What's appropriate to put on a job application?

November 2, 2007 9:17 AM

I'm filling out an application for a teaching program and they'd like to know some personal information... how do I respond honestly without going into detail?

The program would like to know if I have withdrawn from classes in college, how many, and then they want me to explain the circumstances behind the withdrawals.

When I was in college, I was sexually assaulted, and a big mess ensued. I tried to take care of it through the school system, hoping to keep what happened private. However, I was told by one of the deans that the guy was really super sorry and he didn't mean for it to happen so maybe it would be best if I let the whole thing go. I refused, the dude lawyered up, his lawyer managed to push back hearings long enough for the guy to transfer. I then went through the legal system, and yadda yadda the whole thing was really stressful and took forever to get through.

Anyway, I was really depressed and couldn't handle the course load at the time, among other things. I wound up dropping 7 classes over two semesters, but still got poor grades in the classes I stuck with. Eventually, things got better, I re-took some of the classes, and managed to pull up my gpa to about a B+ when I graduated.

However, this seems to be a little "tmi" for an application. I also have an anxiety disorder, and the idea of putting information this personal on an application is kind of freaking me out. I'm also worried that they'll think I'm weak or incompetent because I couldn't handle the stress.

So after all of that, I could really use some advice - what would be most appropriate to put on the application? Since I graduated, I pretty much have no where else to go to ask this kind of question, so any input would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

posted by Dance Commander to Work & Money (15 answers total)

It sound like you did a remarkable job in handling the stress. Don't let your anxiety convince you otherwise.

Would you be comfortable just saying "I withdrew from X classes in my Y year because I was criminally assaulted on campus"? Or "...because I had to pursue a case against someone who criminally assaulted me"?
posted by occhiblu at 9:24 AM on November 2, 2007

also have an anxiety disorder, and the idea of putting information this personal on an application is kind of freaking me out. I'm also worried that they'll think I'm weak or incompetent because I couldn't handle the stress.

If you *were* to put this information on there, no reasonable person would think you weak or incompetent for needing time to deal with it.

That said, I wouldn't even put as much information as occhiblu. I would simply cite personal issues, and go on to point out that your later re-taking of your classes shows both that you resolved those issues and that you are determined enough to succeed even given setbacks.
posted by solotoro at 9:42 AM on November 2, 2007

My thought in including the assault in the explanation was that Dance Commander seems to be taking all the responsibility on herself, citing the depression or her "inability to cope" as the reason for dropping the class. Citing "personal reasons" on the application seems to reinforce that idea.

It seems to me more that the reason she dropped the class was that someone did something nasty to her and she was actively working to address that wrong, and that took (emotional) priority over her classwork. I would worry a bit, I think, that ceding all that work to the label "personal reasons" takes away credit for what she actually did.

But, of course, Dance Commander, don't list more information than you're comfortable with on the application.
posted by occhiblu at 9:50 AM on November 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

I would go with occhilblu's answer. They generally have questions like that so you can explain blips on your transcript, which would otherwise look bad. "Because I had to pursue a case against someone who criminally assaulted me" is also better than something more vague like "personal reasons" because it makes it clear that you didn't just flake on everything for a year, that you had a (totally reasonable) outside circumstance you had to deal with. Don't put more details than you're comfortable with, but don't sell yourself short. (I would reiterate, it sounds like you dealt with the stress remarkably well.)
posted by SoftRain at 10:19 AM on November 2, 2007

Nothing new to contribute, just an emphatic support for what occhiblu/SoftRain say. It's none of your (potential) employer's business what happened, but putting something vague is going to look bad. "Criminally assaulted" makes it clear that it wasn't your fault, but also doesn't require being too specific.

Even though you're very rightfully hesitant to go around volunteering this information, it's about as good a reason as there is for withdrawing from classes.
posted by fogster at 10:27 AM on November 2, 2007

I agree with SoftRain and occhiblu. "Personal reasons" is used as a catch-all for everything that would bias someone against an application, and unfortunately or not, is therefore often read as either rehab or some variation of "my prof hates me/I don't wanna go to school."

No need to get too specific. I agree that criminally assaulted on campus covers all bases nicely. I can't imagine that it would be brought up in an interview because that's just asking for legal trouble.

I'm also worried that they'll think I'm weak or incompetent because I couldn't handle the stress.

You're being too hard on yourself here. It's not weak to need time to recovery from injury (emotional, physical, both), it's sure as hell not weak to be depressed following a sexual assault, and the time-suck of legal issues has no bearing on your competence.
posted by desuetude at 10:41 AM on November 2, 2007

i assume they have your transcript and can see the withdrawals, otherwise i'd just blow off the question.

"crime victim" is even vaguer than "assault victim" and when they ask you about the crime, tell them it's personal and you never discuss it. good luck!
posted by bruce at 10:43 AM on November 2, 2007

Ok, here's what I think.

It sounds like it's pretty clear from your transcript that those two semesters were anomalous. You didn't routinely withdraw from classes, and you didn't have regular, recurring periods of academic collapse. I doubt they care very much what happened to make those two semesters anomalous. They'll just want confirmation that there was something going on and that the rest of your college career, not those two semesters, is representative of what you're actually like as a student. So say whatever makes you feel comfortable. You could definitely say that you were the victim of a violent crime during the first semester and withdrew from classes because you needed to focus all your energy on dealing with the legal and emotional fallout. Or you could say you were dealing with a personal issue which has been resolved, as evidenced by the rest of your transcript.

Nobody is going to consider you weak or incompetent. It's really common for students to have an off semester or two for one reason or another, and a lot of those reasons are a lot less compelling than yours. I, for instance, screwed up a semester because I had trouble re-adjusting after I came back from studying abroad. My GPA for that semester was a full point lower than for the rest of my college career, and I think that grad schools wrote it off because all my bad grades were in the same semester.
posted by craichead at 12:06 PM on November 2, 2007

i think that's a bit too vague, though--you do sort of have to account for your time. i would just say that you were assaulted and had to take time off from school to recover from your injuries (they don't have to know the injuries were emotional rather than physical) and pursue your legal options.

don't even bring up the stress. just say it was resolved to your satisfaction and that you have recovered completely and look forward to pursuing your career.
posted by thinkingwoman at 12:07 PM on November 2, 2007

In a way, it's too bad you can't talk about why the two bad semesters happened. I for one think you're incredibly strong to have taken the asshole to court. The healing time you took is nothing to feel bad about, at all. Go into interviews knowing this, that you're a strong woman and you've been through a lot and you got over it, and there is nothing at all to be ashamed about. Either said than done, but I wish you luck.
posted by sinderile at 12:21 PM on November 2, 2007

I think craichead is right - they are mainly looking to find out what made these two semesters different for you. However, they are also looking at your transcript as a measure of success, and I would recommend explaining your situation in that light. For example, explain why you needed to withdraw ("I was the victim of a crime...") and how you overcame that challenge and came out a better person ("and I took time away from school to heal and also follow my case through the legal process, which has made me a stronger and more resilient person today").
posted by jrichards at 1:06 PM on November 2, 2007 [2 favorites]

I would call the program director and lay the cards on the table before committing anything to writing. They just want to know if you are the kind of person who withdraws from classes when they got too hard. If your grades were steady up to a certain point, they will guess something occurred to cause the blip. I don't think you really need to write any of the gory details nor would I mention any kind of anxiety disorder--don't you think teaching will cause anxiety? Don't say anything that is going to get you ruled out off the bat. If your overall GPA is meeting your state requirements to get certified, it really doesn't matter. Don't stress about it. Good luck.
posted by 45moore45 at 1:40 PM on November 2, 2007

That's fair enough, occhiblu (and later agreeing answerers). I was approaching it from the point of view of someone who is intensely private and would probably simply not be comfortable sharing that sort of information.

I was certainly not trying to say anything like "sounds like a personal problem". Standing up for yourself, and coming back from an assault to continue the career it interrupted, is the exact opposite of weakness, Dance Commander.
posted by solotoro at 1:52 PM on November 2, 2007

Ok, to put in a different perspective. It is not kosher for employers to request medical information prior to giving you a bona fide offer of employment. But if you volunteer that information you are not protected under ADA grounds. I would not even think about saying the words "depression" or "anxiety" to a potential employer. Just say that it was for personal reasons that have been resolved.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 4:47 PM on November 2, 2007

Response by poster: thank you so much for the advice! it was all so helpful and it addressed every angle and you guys are amazing, and have single-handledly restored my faith in humanity. no, but for reals :)
posted by Dance Commander at 7:28 PM on November 3, 2007