Different companies have different attitudes towards checking the health of their prospective employees. Some insist that all new employees are given a health check before they start work. Some even make the offer of employment subject to a satisfactory health check. In these it is best not to resign from your present job until you know that you have successfully passed the test.
But the cost of a full medical examination for every prospective new employee can be expensive, so some companies have developed alternative arrangements. Several local authorities, for example, have calculated that it is better to run health checks only on new recruits over 40 years old. Health problems in under 40-year-olds are relatively rare and so, statistically at least, they have found it cheaper to support members of staff under 40 who fall ill than it is to run a health check on every prospective employee in this age group.
Some companies don't submit anyone to a physical examination. Rather, they ask candidates to complete confidential health questionnaires which are sent to a medical officer who looks at the requirements of the job and assesses the risks. The questionnaire will ask about your height, weight and previous health history. In most instances the medical officer won't be bothered about recruiting super-fit staff. He may look closely at your weight, though, because obese employees are a bad risk for the pension scheme. In most cases he will simply be seeking to ensure that you are in a reasonable state of health and able to carry out the duties required of you.
If you have had a long period of illness and are worried that this may count against you in a job application, it may be worth speaking to your doctor or consultant to see if he would be prepared to give a confidential health reference to prospective employers. A note to this effect enclosed with your application may help to alleviate any fears which an employer may have.
'Find something that you like to do and then get someone to pay you for doing it!' Many people manage to turn their particular interests into paid work. Sometimes they wouldn't have thought about the possibility of earning money through their hobby until they are faced with the prospect of unemployment. There are countless examples - the redundant coalminer who now paints portraits of pets in oils, the model train collector who makes a reasonable living out of buying and selling to other collectors, or the keep-fit fanatic who set up a dance and aerobics studio. For such people redundancy can be a liberating experience, a chance to get out of the rut, to reassess their values and start working for themselves rather than for the company or the factory. They wouldn't consider returning to their former employment.
Some people are even fortunate enough to find employers willing to pay them for work directly associated with their hobby. Model-makers are often in great demand. The armed forces, architects and engineers, museums and government departments - all require the skills of people who can translate plans, maps and photographs of terrain into three- dimensional scale models. The youth service is continually on the lookout for people who can enthuse about their area of interest and pass on their skills to others. Sportsmen and women find satisfying work as teachers, lecturers and leisure centre assistants, while DIY experts can easily convince a wide range of employers of their value.
Hobbies and interests can also help you to get a job not directly related to your activities out of work. They give an employer a useful insight into the kind of person you are. Hobbies and interests can indicate an ability to manage time effectively and draw a reasonable balance between the demands of the job and the need for a life beyond the office or factory gate.
At a deeper level, all jobs require a wide range of skills. Technical expertise is only part of the equation. An ability to relate to other people and to operate as a member of a team, the willingness to take on tasks and see them through - all these qualities are important in and out of work. Your interests outside work offer an important insight into the type of person you are.
Model-makers, for example, if they are any good, have an eye for detail and a degree of patience. Successful sportsmen and women must have drive, ambition, and an inner strength which sustains them and keeps them aiming for ever more difficult targets. Coaches and local team managers have to be interested in people in order to build teams and motivate their players. Charity workers, members of clubs and voluntary organizations often have a strong sense of loyalty and commitment to their community. An employer will often look at a person's hobbies and interests to see if the qualities suggested by such interests match the qualities he is looking for in his ideal candidate. If there appears to be a match, he may look for ways in which they could be harnessed and channeled to suit the job requirements.
Be careful, however, when you list your hobbies and interests. If your list is too long, an employer may wonder how you can find time for work with so many interests. Be careful also to be accurate in the description of your interests. You are likely to be asked questions at interview. One woman came unstuck at an interview recently when she included 'military history' among her interests on the application form. She meant Second World War history and so was taken aback when the interviewer began chatting to her about Napoleon!
