Off work sick for a year, how to bounce back?
TLDR: how should I talk about being let go for a long term illness in interviews? And go about landing a role when I’ve been off sick for a year?
I’ve been off work sick for 11 months with a long term illness & yesterday my contract was terminated.
I’m at a mm/umm M&A shop, they held onto me for the 11 months because I was liked & good at my job. I’m getting better and will be applying to new shops within 6 months, despite my old shop asking me to come back.
Has anyone got expirience dealing with long term illnesses and then having to get their career back on track?
Were firms accepting of this? How did you talk about it during interviews?
Would really appreciate any & all advice.
For example: l I’ve had 2 years expirience prior to my illness…
Would I volunteer the fact I was kept on for a year because I was liked/valued at the firm. Or would it be best to reserve all information of the duration of my illness or time off work unless asked?
Is it even worth bringing up at all? I’m just slightly concerned they’d ask for a reference (which would be good) but then they might think I’ve lied by omitting my illness over the last year?
I don't understand your post, is your old firm willing to take you back when you get better? Bigger issue is recruiting with no job is incredibly difficult in finance. Could you work out an unpaid leave with them until you come back or is that door closed?
You don't need to disclose anything about the last year, and references are usually just to confirm dates. It's a potential legal problem for the old firm if they disclose that you had a medical issue, so people usually won't.
Apologies. My old firm are happy to have me back, and have said there will always be a space for me. But I’d like to change firms/recruit again (generalist M&A to tech IB) by the time I’m back & well.
What I wouldn’t want to do is go back to my previous firm and then leave shortly after. So I’m asking, how can I best position leaving my prior firm? Should I speak about my illness or should I not?
Don't know your situation exactly, but my gut honest take is this not a great look to suddenly recruit elsewhere after they held a spot for 11 months for you and there's a lot that doesn't add up.
Why would they suddenly terminate you after 11 months?
Why not go back to your original employer if they will take you back?
What was the nature of the illness? Real or not, "mental health" leave will be looked on very different from cancer
You say you want to get your career back on track. Going back to your old employer in the same role is by definition getting your career back on track.
So really, my ask is,
- how do I best position the situation I’ve found myself in when applying for new roles.
- Should I be honest, or should I ommit any info on my illness unless asked.
- And would you have any other tips, such as; Should I be networking, or is networking redundant at the asso level?
I agree with the other comment - go, hang out at least 6-8 months and then re-recruit. Then the illness is not even a consideration with the new firm.
You're going to have a very hard time getting into anything IB with no job... let alone tech IB with no job. Get your career on track, get yourself back in the game and THEN lateral
You can PM me. I have experience with this issue.
Appreciate it, thanks. Shoot me an email.
[email protected]
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