Hiring

What should I say at a job interview?

• Should I say anything?
• What should I say?
• Example: what you might say

Should I say anything?

You are not required to disclose that you have a disability (in this case a mental health problem) unless it interferes with your ability to carry out the essential functions of the job you’re applying for.

Before you decide whether or not to disclose your illness, consider the benefits and risks:

While you weigh the benefits and risks, try to learn more about the employer and workplace you might be working for:

• Does the organization have accommodation or disability policies in place that show it’s open to helping workers with mental health problems?
• Does the organization have a corporate culture that promotes employee mental health, including flex time, mentoring programs, telecommuting, and flexible benefit plans?
• Does the job have requirements that would put you at a disadvantage if you disclosed your diagnosis? Remember, you’re not required to disclose an illness or disability if you are concerned about discrimination, but you are required to disclose if your illness impedes your ability to perform the essential duties of the job you are applying for.

What should I say?

Remember, you can disclose a mental health problem at any time:¹

• Before the hiring interview
• During the interview
• After the interview but before a job offer
• After a job offer but before starting a job
• Anytime after starting a job

If you feel it is to your advantage to disclose that you have a mental health problem before you’ve started a job, think about how you would like to approach this in advance:

• Decide how you will describe your mental health problem or mental illness. The decision about how specific you want or need to be is yours. If you feel it is in your best interest to say more about your mental illness, do so; otherwise, you can speak in general terms. One organization has suggested some examples of language you may choose to use:²
  • General terms: a disability, a medical condition, an illness
  • Vague but more specific terms: a biochemical imbalance, a neurological problem, a brain disorder, a difficulty with stress
  • Specifically referring to mental illness: a mental illness, a mental health problem, a mental disorder, a psychiatric disorder, a psychiatric disability
  • Your diagnosis: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorder

• Describe the skills, qualifications, and experience that make you a strong candidate for the job. Specify the main duties of the job and your suitability to the work.
• Describe any functional limitations or behaviours caused by your disability that interfere with your work performance and identify the accommodations that will allow you to overcome these.
• You may choose to specify some behaviours and symptoms your employer might observe, and what steps to take in response. This may be a good way to ease concerns; you might say, "I tend to get anxious when there’s a lot of noise or people hanging around my desk, but I find that a short walk gets me re-focused."
• Direct your employer to people who can clarify your mental health problem, such as your doctor or psychiatrist, your therapist, counsellor, or social worker, or a job accommodation specialist. (Note that mental health professionals will ask you to sign a form that gives them formal permission to speak to your employer.) Your employer can also obtain information from the Canadian Mental Health Association provincial divisions and local branches or the Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work.

Example: what you might say

One organization has suggested the following prepared script, which you can adapt to your own circumstances:³

"I have (preferred term for psychiatric disability) that I am recovering from. Currently, I can/have (the skills required) to do (the main duties) of the job, but sometimes (functional limitations) interfere with my ability to (duties you may have trouble performing). It helps if I have (name the specific accommodations you need). I work best when (other accommodations)."

You could also add the following information:

"Sometimes you might see (symptoms or behaviors associated with symptoms). When you see that, you can (name the action steps for the employer). Here is the number of my (employment specialist, doctor, therapist, previous employer, and so on) for any information that you might need about my ability to handle the job. I have given permission for him or her to speak to you."

Information on this page was adapted from recommendations by The Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University.

RELATED:

• Do I have to tell my employer that I’m ill?
• How can I tell an employer that I’m ill? What should I say?
• How can I explain my mental health problem to co-workers?
• What kinds of accommodations can I ask for?

EMPLOYER LINKS:

• How can I approach hiring to include people with disabilities, including those with mental health problems?
• What is a "reasonable accommodation"?
• How do I introduce a new employee with a disability, and how do I prepare my staff for his or her arrival?
• One of my employees has a mental health problem. How can I explain the situation to other employees?

SOURCE:

• "Disclosing Your Disability to an Employer." Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston University. Retrieved August 8, 2005, from www.bu.edu/cpr/jobschool/disclosing.htm.

NOTES:

1. "Disclosing Your Disability to an Employer." Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University. Retrieved August 8, 2005, from www.bu.edu/cpr/jobschool/disclosing.htm.
2. "Disclosing Your Disability to an Employer." Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University. Retrieved August 8, 2005, from www.bu.edu/cpr/jobschool/disclosing.htm.
3. "Disclosing Your Disability to an Employer." Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University. Retrieved August 8, 2005, from www.bu.edu/cpr/jobschool/disclosing.htm.