WorkWise Q&A: Medical Problems, Bias

By Mildred L. Culp
culp@workwise.net

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Medical Problems

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, On a resume, how should I deal with time away from the job caused by a chronic health condition? One employer wouldn't extend my medical leave for carpal tunnel syndrome, even after an intervening car accident (1988). Three months into employment elsewhere (1990-1998), I had more medical problems. So I underwent testing and surgery, then job hunted, in case. I found and held a job for nine months (2002) before medical problems resurfaced. Then I took early retirement. Always Wanting to Work

A: Dear Always, If you still have a medical condition, check with an attorney about whether you qualify for disability protection. Consider two other life-changing options, where you're in charge of your schedule: entrepreneurship and the temporaries.

WorkWise: Transferring old skills to new job

If you still want conventional employment, don't base your job search on your resume. Base it on people. Target industries where people aren't afraid of health problems. Call employers. If they ask for your resume, tell them you'd like to learn more so you can incorporate what you discuss in it. Give it to them the next day.

Use only years. If you don't need the nine-month job to cover a year, omit it. Consider a combined functional/chronological resume. mlc

Bias

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, I've been using a resume prepared for me by a recruiter who specializes in recruiting senior IT people. Occasionally a recruiter -- but more often a hiring manager to whom a recruiter has forwarded my resume -- comments that I've been a consultant too long. (My resume shows consulting 1991 to present.) Why the strong bias? I have heard that some employers consider consultants "disloyal" or don't know how to deal with people. Well, believe me, at $200/hour, if I didn't produce, were disloyal to the project or didn't get along with my clients' employees, I'd have been out the next day! Is there any dealing with it or do you have to keep looking for a firm that doesn't have a consultant bias? No More Consulting

A: Dear No More, When you think "senior consultant," think "entrepreneur." You've been independent for 18 years. You've run your own show. In addition, age discrimination may be behind these decisions.

Yes, you have to keep hunting. Review your experience thinking "people" rather than "processes." Without looking at your resume, think of the biggest interpersonal problems you overcame. Write them down. Group similar ones; use numbers reflecting the times. Then, breathe new life into your resume. Cover multiple situations where you were working with people in teams of one to 50 (or whatever). Discuss how you dealt with interpersonal problems, including conflict. Use functional titles and a chronology at the end. mlc