Returning to work is my pet subject - By Tony Jenner

After undergoing this process myself recently and finding the whole task extremely frustrating, disappointing and upsetting, I’ve realised the extent of trauma I was trying to overcome.

I wasn’t just trying to obtain a job, I was trying to regain some control in my life. By having a job, this would enable me to have something else to focus my attention on: instead of the focus being all about me I would have to undertake regular tasks.

I had to also overcome the understandable scepticism there is about employing someone that is returning from a chronic illness. I found that people who knew me were reluctant to push roles my way and even avoided having an awkward phone call. New agencies failed to return my applications once making them aware of my situation, even though there had been in contact prior to them being made aware. Although I can understand their reluctance in taking on a return to work candidate, it doesn’t mean their attitude should be acceptable.

I had a fair idea on my own ability and needed to show people that I was not the risk that they perceived I could have been. I was hopeful that the reputation I had prior to the event would ‘ve stood me in good stead with any ex-colleagues or associates, however this appeared to only count with one person, who kept in contact, once I’d instigated and made him aware of my current position. This guy seemed to actually listen to me and didn’t seem to be driven by the bottom line. It was a shame that more people weren’t this way inclined, maybe there was a case of being afraid of the unknown but some of that could’ve been cleared up from a catch up or a disicussion.

I knew that I couldn’t hope to come back in the same role as I used to hold, thankfully being a program manager there were a few angles for me to take. I was hopeful to pick up a role that had no responsibility, had someone overseeing my outputs and someone that could point me in the correct direction if I was making basic errors. It was a case of “I didn’t know what I didn’t know”. Which may sounds silly but when you’ve forgotten something that you know you once knew, anything’s possible.

I knew that I was being really hopeful in what I was wishing for and believed that if a program management office was just trying to start up, then that would be the role for me.

I must’ve been weeding amongst four leaved clovers one day, as I received a phone call from Mark, the person that was trying to help me. He asked me if I’d had any luck and proceeded to discuss an availability that had recently arisen from a brief conversation. I was asked to go in the next day and meet up with the guy I’d be working with. Thankfully I’d been successful with an interview with this guy 3 years ago, the role fell through but I’d obviously made a positive impression with him. I went for the chat, talking about the role and returning to work and the role was exactly what I’d been hoping for.

The only problem with taking this role was my pride. It was basically not my train set anymore, which may sound a bit funny but that was the hardest part of taking this role. We were both extremely honest with each other at the interview and left it with both of us having the opportunity to think on it.

After talking the offer out with my wife, we both agreed that this was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn my back on, I rang Mark back to provide him my response and then had to wait to be told if there was a position for me. This was suddenly a really nervous wait for that phone call to come in.

I only had to wait 24 hours when Mark advised me that the position was mine. This was a great result but only the start of what was to become a journey that I didn’t know I was going to go on.

I’ve learnt from this experience that trying to return to work is a hurdle in its own right, I’m therefore working towards making this easier for others that are in this situation.

Note: This was blog copied with permission from Tony from an earlier blog.