# Job hunt advice sought **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-hunt-advice-sought/456582 "2008-07-15T16:42:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-hunt-advice-sought/456582/1 "2008-07-15T16:42:55Z")
I have been out of work for several years, due to illness. The ‘several years’ bit has left a rather large gap in my resume, which is always a bad thing. Would it be kosher to include mention of the illness in my cover-letter. Specifically, something like ‘After several years of being unable to work due to illness, I am eager to return to the work-force.’ ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-hunt-advice-sought/456582/2 "2008-07-15T17:45:10Z")
Depends on whether the overall view of the illness would be viewed as a liability. Want to be a banker after beating cancer? No problem. Want to be a data entrey person after a lengthy battle with carpal tunnel syndrome? Probably a bit of a liability. In my experience it is best to explain work absences but not in a way which is detrimental. As an example, I have listed my wife’s time off and interest in returning to work (the time off due to kids and stuff). On every resume I have written for her the average call back time is less than 24 hours. So in conclusion, unless the illness can be considered job related, go for it. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-hunt-advice-sought/456582/3 "2008-07-15T18:26:20Z")
I would mention it but only briefly and vaguely. “You may notice that there is a gap in my resume. I suffered from a serious illness that I am proud to say that I have conquered and I look forward to rejoining the work-force.” ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-hunt-advice-sought/456582/4 "2008-07-15T18:44:50Z")
[QUOTE=nd\_n8] Depends on whether the overall view of the illness would be viewed as a liability. [/QUOTE] It certainly shouldn’t be. It was a series of lung infections that have, by all appearances, finally been properly treated. Thanks for the advice…pretty much what I expected, but the whole job-hunting thing can be pretty nutty sometimes, so I figured it’d be best to ask if that was breaking some unwritten rule. ---
**Author:** ![Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cornelius_Tuggerson)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/job-hunt-advice-sought/456582/5 "2008-07-15T19:11:55Z")
If you apply to a big company, and the illness is not something that might recur and prevent you from doing your job it shouldn’t matter. If its a smaller company they might have an issue as health care costs are a bigger burden on them. Its completely illegal for them to discriminate, but times are hard, money is low, they might be more willing to risk a lawsuit. You are definitely gonna want to refresh your memory before any interviews, googling “myfield interview questions” should get you started.