Every year, Employability Day highlights the importance of creating opportunities for everyone to access and sustain meaningful employment. But behind every employment statistic is a real person with a story.
Today, we’re sharing one such story to highlight a challenge that many people across the UK face every day: finding work while living with a health condition.
For this individual, being over 50 and managing a health condition created additional hurdles during her job search. However, her experience is one that many people, regardless of age, will recognise.
It’s a reminder that employability should never be defined by someone’s health, age, or circumstances.
When barriers begin to impact confidence
Searching for a job can be difficult for anyone, but when you are managing a health condition alongside the process, it can become even more challenging.
Our participant described the experience as frustrating, exhausting, and at times discouraging.
There were concerns about whether employers would understand her needs, whether workplace adjustments would be available, and whether being honest about her health condition would impact her chances of securing a role.
Periods of ill health had also resulted in employment gaps, creating additional anxiety during applications and interviews.
Over time, repeated setbacks began to affect her confidence.
Despite years of professional experience, transferable skills, and valuable knowledge, she began to feel overlooked.
Many people start to doubt their own abilities after facing repeated barriers to employment, even though they have enormous amounts to offer employers.
Looking beyond the CV
What can often be forgotten during recruitment processes is that behind every CV is a person.
In this case, someone with decades of experience, resilience, and an impressive range of transferable skills.
People who have lived and worked through different stages of life often bring qualities that businesses actively need.
These include:
- Strong problem-solving skills
- Reliability and commitment
- Emotional intelligence
- Excellent communication skills
- Adaptability
- The ability to mentor and support others
These strengths don’t disappear because someone develops a health condition.
If anything, overcoming personal challenges often strengthens them.
Creating inclusive workplaces isn’t simply about doing the right thing; it’s about recognising talent that may otherwise be overlooked.
How Access to Work can make a difference
This is where Access to Work can become a game changer.
Access to Work is a government-funded programme designed to help people with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or mental health conditions start, stay in, or return to work.
Many people are unaware of the support available, yet it can make a significant difference to both employees and employers.
Depending on individual circumstances, Access to Work may provide support for:
- Specialist equipment or assistive technology
- Workplace adaptations
- Mental health support services
- Communication support during interviews or in the workplace
- Travel support where required
- Advice for employers on making reasonable adjustments
The scheme is designed to remove barriers that may otherwise prevent talented individuals from reaching their full potential at work.
Support is tailored to the individual, recognising that no two people’s circumstances are the same.
Most importantly, it helps people feel empowered rather than limited by their health condition.
How TBHG can help with Employability
We understand that confidence can take a significant knock when someone experiences barriers to employment.
Our role is to help people recognise their strengths again and provide practical support to help them move forward.
We work with individuals to identify their goals, build resilience, and create sustainable pathways into employment that work for them.
Our support includes helping people:
- Build confidence and self-belief
- Identify transferable skills and strengths
- Navigate barriers to employment
- Understand and access schemes such as Access to Work
- Find meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities
- Stay in work and continue to thrive
Everyone’s journey is different, which is why personalised support is so important.
Creating a future where everyone can succeed
Employability isn’t about age. It’s about recognising potential.
As this person’s story demonstrates, barriers to employment can happen to anyone, but with the right support, they don’t have to define someone’s future.
Employers, support organisations, and government schemes all have a role to play in creating workplaces where people can succeed.
Because everyone deserves the opportunity to contribute, develop, and build a fulfilling career.
Looking for support?
If you’re facing barriers to employment because of a health condition, The Better Health Generation is here to help.
Get in touch with our team to find out how our personalised employability support and guidance around Access to Work can help you build confidence, overcome obstacles, and take the next step towards meaningful, sustainable employment.
