher you, then the fear of a disability lawsuit if they don't hire you could make the difference. Some employeers will take it too far, but generally it's not going to get you a job you're really not qualified for, but it just might make the difference if they're not sure whether or not to hire you.

Another factor is that many employeers, particularly large corporations, tend to preferentially hire people who self-identify as having a disability because hiring "disabled" people makes them look good to the public. If you tell them you have a disability, then they get to include that in their number of disabled workers, so they basically get to say "look how nice we are for hiring all these people who need extra help" (even though really they're hiring people with disabilities that don't actually interfere with their job), and "look how diverse we are," which improves their image with prospective customers and business partners. I think it may also entitle them to tax benefits or something, but I'm not sure of that.

But don't shove it in their faces. If they think that the ASD and other disorders completely control your life, they're not going to hire you. When you're filling out applications or having an interview, you're a prospective employee who happens to have ASD, rather than a person with ASD who happens to need a job. Unless they specifically ask you questions about it, just mention it once, without making a big deal of it, and that's it. Many job applications have a box to check stating you have a disability. If there's something like that on the application, check it, and if they want specifics they can ask you for them. Don't volunteer too much information, or that's all they'll remember about you, which isn't want you want.

Don't include it in your resume as there's nothing in there that lets them know something is "different," so there's no need to explain why it's "different." But do try to bring it up in the interview, without making a big deal of it. In the interview they'll be able to tell that something is "different," so it helps to tell them what it is. You don't want to come in and start out with something like "Hi, my name is ____, and I'm autistic," but if you can find a way to mention kind of in the conversation, or to explain something specific that the interviewer obviously noticed, then it's probably to your benefit to do so.

Finally, you can think of your disorder any way you want, but when you're talking to a prospective employer, it's a disability, and NOT a mental illness. If you identify as disabled, that will work to your favor, but if you describe yourself as "mentally ill," most employeers will run from that like the plague.

Answer 2

I would not divulge that in a resume or on a job interview. However I might divulge it once I was offered a job. Mental illness is classified in most cases as a disability. Additionally, companies both large and small get federal tax incentives to employ people with all types of disabilities including mental illness. If a person's mental illness is considered to volatile and dangerous to be appropriate for the workplace then, that person should qualify to receive either Social Security Disability or SSI.

Answer 3

in an ideal world we could disclose these things at interview so our employers can accommodate our differences. In reality organizations do not hire mentally ill people. Businesses are loathe to hire anyone who doesn't fit the mould and whose behaviour could lose them money through time off or inappropriate behaviour. You are not alone, many young mothers are the same position, as having kids makes people think we will take too much time off work and be inflexible.
Please realize that declaring any mental health issues will rob you of your job chances, so don't declare it. Have you thought about working a charity that is sympathetic to your needs? Then you wouldn't have to hide who you are and feel worried about being found out. Good luck.

Answer 4

If you tell them, you will not get hired. That much I know. My daughter who is 22 has mental disabilities and she too gets fired or quits a lot of jobs. It isn't because she is mentally unsound but because of her actions and personality. Most people do not even know that she is mentally challenged and would never guess it if told. But she is and she behaves in peculiar manors. That is why she cannot keep a job. She is the same way with boyfriends too. She is always living with someone new and when he gets tired of her then she moves in with someone else.

Good Luck.

Answer 5

I would suggest to get some information from a support group regarding what type of jobs would be best suited for you. The kind of position you take should be one that is compatable with your disorder. Then you could decide whether or not it needs to be revealed or not. You are not the only one to go through this I am sure, so seek out the guidance of someone who has been there before. I am sure you could find a chat room, support group, or something. Talk to your physician.

Answer 6

First off it's nobody business what you mental illness are as long as it is not affect you work. For those people who fired you , you should have slapped a big discrimination lawsuit on there azzes. My mom is disabled, and the social security office hooked her up in thisprogram that helps people with disabilities find jobs or get training and then find a job. Maybe you should try talking to you local SSI office. But you dont have to tell anyone you are disabled

Answer 7

Not hiring you just because of a mentally ill problem is highly against the law. Its descrimination. (SOS) If you can prove this get a lawyer. Also you are not required to tell them that you have a problem. But being upfront and real with them may help in the long run. Good luck with your job hunt. Keep trying.

Answer 8

My little sister has Asbergers syndrome, which is in the autistic spectrum,she is hard-working and astute,however,it is an impairment that is hard for others to overlook. The anti-social aspect makes it difficult for individuals to sympathize with her.If you are getting benefits from DDS then by all means you should tell them! You are protected under the American Disabilities Act! You should not be discriminated against in hiring, and legally CANNOT be fired due to your disability.

Answer 9

Keep in mind that it is illegal for them not to hire you because of a mental illness. You may have some legal ground to stand on there.

Personally, I would come right out and tell them about the illness. If they don't like it that's their problem.

Answer 10

My first interview was for a weekend job as a shelf stacker at a local supermarket. I don't remember much but I got the job. I was 16 and worked there for 6 years through college and university.