What do you hide when applying for a job?
The right job
Annette looks around at the job fair. Organizations are recruiting staff everywhere. Where do you start? She spots the VDAB banner. The perfect starting point for her search.
‘I think we should refer you to our colleagues at GTB,’ the employee mutters while reviewing her file.
Annette frowns. ‘What is GTB?’
‘Is it true that you were at home for a while due to mental health issues?’
‘Yes, I had depression and was at home for a while because of it, but I feel a lot better now and am eager to get back to work,’ says Annette.
‘Our colleagues at GTB help vulnerable job seekers find a good and safe work environment. If you want to find work, you are definitely in the right place there.’
‘Shouldn’t all work environments be safe?’ Annette sputters, but she gathers her papers and walks to the GTB stand.
‘Good that our colleagues referred you,’ smiles the GTB employee. ‘There are just a few vacancies at the customized employment company, Cypres.’
Annette frowns. ‘A customized employment company, isn’t that for people with a disability?’
‘It is more than that. It is also for people with a mental vulnerability.’
‘I don’t quite follow.’
‘I see in your file that you have a mental health condition that prevented you from working for a long period.’
‘I had depression.’
‘Exactly,’ nods the employee. ‘And that is why we are offering you a job with consideration for when you might feel less well again.’
Annette snatches the file from the employee’s hands. ‘What is this all about? I was sick, but I feel better again. Is this going to haunt me for the rest of my life?’
Have you ever felt that others had already judged you before you could explain anything?
How do you hope others will view you after you have gone through a difficult period?
When did you get a second chance? And how did it feel?
Suppose you were on sick leave for a period, would you mention this in a job interview?
Do you ever stop to think about this?
Did you know?
Work can be an important lever to escape poverty. However, not everyone gets the same opportunities in the labor market.
People who have been ill for a long time or have gone through a difficult period often encounter extra barriers in their search for work. Research shows, for example, that candidates who mention a history of burnout or depression are hired less often. Employers fear that they will need more support, will be less able to work under pressure, or will be absent more often.
Origin can also play a role in the application process. Candidates with a non-Belgian name are, on average, invited for an interview less often than candidates with a Belgian name and similar qualifications.
Thus, prejudices and discrimination can ensure that the very people who need work to rebuild financial security have more difficulty accessing the labor market.