Hi, I am new here and I have a couple of suggestions. They are lies or exagerations but maybe they can get you in the door.
1. I had to take care of a family member that was ill and dying.
2. I lived on my uncles ranch out west to help out with his machines and tractors (welding) as he was in dire financial need and needed my help.
3. I was in a bad accident and spent a year in physical therapy and was at home, (did proofreading, for writer friends, under the table for extra money and am on SSDI.
Just a few ideas. Actually, I advised my son to do this as he had been a drug addict and was in prison for a year but he did better by telling the truth and taking a part time job with someone who hired people in need and family friends for $10.00 an hour. It was a nasty job, cleaning old machinery for sale, then doing clean up in apts. being renovated, but after 17 months, he found a full time job with benefits as he built up his reputation. Word got around that he was a good worker. Maybe that would be better for you, going the honest route. Slow but sure. You can say, Have been sick but better now. I dont think they are allowed to ask private questions in interviews. Also there are Work Temps for industry where you fill in or take part time. (Manpower) You can also work part time on SSDI up to a certain amount. Talk to your social worker. Best Advocate.
Good Luck

.rasquote=thedayturnedaround;3255588]I need some advice about job interviewing. I've been on SSDI for a year and a half for bipolar disorder and want to return to work someday. I am attending a trade certification program to better myself and my skills. (CNC machining)

I have been on job interviews where they have asked about gaps in employment, which I have a few, a couple of years length each, and some part time jobs which were short lived. I wasn't fired from any of them. I left because of various reasons, sometimes because of depression and dissatisfaction with the job. At this point it just looks like I won't stick with anything, and I feel like the interviewers know it.

The two most serious gaps started because of being under-medicated because of bad psychiatric care. I started to become manic, then psychotic, and no one could or would do anything forceful to keep me under doctor's care and keep me on medicine. So the last time, it was a couple of years of psychosis and mania without any treatment.

My first question is, how do I address this question: "Why did you leave your last job?" I left because I was paranoid about secret government CIA conspiracies and the stress it was causing me. Not a good answer right?

And another question is "what did you do in the time you were unemployed?" Uh, I rode my bike around all over town thinking NASA was spying on me with satellites and I sang out loud sometimes. I also wrote bizarre, not entertaining screenplays.

What are your thoughts on this? I have hunted the web and there are few sites that even approach this specific problem.

I currently deal with chronic hopelessness and depression, and am on effective medication (tegretol, abilify, trazodone, wellbutrin).

Thank you for your input.[/quote]