Career advice for Lupus/RA diagnosis

[KevDog41]

Hi - does anyone know of career consultants to speak with to figure out what the best job options are for someone suffering from from Lupus and RA? Thanks!

[HappykindaGal]

honestly? Mostly the same options as someone without lupus and RA I’d say. Dependent on how it’s effecting you. Don’t make an applicantiion about either though as it’s likely to be binned.

Apply for anything with what you can do for the company - not trite stuff as good team player, blah blah, but literally how you can make a company better and how you being in it will make them better.

Perhaps even consider sending a video as that works really well.

I’m not entirely sure what you mean by career options though.

[AgedCrone]

Do you already have a career or are you just starting out? What do you want to do . …. you should be looking for something you think you will enjoy doing ….& could train for despite having Lupus/RA.

Many people here hold down good jobs…..so don’t let the disease take over your life…..if you are settled on successful medication….decide what you would like to do & go for it.

If you go to an employment agency and the first thing you tell them is you have this disease ….which they probably won’t have heard of - I doubt they will be much help…& ‘career advisers’ don’t come cheap……

Good Luck….I hope you find something ……I really think being in a job you enjoy is key to coping with any disease.

[oldtimer2]

It's the same approach. List your strengths and weaknesses. Work out how much physical effort is needed for jobs that interest you - you will need to set your energy expenditure to minimum levels. Is there anything that you have a special interest in, or talent for, that you could capitalise on?

Personally I swapped from a job where I had to work nights and long hours for a instructional role self-employed where I could to a major degree control the hours I worked. It meant a big drop in income, but was manageable for many years and rewarding.

[Mall]

here in the Uk there are schemes to help disabled folk or unemployed back into work. Maybe there are similar schemes in the US.

If your RAand lupus is well controlled then there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to work. You may need to change direction, not look at hands on strenuous physical employment. Think about the skills you have from past employment, if it was heavy physical work can you apply for more managerial or training type roles. You could think about a sideways move or look at an entirely new career which may require new skills or training. You could also think about volunteering for a charity or community organisation as a way back into employment if you have been out of work for while. This could help you test out how much you can take on, learn new skills and be a source of references for future paid employment. Do you have interests or hobbies that you could turn into an income and become self employed.

You are facing a big challenge, think of it positively as a new start with a new you. A person with lots of invaluable experience, maybe not as physically able as the younger you but with a wealth of skills interests and maturity. All the best in finding work that suits you.

[KittyJ in reply to Mall]

what are these schemes Mall please? I didn’t know about them 😊

[Mall in reply to KittyJ]

Government Schemes in the Uk are accessed through your nearest Jobcentre Plus. They can help to improve the chances of finding work, including work experience, volunteering and work trials if you have been receiving benefits. If you have a disability or health condition “Access to Work” can help with grants to support you in work. If you don’t have a work coach, go to your local job centre and ask to speak to a work coach about The Work and Health programme, this is a voluntary program unless you have been on unemployment benefits for 24 months.

You can also access the National Careers service (if in England) on line. It isn’t just for school leavers, they can help with career, learning and training choices.

[KittyJ in reply to Mall]

Thank you Mall, do you not have to be claiming benefits to have a DWP work coach? I can’t find any info about it. I’ll see if I can get to the job centre and ask 😊

[Mall in reply to KittyJ]

Ask about the work and health program, it’s not just for folk on unemployment benefits it’s also for people with health issues which can make finding appropriate employment a struggle. I am sure the work coaches would be pleased to help someone like yourself keen to find employment. I haven’t used this service myself as I am now retired but I know it exists.

[KittyJ in reply to Mall]

thank you, will do 🤗

[JenniferW]

Hi Kev

This is actually a UK website. People from around the world post here and are welcome, but I think this is a question you should direct towards an American website as the job market in the US works a bit differently to the UK one, especially in terms of workers rights.

I know the site lupus.org/living-with-lupus is a USA site, perhaps you could contact them to ask if they could offer you any advice.

General advice would be to remember you can't really do a physical job, so you should look at desk jobs. You also need to consider things like whether shift work is right for you, I certainly couldn't do night shifts, but you might be ok with evening shifts. If you have a think about this and perhaps chat to people you know about their jobs and what they involve you could come up with a basic list of what you are looking for. You can then add any skills and interests you have and take that to the career consultant when you find one.

Don't mention the disability in your job application, it will put you at a disadvantage. It can be brought up later if you look likely to get the job and should be carefully phrased along of the lines of 'I have a long term health condition which is well controlled but occasionally I will need time off to attend blood tests which help manage the condition'.

Good luck

Jennifer

[nomoreheels]

Hiya KevDog, welcome to the NRAS forum. You may not be aware being your first post but this is a UK based charity/site. We welcome members from anywhere of course, but we'll be unable to be of great help in this instance I’m afraid as your question is really country-specific. Has your wife tried searching online for Career Consultants local to you? That would be my first step, or searching for whatever she's qualified in or has experience of job-wise pre diagnosis & see where that leads. 

Of course some occupations may be need to be ruled out, particularly most manual jobs, so the approach would be what she considers she'd be able to manage comfortably. Here employers cannot discriminate against 'the disabled' or those with ‘health conditions' under the Equality Act, they are under obligation to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to work. There must be similar in the US so it might be an idea for you or your wife to make yourselves familiar with just what she can expect of a potential employer. Things like terms and conditions, benefits, opportunities for promotion, performance review(s), the handling of any absence(s), pay, training and development, and the termination of employment. I don't know if you'll be able to access the link but the previous sentence is copied from this site disabilityjustice.org.uk/le... It might give her something to work from even though it relates to the UK.

Sorry for not being of specific help this time. Do let her know she'd be most welcome to join in the conversations here any time though, if she wishes to.