[Martina]

I was recently fired because of my mental illness. Yes, that's illegal, but they conned up an excuse that I didn't call in sick every single morning. Even though I said I would be out "indefinitely" and I was unsure when I would return. Truth is they were sick of me not showing up to work so often, because of my illness. They knew about it, I had to tell them last summer when I wound up in the hospital multiple times due to 3 suicide attempts in 2 months. I have both Bipolar II Disorder AND Borderline Personality Disorder.

So....that said....I know you're not supposed to even mention anything related to a medical condition on a job application or interview. So how do I explain why I was fired? How do I explain my short job history - I have not held down a job for more than 2 years at a time, mostly due to my illness. And how do I tell them I am dependable, when the fact is I really have no idea when I'll need to take more time off work?

I live in Oregon, and our unemployment rate is even higher than the national average, and I think my county is dead last in the state for our unemployment rate. I have the degrees and certifications, there are just no jobs out there for me, period.

I did get approved for unemployment benefits, so we are fine financially for six months. But after July...I just don't know how we are going to make ends meet. I was the main breadwinner in the family. We got into a mountain of debt because I missed so much work last summer, and I racked up a $7,000 credit card when I was hypomanic. We do own a plot of land that we intended to build a house on. If that land sells, we could pay off all our debts entirely and put some money back in savings and be just fine on one income. But land can take YEARS to sell. It was on the market for 2 years before we bought it.

I'm just praying for a miracle (and I'm Athiest!) that someone will buy the land, or a perfect job will show up and I won't screw up the interview like I always do.

I'm an accountant, so of course I did the math. We only have enough money to make it until August, before we go in the red. After that, I really don't know what to do. We both have excellent credit ratings, and I really hate to let that slide. I have never fallen behind on any payments, and I really don't want to now.

Of course the stress over money doesn't help my situation either.

[madisgram]

martina, monster.com and jobs. com. you can post your resume there,etc. are u stable now? if not i'd be beatin' at the pdocs door to get you there.
sounds like you have excellent credentials. so try to look at the glass half full. the company u worked for did do something illegal. sick ppl do not have to call in each day. i went thru that and know. i'd consider legal action for compensation.
having said that the most important thing for u is to be stabilized and ready to work. even doctors utilize accountants. also you could work for a temp agency and work your way into a job offer that way too. could free lance. these are just some ideas. i don't know if you've pursued them already or not. please let us know how you are doing, k? i'm glad you posted. this way we can at least offer you emotional support thru this difficult time. i care for you and you do matter to us!! stay posted so we know how u're doing.
PS as far as the resume and reason for leaving, i'd say unexpected family illness nescitated your having to leave...you're family, so that's not a lie.

[splitimage]

I'd say your first priority should be getting well and stabalized - even if that means giving yourself permission to not sweat job hunting for a couple of months and just focus on you.

Next I'd look at your last employer and what they're going to say about references. I was fired from my last job due to my drinking. This is illegal, but they claimed cause (missed time even though I called in every day), but they wound up giving me a really good severence package so that I'd go away quietly. I negotiated that they'd give me a good reference and say I left voluntarily for personal reasons. I found out after the fact that my boss even lied on my references for my current job, in my favour, saying I'd left because I wasn't sufficiently challenged.

It took me a long time to get my life back together, between dealing with the drinking and MH issues so all together I was unemployed for 15 months. I was really worried about the gap on my resume, so I was proactive about it. When asked I said I'd taken a personal sabatical after having worked full time since university, and I had felt I needed a break. When asked what I'd done, I said reconnected with family and friends, and explored my own interests. So it is possible to get back into the workforce after a break.

I'm an accountant too, and I seriously considered temping towards the end of my 15 months off, I was running out of money, and more importantly I was bored. Do you have Robert Half in your part of the country? They can be good for temp assignements once your insurance runs out.

Hang in there and remember that for you your focus should be on you and getting well.

--splitimage

[Ellen Ritter, PhD]

These are difficult and scary times, that's for sure. Even with all you are having to deal with your illness, and the impact that it had on work, you have a great skill set as an accountant, something that I think will be in more demand now that people and companies are really worried about their finances and making ends meet. Have you ever considered setting up your own accounting company, serving as a consultant accountant for individuals, small businesses (or even big ones who've let their accounting departments go)? That would allow you to set the time of when you actually work, as would temporary agencies, a good suggestion, and let you continue to bring in the money.

So many people are being laid off now that your needing to explain what happened at your last job may be less important now than ever before -- you were laid off or downsized, as the company said and I would stick with that story. Makes you part of the incrowd nowadays as everyone I know is getting laid off.

Hang in there and take care of yourself!