[AusNOG] Work experience in networking/telecoms/DCs? Getting my foot in the door?

[Peter Lawler]

On 22/12/14 03:05, Skeeve Stevens wrote:
> No one knows you yet and no boss goes looking for troubled employees
> unless it is part of a special programme...
>

I'm loathed to continue this thread, however I'll take the line that the 
mental health of network operators is probably kinda more on topic than 
other threads that have gone on for longer. I hope the mods can give me 
some leeway. Those who aren't interested, please feel free to bin this ASAP.

If spend some time looking around, you'll find the quoted statement is 
also demonstrably untrue. A good employer places mental health front and 
centre as much as ensuring their office space is wheelchair accessible 
or they have decent paid parental and/or carers services &c. As mental 
health is still such a taboo topic, particularly for those who suffer 
from it, it might not be raised directly during the hiring process but 
it'll be pointed out that services and understanding are available and 
this will give the candidate, if they feel comfortable, the opportunity 
to have a brief chat about such. I'm certainly not meaning to state that 
such employers will take anyone on, more that they are capable of 
comprehending that our industry appears to have a greater number of 
employees who suffer from mental health problems than others (the jury 
is still out on whether it's the lifestyle, the type of work, the 
workplace setups, &c, or a combination of all) and will give employees 
help when asked for/needed.

I attended a Bluehacker event at LCA[1] 2013. Whilst I'm not at liberty 
to specifically pass on what was said by others inside the discussion 
group, I am at liberty to say I discussed my suicide attempt about two 
weeks previous to the meeting (which ended in hospitalisation and a 
medical directive that upon release I must continue my attendance at 
LCA, believed to be the first time ever someone was required to attend 
LCA for health reasons). A number of employers approached me the 
Bluehackers event and stated that I should not think that my depression 
would be a barrier if I were to ever consider applying for work with 
them and that they mention mental health support during interview. These 
are the employers to look out for, and whilst they are like gold dust at 
least they are not the closed minded narrow viewed fools who'd have 
people in wheelchairs in 'special schools'/'sheltered workshops' and 
sack women because they have a kid.

tl;dr It's people and attitudes like you've amplified above, Skeeve, 
what aggravate mental distress. Go get an education.

</rant>

Pete.

http://lists.linux.org.au/pipermail/lca-announce/2013-January/000203.html

PS I'd like to take the opportunity to thank the NOGgers I know who've 
kept in touch since Jan 2013 for no reason apart from being human. You 
guys!!!