Managing your condition during a job interview

If you’re living with an injury, illness, or disability, do you know how to manage your condition during an interview so that you can be your best self and impress an employer? And how much should you share about your condition?

Here are 10 tips for managing your condition during a job interview:

1. Be prepared

It’s always good to prepare for interviews by practicing interview questions beforehand. You could do this by yourself or with others, such as a friend, family member, or support person, and you could even get someone to do a mock interview with you. Knowing how you would respond to questions and participate in an interview can help you feel more comfortable and less stressed on the day.

2. Get the right support

Let the interviewer know if there are any adjustments, they could make to help you participate in the interview, such as ensuring a suitable interview environment. Being upfront about this can help you to have a more comfortable experience and allow you to present your best self.

3. Consider having a support person

Whether it’s to have support to understand the questions, to ensure the interview environment is suitable, or simply to have moral support on the day, it could also help you to have a support or advocacy person with you during an interview. You can check with the hiring manager or interviewer whether it would be okay to have someone attend the interview with you for this purpose.

4. Believe in yourself

The organisation has asked you to an interview with them, so they are interested in you and want to find out more about you. If you have been recommended for the job by someone or they have helped you prepare, then they believe in you. Remember that in the interview and believe in yourself.

5. Disability is diversity - and diversity is a good thing!

There is plenty of research supporting the benefits of diversity in the workplace. Employers are becoming more inclusive in their approach to hiring, so your disability can be a great asset as a job seeker.

6. Ask questions

Job interviews are a two-way conversation, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions not only shows that you’re interested in the job, but it also gives you a break from talking while the interviewer provides an answer.

7. Relax

Don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to rephrase a question, to use simpler language, or for more time to respond. Remember, job interviews are stressful for most people, so don’t feel rushed to answer a question if you don’t understand it or need more time to think about your response.

8. Know your rights

Unless your condition has health and safety implications (i.e. it could affect the employer’s obligation to provide a safe and productive workplace), you are not required to tell the interviewer about your disability or condition. While some types of disability are obvious, others are invisible. Whether you tell a prospective employer about your condition is entirely up to you.

9. Know how you can positively disclose your condition

If you decide you want to disclose your injury, illness, or disability to the interviewer, or if your condition isn’t hidden and is more obvious, it’s good to prepare for how you will make the interviewer aware of your condition and talk about it in a positive way. Don’t dwell on the things you can’t do – instead, focus on topics such your skills and experience, how you manage your condition, how it won’t interfere with your ability to do the job, or even how it could give you an advantage and help you add value in the role.

10. Consider the upside

Your condition could be beneficial to your job application. There are often employer incentives for hiring people with disability. Telling the prospective employer about your disability could open up incentives and wage subsidies for their business. Plus, being open about your condition during a job interview could also reduce stigma and help you settle into your new team.