Recently, I interviewed for a high profile job, the interviewers questions were quick and rapid fire, which I am accustomed at this point. I found it difficult to concentrate on the question and come up with the answer, which did not score well with the interviewer. She asked me the same question twice, by then I knew I did not get the job. Does anyone have a tip on how to convey on future interviews more time is needed, when I am flaring, especially when brain fog takes over.
Aside from hurt ego, this experience is making me think twice about interviewing with other companies and I do not want to be scared of advancement due to Lupus complications, brain fog or confused thoughts during flare. Any tips on how to remedy this situation in the future?
Change of lifestyle is difficult for me, since this time last year, I was interviewing for multiple positions and had offers when I was not really trying to secure these jobs. Now, my health is impaired from the lupus and I am planning for longevity with my future looking for a new job that has possibilities for the future and now to contend with brain fog, how will I ever get ahead.
Sorry for whining but I am really disappointed with the interview performance and brain fog.
I actually had the same experience this week so I would be interested in others responce. I have another one on Monday. I didn't use to have any issue's with interviewing but that was before the lupus.
Im so sorry you had to suffer through an interview during a flare---it really is hard and brain fog is unfortunately all too real.
I have been having terrible memory and organization issues.
I am trying something new.
I have made a schedule for myself that includes a balance of rest/work/prayer-meditation/and journaling. I know these things are helpful for healthy people, and i know in my condition i need it even more. i try to clear the brain-fog by consciously moving awareness from the back of the brain to the frontal lobes...a little trick I learned in a wonderful book called Mindsight. The book talks about the plasticity of our brain and how we can change brain function, and awareness is the key.
For me, the brain fog gets much worse if I get upset about the brain-fog so i am trying to learn to deal with it with an ample supply of humor.
what kind of work do you do?
let's talk about this more...i know i need it and it will be great to put our heads together, fog and all.
oh, one other thing: gluten makes my brainfog and my pain much much worse.
i agree with the "no pity party" sentiment, trust me. However, I think quickly on my feet and am competent to work. I just need to find a less aggressive field and something with staying power.
@ Ann, something you insinuated with your second post needed to be addressed. Interviewing methods vary by field, in medical fields; applicants are provided real life scenarios and other methods to assess ability to work as a team player and benefit the patients. In other fields such as law, etc; high pace thinking on your feet environment and logic based opportunities, it is necessary to test the aptitude of people skills and problem solving strategies. Other fields are not that problem solving intensive such as academia. The position, I interviewed for was a lateral move into more responsibilities which i can handle, lupus or not.
Navigating this disease for the past year and battling relentlessly other obstacles, has taken a toll on my self-confidence and has tried to take the hope to move on in life to be productive. Daily, I battle with not knowing what is a flare aside from not feeling well how often am i flaring, being labeled with this disease, the ignorance of most without lupus and medical uncertainty. I often ask myself is this lupus or am I just sucumbing to the idea of lupus?
Everyday, I try to battle this illness alone, staring in the face of adversity from within my own body a betrayal I can not understand nor stop from happening at 35 years old. Opportunities which arise for advancement now also arise with me considering the job description and asking, "can i do this job with ADA accommodations?" or I ask "how long can I work at this task before I flare or before I can't walk?" and with no clear answer in sight, I forge on and try to continue maintaining a normalcy through this battle if I can. The job interview post was just to get an idea of strategies that can be used to combat possible brain fog and confussion so I can move forward. I appreciate the first post with the suggestions, they will be used but the second post was a bit discouraging.
I'm so sorry about your interview. I no exactly what you mean, before I had to stop working I would sit at my desk and stare at my computer because I would forget how to use the program I had been using for 5 yrs. And I hope you do find an answer because mine has only gotten worse. And when I tell my drs. they think I'm imagining it! I live in Ky and there was only one Rhumy (within 100 miles) that specialized in Lupus and I really like her a lot but sometimes I get the feeling she doesn't have the answers either...
@ Bluesgirl32, I know about the Rheumy with no answers. I get upset, they all seem to have the answers for every other illness including Cancer and Aids, but Lupus, no, they do not know what to do. Could it be because only a small percentage of the population is affected? Thank you for speaking the truth
Bluesgirl32 said:
I'm so sorry about your interview. I no exactly what you mean, before I had to stop working I would sit at my desk and stare at my computer because I would forget how to use the program I had been using for 5 yrs. And I hope you do find an answer because mine has only gotten worse. And when I tell my drs. they think I'm imagining it! I live in Ky and there was only one Rhumy (within 100 miles) that specialized in Lupus and I really like her a lot but sometimes I get the feeling she doesn't have the answers either...