[DaveyJones]

Hi, y'all! I have a job interview in the morning and I need your input. Here's the story:

I was a successful salesman of professional audio equipment until 1998, when BP II finally stole my job (and most everything else eventually). I bounced around for a few years until I went on disability in 2006. I haven't worked at a "real" job since, though I have played with a band steadily since then.

After years of drug and talk therapy I'm feeling good again. I recently noticed a sign in a local store advertising a position for a sales associate in their pro audio department. After some internal debate I decided to go for it and have arrived at the final step, an interview with the store manager.

So here's my question: How do I deal with the questions that are bound to arise from the gaps in my history related to my disability? The company on it's website claims that they do not discriminate against people with disabilities both physical and mental, but I have a hard time believing that baring my history for this guy is a good strategy. I have a wealth of experience and knowledge in the field, but how do I explain that I haven't done it since 1998 due to my bipolar disorder? What do I say when he asks why I haven't held a job since 2005? Etc., etc., etcetera?

So you get the idea... I hope some of you who have been through this can give me a hand. The job websites don't seem to cover this topic!

Thanks in advance,

[mazing]

How did the job interview go? Sorry no-one got to this before now I hope it all went well!

[H3rmit]

Wish I had seen this earlier. If I were in your shoes, I'd say that I had personal health issues to deal with that resulted in disability for a period, but it would not interfere with the present job. They don't need details beyond that to hire you.