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Working after a short break due to having ADD

Rupy

Hi I hope that you can advise me:

I worked for 5 years at the same company as a HR Assistant.  Earlier in the year they offered voluntary redundancy - which I took as it was an opportunity for a change and develop new skills. From June to July I worked in another company.  July to August I worked again for a different company.  They were both temporary contracts as HR Assistants.

Since end August I haven't been working.  I have recently been diagnosed with adult Attention Deficit Disorder  (ADD) (without hyperactivity).  I am taking ADHD related medication, which I am still getting used to and  have been seeing a significant improvement in concentration/focus  and problem solving skills.  I  addition to this, I am undertaking a part time college course for a few months - ICT Level 2, to improve Word, Excel, Powerpoint skills.  So things are looking positive.

Now I feel I would like to go back into work part time 3 days a week, until February when the course finishes and when I feel 100% better. Either as a HR Assistant or general Admin. Even temporary is fine.  My question is, how do I explain all of this in interview? What do I say about having ADD - if my symptoms are managed and don't affect me? Do I need to say I have ADD?  If I don't mention my ADD, how do I explain why I want to work Part time? Is the college course sufficient enough reason (it's not a degree or CIPD accredited course).

Also how do I explain this short gap in the first instance?  Truthfully when I was first diagnosed, I felt a little depressed and anxious, and felt I just needed this short break to get used to things and adjust to the medication (It can cause bad headaches, which are a lot better now). I feel a lot better generally. 

Also, from a professional point of view, would having ADD, but with managed symptoms, impact having a career in HR (whether I declare I have it or not)?  I'm reasonably young, don't have any family commitments and have attained my MA in HRM. Can people with ADD/ADHD still successful in this sort of career?

Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks

Parents
  • Hiya

    Firstly congratulations on all you've achieved so far. It's impossible to generalise but given you've already had success in obtaining and succeeding in HR positions, I can't see why you couldn't carry on and develop your career further. Hopefully your diagnosis will help you recognise your strengths and areas where you might need to adapt things in a job to help you succeed. The biggest barrier to a HR career is lack of experience and you already have that.

    In terms of explaining your diagnosis at interview - no you absolutely don't have to say anything if you don't want to. You can declare anything at the health check stage after you've been offered the position - it's fine to do it then. I wouldn't expect anyone to tell me that sort of thing at interview. Occasionally people do and I then have to make sure it doesn't influence the recruitment decision. If you're applying for a part time role, then simply saying it fits with your college courses is a reasonable explanation.

    If you're applying for a full time role that you hope you can persuade the employer to allow you to do part time, that might be more of a challenge, but that would be the case for any applicant wanting to ask the employer to make that change. You might have better luck negotiating a job share for 2.5 days per week once you've been offered a role but you can make that call once you've been offered a job and started talking to the employer. ;-)

    I'm sure our HR colleagues on the Communities will have lots of good advice for you. Good Luck!

    Jackie
  • in reply to Jacqueline
    Thank you Jackie. This is very encouraging. How would I explain why I have been unemployed for three months and what I have been doing during that time?Technically I could have worked part time, but I didn't feel ready to within myself (due to anxiety and depression) until now. Thanks.
  • in reply to Rupy
    I'm not an HR expert, but I may say something like, 'I took a short career break to concentrate on my health and wellbeing.' which is honest and clear.
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